Ramaz Mourns The Death Of Elan Ganeles z"l

Last week in Israel, the parents of Elan Ganeles z”l buried their son after he was killed in a terrorist attack. On Thursday morning, upon the return of Elan’s family to the U.S., a group of Ramaz Upper School students, faculty, and parents greeted them at JFK Airport after their flight to show our support and express their condolences.

Elan was a bright young man with a deep devotion to the Jewish people and to the State of Israel. Elan's parents shared with the group their hope that Elan’s legacy will inspire people to come together, despite religious or political differences. We, along with the entire Jewish community, mourn the senseless loss of Elan’s life.

At the airport, Rabbi Josh Lookstein '88 explained to the students that HaMakom Yenachem—the message of comfort that is said to the bereaved—is always expressed in the plural, even if the person who has died has only one mourner. This is because the entire Jewish people try and share in the grief of other Jews in order to help alleviate their pain. Rabbi Lookstein '88 also directed the students' attention to the end of this prayer, when we ask God to comfort the bereaved among the rest of the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. Often, this part of the blessing isn’t emphasized because there isn’t always an obvious connection between the deceased and Zion and Jerusalem, and the comforter doesn’t always feel like one who mourns for Zion and Jerusalem. Saying this to the parents of Elan Ganeles, though, lent great meaning to these words. Elan is now a martyr of Zion and Jerusalem, and our mourning is both for him as well as palpably for Zion and Jerusalem.

May Elan's family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem, and may our students continue to show such support for the Jewish people.