Yair, killed in the unexploded ordnance disaster, laid to rest: "Send a sign that everything is okay"
Yair Vilensky (14) from Ma'alot-Tarshiha, killed in an unexploded ordnance explosion during his yeshiva's annual trip, was laid to rest at the cemetery in Moshav Hosen. Dozens of family members and friends accompanied him on his final journey. Mother Shulamit eulogized his compassion and love of nature, brother Dov asked him to send a sign that he is okay, and educator Rabbi Moyal defined his death as murder by Hezbollah.
Yair Vilensky (14) from Ma'alot-Tarshiha, a ninth-grade student at the Ort Ma'alot yeshiva high school, was laid to rest at the cemetery in Moshav Hosen, two days after being killed in an unexploded ordnance explosion during his school's annual trip. Dozens of family members, acquaintances, and friends accompanied him on his final journey. Mother Shulamit eulogized over his grave: "Yair, you were so full of compassion. You were merciful towards every creature in creation, whether a horse, a dog, or even a beetle." She spoke of his love of nature and the quality time they spent together in the forest with a thermos of hot tea and a hammock. Older brother Dov said through tears: "It's hard for me that the world keeps turning while you're not here. Please send us signs that you're okay." Sister Ayana, who returned from her honeymoon abroad, said: "In my darkest dreams I never imagined this would happen." Educator Rabbi Eliezer Moyal defined his death as murder: "Yair was murdered by Hezbollah in this disaster attack. That bomb was there, intended, and sat waiting for the moment it would appear and cut short Jewish lives." The head of the yeshiva, Rabbi Elad Baruch, praised the heroism of Yair's friends who fought for his life. The disaster occurred on Monday following the explosion of an old cluster bomb fired by Hezbollah during the war, which remained in the area of Ramim Ridge in the Upper Galilee. 23 students and staff members were injured, several seriously. The students said the cluster bomb was in the boys' possession for over an hour, unaware of the danger. Ministers Yoav Kisch and Ze'ev Elkin represented the government at the funeral, and Kisch pledged to investigate the disaster.