Jerusalem Post and IsraelNationalNews
Hundreds Othniel and area residents, friends, students and family members accompanied Rabbi Dan Mertzbach, 55, to his final resting place on the Mount of Olives on Friday.
He was survived by a wife, five children and 10 grandchildren. A professional architect, Mertzbach served as a rabbi for Tene Omarim, Shima and Eshkolot.
Mertzbach was traveling to the Cave of the Patriarchs in Chevron for morning prayers when a member of an IDF force, signaling for him to slow down, opened fire and killed him.
An initial IDF investigation found that Mertzbach did not see the soldiers hailing him with flashlights.
Eulogies were given in the Otniel synagogue before the procession began its trek to Jerusalem at 09:45.
One of his sons said “My father so loved the people of Israel and Eretz Israel. He loved all Jews, and always strove for unity, making the efforts himself if need be, even with those he did not agree with.”
“Dad,” he added, “You were always the first to race to do everything holy. Today, when I saw the car in which you were killed, I saw the blood – the warm blood not just of my father, but the father of everyone here.”
Otniel spokesman Yehuda Glick said Rabbi Mertzbach was a man of God 24-hours a day, noting that he served as the rabbi of a number of communities in the area.
Glick called the rabbi the soul of the community, adding that Rabbi Mertzbach planned Otniel’s synagogue, built its beit midrash and brought in many rabbis to teach there. He said many people in the community wept for a father who took many of them under his wing.
The Defense Ministry announced to the National Insurance Institute on Friday that Mertzbach will be recognized as the victim of a “terror event.”
The classification will allow the National Insurance Institute to provide welfare benefits to Mertzbach’s family.
The Defense Ministry generally reserves classifying incidents as terror events for cases in which a terrorist has carried out an attack causing injury or death.
The soldier who fired eight shots at Mertzbach’s vehicle, killing him and injuring two other people, believed his life was in danger, an initial IDF investigation found.
I think it is really sad that a jew killed another jew but ppl. shouldn’t really blame the IDF soldiers because they’re doing their job by keeping us safe and i’d call it a huge mistake that ppl. should just bevery carefull to do.Baruch dayan haemes.
Agree with comment nine and well said. And too number 14 they wouldn’t fear for there lives and for others if a situation like that or similar would never happen but the fact is that these terrorists always do these things so the soldier had all intentions in the world of saving all the innocents around him. I bet he feels so bad right now about killing a fellow Jew and I doubt hel ever get over killing a rabbi so ya this is very sad my heart goes out to the family and all but don’t blame this soldier… Read more »
Maybe soldiers in Israel shouldn’t have to fear for their lives every time a car doesn’t immediately slow down?
So true and well said. What a tragedy.
so sad
Rabbi Dan Mertzbach, 55, BD”E
do you people even read the articles before responding?
it really was the terrorists. the IDF is under the worst pressure, nobody should have that pressure, and they are cautious because of terrorism that has wreaked the area. they have such a hard time knowing what to do, they were certainly thinking that they were saving lives.
Oy!!! any info about how old he is?
#5, agree, but this is so so sad. Hashem yerachm
lets all just take a chill pill
can you imagine what the JEWS would do if if mistakenly killed a Muslim cleric??
Based on your absurd theory, whats the difference then between what happened in Israel and a driver in the USA who accidently strikes and kills a pedestrian in the street? Shall we disband the USA because of that accident? I know with the near instantaneous speed of internet we can respond immediately to anything, but please try to take a deep breath and formulate a thought that is actually meaningful, rather than to instantly respond out of reflex, without even thinking through your response. Your lucky the responses are anonymous; otherwise you would be laughed at and/or pitied by the… Read more »
i feel bad for both the one who fired and the one who was killed. ”Medinat Yisrael” may not be the answer after all.
That is horrible!!!!! Baruch Dayan Hemes! So tragic! My heart goes out to the family 🙁
may hashem comfort u and give u all the strenths u need to get thru this