It was 16 years ago when 30 Jews were murdered and over 100 injured in the devastating terror attack in the Park Hotel in Netanya, Israel, on Pesach.
Arkady, a chef at the hotel, escaped the horror because he was in a room far from the blast site when it happened.
A warm and friendly man, Arkady was devoted to his family and renowned as an exceptional chef. He was beloved by his wife Victoria, and his daughter Shulamit, with whom he had immigrated to Israel from Odessa, and his second daughter Rinat who was born in Israel.
A month after the tragic Passover massacre, terrorists struck again in Netanya, this time in the market. Arkady had been on his way home from work and had decided to stop in the market to do some shopping. This time he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was seriously injured in the blast.
He was transferred to the hospital where he died a few hours later.
Since that tragic day, Rabbi Menachem Kutner, Director, Chabad’s Terror Victims Project (CTVP) has been with the family, bringing them help and comfort as they struggled to regain their life without their precious husband and father.
When their daughter Rinat was to marry recently, the family invited Rabbi Kutner to officiate the wedding. It was a full circle for Rabbi Kutner – from comforting the family in their pain to accompanying them in their joy.
Here are remarks Rabbi Kutner said under the chupah:
“I am especially moved at this wedding. We can all see under the canopy the photo of Arkady, of blessed memory, the beloved husband and father of this family. I want to share something personal with you for a moment.
“I first met the bride Rinat when she was eight years old. It was at the shiva for her beloved father. He had died in the terror explosion at the market here in Netanya, just mere months after he survived the bombing at the Park Hotel.
“Rinat and her sister Shulamit have grown into wonderful young women. We are so grateful to G-d to have arrived today at this beautiful ceremony from which a new Jewish home will be established.
“This is our answer to the enemies who seek to destroy us, that we will build new lives. I am sure that Arkady is looking down from above and sharing in this wonderful simcha and that he sends his blessings to the groom Segev and his bride Rinat and the entire family. Amen and amen!”
