Event: Funeral of the late Aharon Sofer
Date: 3rd Elul
Disasters and tragedies accompanied the year 2014, more severe and 'less' severe, some that are more remembered and some that were forgotten in the flood of events.
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The most notable tragedy (if you can call it a "tragedy") that closed the year was the death of yeshiva student Aharon Sofer, the late.
On Friday, Av 26, 5774, Aharon Sofer, 23, a resident of New Jersey and a yeshiva student in the capital, went on a hike in the Jerusalem forest with his friend. Towards the end of the trail, they parted ways and arranged to meet up. In the evening, when Sofer had not yet returned, the friend realized that something had happened and contacted the police for help. As is customary, several hours pass before the search begins.
On Saturday night, a report is received about a missing person. As a journalist who receives quite a bit of information, was I worried? Not really. Every day (yes, every day) we receive several reports of missing people of all ages and all over the country, and they are found after a short time. I thought to myself, he must have gone to another yeshiva, and he will be in touch soon.
Unfortunately, I was wrong.
Sunday came, and there was no sign of Aharon. Large forces of emergency and rescue agencies, with the assistance of many yeshiva students who volunteered, repeatedly searched the area where Sofer had been walking, but to no avail.
The parents land in Israel, promising a cash reward of 100,000 shekels to anyone who brings information. The great men of Israel call on the public to increase their prayers. Another day passes, and another. And another.
And then it comes, the sad end: Thursday, 2nd Elul, in the afternoon, the message is received: "The search has been suspended due to findings in the field." A few minutes later, the findings turn out to be a body. Still wearing the hat and suit.
In a painful funeral, the late Aharon Sofer was buried. He came to study in the Holy Land, and was buried in Ofra. And in my head remained the blurred image of him that was distributed, from which "He who chooses will be satisfied," is reflected, over all that is implied. With the pure gaze of one who seeks God. May his memory be blessed.
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On the sidelines of the event, a discussion arose: Did the general media, including social networks, ignore the missing person simply because he was Haredi?
Media figures, including secular ones, claimed, as Boaz Golan, editor of the 0404 website, put it: "It hurts to discover, and not for the first time, that an ultra-Orthodox person is less interesting to the media.".
There were those who thought otherwise. After all, the police claimed that in their opinion this was not a nationalist case, but a 'normal' event. Why attribute the lack of coverage to sectoral affiliation? The answer to this must be found in studies on journalism and communication.
As mentioned, this year was characterized by more tragedies. Yeshiva students who drowned, serious accidents, I won't list them all here. Everything is, of course, a matter of fate. But we have a duty of caution. With more attention, and adherence to the required safety rules, we will be able to get through the intervening times in peace.
I am aware that it may be trite to repeat this, but unfortunately - these disasters also continue.
The year and its curses will end.
