The shivah in the Davidson household is very quiet. What can one possibly say to children whose warm nest of a home suddenly fell apart and a strong storm wind threatens to scatter them here and there?

The father of the family, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman, has begun to recuperate from his serious injury. He is no longer in danger, baruch HaShem, and he is capable of functioning and speaking. He is still confined to a wheelchair and needs a series of operations before he can return to his former abilities.

“He’ll get stronger, that’s for sure,” said a family member. “He went through a terrible tragedy, multiple tragedies, but he has no choice- he has young children and he’s the only one they have left. He understands the heavy burden weighing on his shoulders, and intends to fight like a lion to save his household.”

Their month-old infant Avinoam Meir z”l was killed in a terrifying traffic accident, and their mother Mrs. Ayala a”h died after a week in the hospital. Both parents were seriously injured in the accident which occurred on erev Shabbos Parshas Bamidbar while they were on the way to a mother-baby convalescent center. The infant was killed on the spot, and the unconscious parents were brought to the hospital.

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For a week they battled for their lives. The father’s condition improved but the mother’s condition deteriorated. After one week the doctors were compelled to confirm the mother’s passing, and at the same time the father regained consciousness—only to hear the heartbreaking news that he had lost both his wife and his infant son.

The remaining children- five of them- were left at home. They received both the news of their mother’s passing and that of their father’s regaining consciousness simultaneously. Grief and mourning mixed with excitement and joy. Their entire reality was now completely different. Their once- happy home is now in mourning; they are fresh orphans who have also lost a beloved baby brother, and their father is still physically disabled; hope runs high that he will bez”H be able to fully recover after a rehabilitation period. 

“They are absolutely devastated. It was so moving to see how the oldest child conducted himself like an adult during the levaya; he understood that the primary responsibility fell on his shoulders, at least during the first week when the father was unconscious- he was the one who collected the siblings and cared for them. He served as their representative and said ‘Kaddish’ during the funeral while the father sat next to him in the wheelchair recuperating.

“One thing is clear: they are drawing a lot of strength from the caring responses they’re receiving from the public. In the situation in which they currently find themselves, the only thing that’s capable of strengthening them is the support and love they’re receiving from all of Am Yisrael. People were motivated and are giving to them- in order to rehabilitate the home, to sponsor the appropriate equipment for the father, who at this stage must have an enormous amount of help for day-to-day functioning. They need help in running the household- Am Yisrael stands at their side; all of us will extend a hand and give them financial and emotional support. Only in this way will we be able to save the family from breaking apart chalilah.”

For urgent aid to the little orphans click here>>>