Tragedy struck the Levinhar family twice, in eight years, almost to the day. Last Friday, Tzvi and Yehudit Levinhar of N’vei Monson left for NYC to attend a World Trade Center memorial. Their eldest child, Shai, was one of four Israelis who perished in the 9/11 terror attack. NYC Mayor Michael Blumberg invited them to attend, to take part in the 8th anniversary memorial for the victims, including their 29-year-old son.

On Sunday, days before the memorial service, Tzvi and Yehudit received more horrible news; that their son Raz, 33, collapsed in his Tel Aviv home and died. On Monday, they landed back in Israel to take part in the levaya of Raz.

Shai, who was killed in 9/11, was an outstanding officer in the IDF computer unit, and following his discharge, he and his wife traveled to NYC where he continued his studies, working towards a master’s degree in business administration. He also began working in the Cantor Fitzgerald brokerage firm. After a year, he was promoted to a senior position, moving his office to the 103rd floor of the northern WTC tower. His body was recovered after a number of weeks and the kvura was in Eretz Yisrael, leaving behind his wife Liat and their daughter of 6-weeks, Sapir.

Tzvi and Yehudit saw Raz last week, taking part in his daughter’s 1st birthday party before departing for NYC. Their daughter-in-law telephoned them in New York with the bitter news, explaining resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and Raz was pronounced dead at home.

When the parents left for israel, they posted a notice on their fence of a memorial for their son, to be held following their return. Now they added the notice of the death of their son Raz.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)