Ultra-Orthodox Jews Urged to Attend Funeral of Druze Officer Killed in Jerusalem
More: Ultra-Orthodox Jews Urged to Attend Funeral of Druze Officer Killed in Jerusalem
The ultra-Orthodox community in Jerusalem’s Har Nof neighborhood is uniting to mourn the Druze police officer killed in the terror attack at a synagogue on Tuesday.
Postings on social media are urging ultra-Orthodox community members to attend the funeral of Zidan Nahad Seif, who was critically wounded while trying to stop the attack at the Kehilat Bnei Torah synagogue.
Seif succumbed to his wounds after being hospitalized in critical condition and his funeral is scheduled to take place Wednesday at 2 P.M. in his Western Galilee village of Yanuh-Jat.
At least one bus departed from the Jerusalem International Convention Center at 12 P.M. that was carrying mourners to Seif’s funeral.
“We are asking anyone from the ultra-Orthodox community who is able to attend the funeral of the police officer who protected our praying brothers with his body,” the post on social media read. “Come show him your gratitude,” it added, describing his actions - being killed while protecting Jewish worshipers - as kiddush hashem.
Ariella Sternbuch, one of the organizers of the drive to honor Seif, told Walla! news that she was touched by a photograph of him with his baby daughter. “I was moved by the thought that he chose to sacrifice his life for the Jewish people,” she said. “Haredim [ultra-Orthodox Jews], who were the main victims of this attack, should come pay him their last respects.”