Hillel Mordechai Dadon's body released following coordinated effort to minimize autopsy procedures while preserving evidence for prosecution of suspected killer
The body of seven-year-old Hillel Mordechai Dadon has been released for burial following the fatal stabbing attack Monday in Beit Shemesh's Emek HaZeitim neighborhood. The release came after intensive coordination by ZAKA's legal department to expedite the process.
The child died from his wounds at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center after being stabbed alongside his four-year-old cousin. The younger boy underwent surgery and is currently listed in moderate and stable condition.
Following the transfer of the body to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine at Abu Kabir, representatives from ZAKA's legal department worked with Rabbi Asher Landau, the rabbinical supervisor at the forensic institute, to minimize procedures that would violate Jewish burial laws. Through accelerated coordination with all relevant authorities, an agreement was reached to conduct only the minimal examination required to complete the legal process for prosecution.
The examination was performed under Rabbi Landau's close supervision. Upon completion, the body was released for burial. Yosef Chaim Haouzi, deputy commander of ZAKA Beit Shemesh, transported the child's body from the forensic institute in a ZAKA ambulance to proceed with burial arrangements.
Michael Gottwin, director of ZAKA's legal department, explained the rationale behind the coordinated effort: "Given our department's extensive experience handling murder cases of this nature, and with the goal of sparing the family from prolonged court proceedings and sometimes even Supreme Court petitions, we acted with particular sensitivity and in accordance with established practice in such cases."
Gottwin added that the effort aimed "to minimize to the absolute necessary minimum any violation of the dignity of the deceased, while simultaneously enabling the full legal process required to bring the murderer to trial and conviction, as ruled in the responsa Tzitz Eliezer, volume 4, section 14."
The funeral for Hillel Mordechai Dadon is scheduled for Tuesday at 4:00 PM at the municipal cemetery in Beit Shemesh.
Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center provided an update on the four-year-old cousin injured in the stabbing. The child underwent surgery Monday evening and is now in moderate and stable condition. Professor Dan Arbel, director of the pediatric surgery department at Hadassah, who operated on the child with an extensive medical team, reported that the boy is recovering to the satisfaction of his physicians and his family is at his bedside.
The attack occurred Monday afternoon when the children's father returned home to find the two cousins, ages four and seven, wounded near an inflatable pool in the yard. The mother had left to shop for one of the children's birthday celebrations, and a 15-year-old relative who had been watching the children witnessed the attack.
Police arrested a 25-year-old neighbor on suspicion of carrying out the attack. According to reports, the suspect has a history of mental health issues. He allegedly entered the home, stabbed both children, and fled the scene. Professor Arbel reported that the four-year-old survivor is recovering satisfactorily following surgery at Hadassah Ein Kerem.
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