Soccer Dad

"... and young men in the streets"

The traffic report Friday morning told of an accident on Slade Ave. between Park Heights and Seven Mile Lane. The reporter added that those wishing to attend services at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation could enter the temple's parking lot.

I didn't really pay it much attention. After all it was a city street. There was no mention of injuries. And I was thankful that I had taken Shelburne instead to get to Park Heights.

My wife called to tell me to avoid it and hoped that no one we knew was involved.

But later in the day she called. One of the boys in the car had been a classmate of our second son (until eighth grade) and was in critical condition.

The news over the rest of the day wasn't good. It sounded like his injuries were quite severe and that his chances were not good.

On Shabbos, I saw his younger brother in Shul and assumed that it meant that he was still alive.

When I arrived at Shul Sunday morning, Tisha B'Av, there were no signs up. But when the Rabbi read the the possuk in the Haftarh (my translation) (Yirmiyahu 9:20) "Because death has risen in our windows, entered into our palaces. It has cut off children outside and young men in the streets." his voice broke.

It wasn't surprising but still shocking when the Rabbi announced at the beginning of Kinos - the mournful liturgy for Tisha B'Av - that the young man, only 16 years old had passed away over night.

The funeral home was full. People were standing in the back and the crowd filled not just the chapel but the lobby.

His sister and three Rabbis spoke at his funeral. To my mind the greatest praise that anyone said was that when he visited he cleared his plate and helped clear other plates when everyone was done eating. He was thoughtful and considerate.

I had seen him only a few weeks ago. Walking tall. He looked invincible. It is hard to grasp that he is gone.

It was a little more than three years ago when I heard my friend say "I'm not supposed be here." We weren't supposed to be there on Sunday. But we were. Again.

UPDATE: I hope the disgraceful commenters at Vos Iz Naes are happy. The family read the comments and it added to their pain. Worse, at least some of what was written was false.

For other thoughts, see Toras Chayim.