Not even a month ago, the messages of comfort for the bereaved Yehuda Meshi Zahav overflowed online.
Secular, religious, Arab and Jew alike — strangers who never even met him — tried to find the words to penetrate his heart, at a time when there truly no words to encompass this pain. The messages were raw in their openness and empathic pain.
“What difficult days for you, a family whose essence is infected with such deep loss! I cry with you Yehuda!!”
“You are so dear to us all — a model of a man!”
“From the bottom of my heart I join in your deep pain over this triple bereavement you are enduring!”
“How can we strengthen you? You are always there for the rest of us in our most difficult hours!”
“Stay strong-we need you!”
“A dear and golden man who gives so endlessly — I am with you in your pain!”
“Impossible to comprehend!”
“Your life is a sanctified life living and doing for the entire people of Israel — we love you Yehuda!”
The emotionally laden comment threads were rolling on and on.
What happened was that COVID tore through the family of Yehuda Meshi Zahav in the most cruel of ways. Both of his parents and his brother, dead within three weeks. From one shiva to another. three times seven times. 21 days.
Everyone in Israel knows and recognizes this chasid, Yehuda Meshi Zahav. With his white beard and peyos, his visage is known to all. It is always he who is at the scene of tragedies. His work does not draw distinctions in anyone’s humanity. It is the bone chilling equality of the dead.
Meshi Zahav is the founder of the volunteer organization ZAKA, the organization that is often the first on site at terror attacks or car accidents, whoever the victims may be. ZAKA tasks itself with the holy yet gruesome work of collecting remnants of human lives, for burial.
Chesed Shel Emet is what this mitzvah of caring for the dead is known as. The most pure, authentic of kindnesses one can extend, since by definition there can be no recompense or reciprocation in this world.
Three decades on, and this formerly anti-Zionist chasid has emerged as one of the most crucial of bridge builders in Israeli society.
Ultimately, what Meshi Zahav stands for is transformation. Here is someone who once opposed the state of Israel, but who now is not only integrated into Israel but is one of its leading lights.
By his commitment to volunteering and forging a cadre of others who do the same, Meshy-Zahav represents the real possibility of building respect and understanding between differing segments of Israeli society. Now more than ever, as Israel feels so fragmented, elevating the work and personage of such a unifying personality is paramount.
This week it was announced that the coveted Israel Prize will be bestowed upon Yehuda Meshi Zahav this year. While still in his shloshim, the 30-day mourning period, he is now surrounded with well wishers — again from all segments of Israeli society.
“No one is more deserving dear Yehuda!!”
“You are a symbol for the synthesis of love of G-d and love of fellow man!”
“Tzaddik!!”
“So emotional.”
“You have always been such an inspiring personality!”
“Hope this brings even a small measure of comfort.”
“We all love you.”
“You personify chesed.”
An outpouring of love for Yehuda Meshi Zahav has marked this past month’s events. From an outpouring of support as Meshi Zahav endured tragedy and loss, to an outpouring of love, to share in the celebration of this beloved man of kindness’ honor as he joins the ranks of the distinguished awardees in the annals of modern Israeli history.
Meshi Zahav: “The tears haven’t stopped flowing, but today, amongst them, there were also tears of joy.”
Copyright © 2021 by the Intermountain Jewish News
