By Mendy Rizel, COLlive reporter
There were mixed feelings Wednesday at the Chabad House in Nepal, located near the Thamel popular tourist destination in the capital city Kathmandu.
On one hand, there were Israeli backpackers smiling and rejoicing. On the other, there was an American Jewish couple with tears and heavy hearts.
On Tuesday, a small plane crashed after hitting a heavy rain storm on its way to a Mount Everest base camp, all of the 14 passengers aboard were killed.
One of them was Irina Shekhets, an assistant treasurer at JPMorgan Chase in Manhattan, who recently graduated Brooklyn Law School. Tuesday was her 30th birthday.
Her Russian-born Jewish parents, Tatiana and Boris Shekhets of New Jersey, arrived in Nepal shorly after and were welcomed by the staff at the Chabad House.
Wondering what Chassidic Jews are even doing in the Far East, bochurim Akiva Steinmitz and Shloimy Denburg explained the concept of Shlichus to them, and caring for a fellow Jew.
Deeply touched and appreciative, Mr. Shekhets commented, “We will learn more about our Judaism after this.”
He asked to put on Tefillin and say a prayer “which I’ve not done in the last 30 years,” he noted.
A small memorial service took place at the Chabad House.
Shliach Rabbi Chezky Lifshitz told COLlive.com he was funding a search crew to find the remains of Ms. Shekhets’ body.
“We are doing all we can that this young woman will receive a proper Jewish burial,” said Lifshitz, who is now in Israel coordinating plans for the High Holidays, when they are expected to host thousands of tourists and expats.
And Yet, Joy
And even in the midst of all that sorrow, two regulars at Chabad of Nepal, Shlomo Zaafran and Alon Koach, were celebrating their personal miracle.
“The two were meant to be on that plane,” Shlucha Mrs. Chanie Lifshitz told COLlive.com.
“Recently, they have been coming to the Chabad House and were very involved in the classes and activities.
“On the morning of the flight they insisted on davening with the minyan and later joined the daily Torah class, even though they knew they might miss the flight as a result.”
Their story is the talk of the town, Lifshitz added. “The can’t stop thanking Hashem and everyone is talking about the Tefillin that saved them.”
go akivah cousin
I was there last year Every minute (!!!) whith the lifshitz family I learned more and more about real AHAVAT ISRAEL and what is MESIRUT NEFESH mamash. I’ve never seen people like these before!!! Their thoughts and actions are only helping others!!!! I looked at the way they respect each other and how they talk to each other and I learned a lot.. When I look at their lovely kids – How they are happy to open the house and give everyone a great feeling I was surprised actually. These children aren most happy I’ve ever seen.. I was in… Read more »
keep it up!!
Coral Springs rocks…
there was a South African guy on that plane too!!