Heartbreaking Eulogy: Hassidic Father Mourns 16 Year-Old Son Who Drowned in Nahal Modi'im

In a tearful eulogy, Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Ludmir mourned his son, Moshe Ludmir z"l, a 16-year-old student at Yeshivat Bayan in Modi'in Illit, whose body was recovered after four days of searches following his drowning in Nahal Modi'im. Crowds attended the funeral on Friday afternoon, just before Shabbat.

Rabbi Ludmir, a prominent figure among Boyan Hasidim in Beitar Illit, delivered the eulogy amid sobs, recounting their last phone conversation on Monday evening, hours before the tragedy. "I was already missing you intensely. I hadn't seen you much, and I didn't dream it would be forever," he said. He described Moshe as slightly agitated during the call, attributing it to fatigue from rising at 6 a.m. for Shovavim.

The father noted preparations for his daughter's upcoming wedding: "The last words on the phone were, 'Moishi, soon we'll dance at the wedding, and it will be joyful; you'll help organize it.'" He mentioned buying new clothes for Moshe early, during Hanukkah, to avoid disrupting his yeshiva studies, a suit, hat, shoes, all waiting in the closet.

Addressing the divine will, Rabbi Ludmir said, "Why did the Master of the Universe do this? We don't ask questions; this is the way it was supposed to be."

He urged Moshe to pray from above for the family's joy, additional simchas, his rebbe's strength, who had worried greatly and the community. "You are close now; open the gates. Pray for the rebbe shlit"a; he always cared for you, and you were connected to him, traveling to every tish."

Seeking forgiveness, he added, "I ask mechila on behalf of myself and the family. We appreciated you, but not enough. We tried for you, and now we'll try for your memory. May Hashem help..."

He thanked Moshe's devoted friends, the yeshiva, rescue teams, and the public, wishing them only good, and concluded with a prayer: "May we merit salvation, 'He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and remove His people's disgrace from all Israel, for Hashem has spoken.'"

The incident occurred last Tuesday when Moshe and a friend went to immerse in the stream during Shovavim. Heavy rains caused strong currents, leading to a sudden flood. The friend escaped and called for help, but Moshe was swept away despite his struggle, vanishing in the stream.

Volunteers who searched for four days stood to recite Kaddish upon the body's recovery Friday morning. Moshe was described as fully devoted to Torah and doing the will of Hashem.

May his memory be a blessing.