It is not uncommon to find people saying farewell in an airport.
People hug each other. Sometimes you will see people wiping away tears.
Tonight was totally different.
A thousand people came to the airport to say goodbye to Ezra Schwartz z”l who was being flown back for his burial in is home in Boston.
People held each other tight. People cried. Eighteen-year-old Ezra Schwartz who was studying Torah in a Yeshiva in Israel was gunned down Thursday evening while traveling on a van outside of Jerusalem in the area of Gush Etzion. He was volunteering that afternoon bringing snacks to the soldiers on duty in that area.
As the crowd gathered, Ezra’s classmates, rabbis, and friends who had come to show their last respects formed a large circle and began to sing. They were songs of brotherhood, of faith in God, songs that prayed for peace. Some of his friends were draped in the flag of Israel. Arm-in-arm people swayed back in forth lifting their voices in supplication and strength.
Natan Sharansky, the heroic refusnik and now Chairman of the Jewish Agency was present and offered words of eulogy. Ofir Shaer, the father of Gilad, z”l, one of the three boys who was kidnapped and murdered just over a year ago was also there to give strength and share in this pain and tragedy, one that he knows too well.
The people of Israel stand together with the Ezra’s parents and family.
The Jewish people stand together with his community in Boston.
We stand with his friends and teachers at his Yeshiva.
Our hearts are broken with your hearts.
We cried when we heard that Ezra was killed.
We will not forget him.
We will learn from him.
We will carry on in the kindness and goodness with which he lived his life.
The night proceeded with eulogies that described Ezra’s beautiful smile, his warmth, his kindness, his love for his siblings, his close relationship with his family. He lived his life with much joy, and it was tragically cut short.
The casket draped in the flag of Israel was set to brought to the plane that would fly his body back home. At that time those present were asked to exit the airport. One group was asked to stay; Ezra’s classmates who have been studying Torah with him these past few months in yeshiva. Each student approached the coffin, cried, offered a prayer and said a tearful goodbye to their friend Ezra.
The Jewish people around the world read in the Torah on this Shabbat of their forefather Jacob leaving the land of Israel. The Sages teach in the Midrash that angels from heaven come to meet Jacob and escort him on his journey.
This was not the way that Ezra Schwartz was to leave the land of Israel. He was meant to leave Israel as a young man, a year older, with his beautiful smile on his face, and return to the embrace of his loving parents.
The angels of heaven are crying as they escort Ezra back home.
The words of this author reflect his/her own opinions and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Orthodox Union.