Menachem Schwartz, who heads the Chareidi department of Jerusalem’s Social Services, spoke to Kikar H’Shabbat about the harrowing hours he endured while speaking to the families of the Meron victims at the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute on Friday.

“I was at Abu Kabir on Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. – horrible scenes. In a minute I’m going to start crying right here, I’m in some type of post-trauma shock and I’ll have to go for treatment.”

“Forty-five families, try to understand the situation. One truck followed by another truck, the car of the Chevra Kadisha followed by another car and another car. Forty-five families who lost their closest relatives. The Elhadad family lost two.”

“It was unbearable. I needed to be strong in order to help the families. I would embrace the family members and make sure they were accepting the news and then go aside and cry.”

“My wife called me in the middle and I couldn’t speak to her. I burst out crying. I went aside and wiped away my tears and came back.”

“It was an unbearable day that left me forever scarred. And it’s not just me but dozens of Chareidi social workers who are simply traumatized. The security workers and Hatzalah officials also need treatment.”

[MERON VICTIMS: 24 Bochurim And Boys, 4 Mir Talmidim, At Least 6 US Citizens, 2 Canadians]

[HEARTBREAKING: List Of Niftarim R”L Killed In Meron Crush Released]

[OUTRAGE GROWING: Israel – Where Is Your Compassion To Parents Of Students Traumatized By Meron Disaster?]

[How Exactly Did The Terrible Disaster At Meron Occur?]

[Father’s Heartrending Hesped For His Son: “You’re Now In Rebbe Shimon’s Yeshiva”]

[WATCH: 10-Yr.-Old Meron Survivor: “I Cried Out Shema Yisrael”]

[“People Were Crushed To Death Before My Eyes” – Survivors Of The Harrowing Scenes Talk]

[Chareidi Reporter Warned Of This Very Tragedy In 2018!]

[State Comptroller Says He’s Launching Probe Of Meron Disaster]

[The Chilling Letter A Meron Victim Left Before His Death]

[Last Meron Victim Is Buried After His Parents Arrive From Argentina]

[HEARTBREAKING IMAGE: Child Of Meron Victim Makes Toy Representing His Father Z”L]

[11-Year-Old Seriously Injured At Meron Is Released From The Hospital]

[CHILLING: Look What Was Found Inside Siddur Of Victim Of Meron Tragedy]

[Journalist Published Eye-Witness Reports Which May Explain How The Trampling in Meron Began]

[Meron Victims: Elhadad Brothers, 12 & 18, Buried Next To Rashbi]

[One Of The Meron Victims Was MK Eichler’s Brother-In-Law]

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)