Grieving Family Marks End of Shiva, Facing Stark Reality of Loss
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
The Elgrabli family concluded their seven-day mourning period for Hadassah Hannah, who died of a brain tumor, with her three young children mourning at her grave. Known as "Ganenet Dessi," she was a beloved kindergarten teacher and supporter of her husband's religious studies. The family faces significant financial hardship and emotional challenges as the father must now raise the children alone, with a special fund established to provide urgent assistance.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Three young children mourned their mother, Hadassah Hannah, at her grave after her passing from a brain tumor.
- The deceased was known as "Ganenet Dessi," a dedicated kindergarten teacher in Jerusalem's Beit Vagan.
- Her husband, already orphaned in his youth, now faces raising their three children alone.
- A special fund has been established to provide urgent financial aid to the bereaved family.
- The family is grappling with profound grief and immediate financial difficulties following the Shiva.
On the morning following the seven-day mourning period, known as Shiva, the Elgrabli family gathered at the grave of Hadassah Hannah, who passed away last week. The scene was deeply emotional as her three young children, aged 11, 7, and 3 and a half, clung to the soil of their mother's grave. Hadassah Hannah died just two and a half months after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. Her condition had been stable during intensive round-the-clock care at the hospital, but she passed away suddenly with a friend by her side.
Known in the Beit Vagan neighborhood as "Ganenet Dessi" (Dessi the kindergarten teacher), she was remembered for her dedication to the children in her care and her strong connection to them over the years. She was the daughter of Rabbi Yair Rapul, a lecturer at the Tiferet Halevi Yeshiva Ketana in Jerusalem, and was deeply devoted to her husband's Torah studies. She actively supported him in establishing evening and Friday kollels (Torah study groups).
The tragedy carries an additional layer of sorrow for the family. The father, son of Rabbi Yochanan Elgrabli, a prominent rabbi in France, was himself orphaned at age 20 and entered his wedding as an orphan. Now, his own children are left orphaned by this devastating loss.
Upon returning from the cemetery, the family faced the emptiness of their home. During the Shiva, the house was filled with comforting visitors, but as the mourning period concluded, the family was left alone with their grief. The father must now shoulder the sole responsibility for the household and his three young children, compounded by financial burdens and accumulated debts.
As the period of official mourning ends and condolences cease, the family's need for public support is paramount. Assistance is being channeled through a special fund established to provide urgent aid to the widower and his children, enabling him to maintain their home, preserve their routine, and offer them hope for the future.