Jerusalem – One year after seven of his children died in a horrific fire in Brooklyn, NY, Gavriel Sassoon spoke about how he has managed to cope with his devastating loss.
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In an interview with B’Chadrei Chareidim, Sassoon said that he is now living in Israel and making occasional trips to America. Sassoon, who is now learning in kollel in Jerusalem, said that his whole life is in Israel, where he goes to visit his children’s graves twice a month.
“I never really enjoyed living in America,” said Sassoon. “Here I have a closer connection to Hashem. I like to visit the Kotel frequently because it gives me great comfort when things are difficult.”
Coping with such a monumental loss has been a daunting task. Sassoon has found that strengthening his relationship with Hashem has helped him go on with his life.
“I accept the suffering with love and this love gives me the strength to deal with it,” said Sassoon. “Hashem opens up new possibilities under circumstances like these. Without the Torah I would not have been able to survive and learning gives me tremendous fortitude.”
Davening and speaking publicly have both been sources of solace for Sassoon.
“I need to connect with Hashem,” said Sassoon. “Without this I would break. I have been called to speak in many places to inspire others and many people have taken upon themselves the acceptance of mitzvos in memory of my seven children.”
Both Mrs. Gayle Sassoon and Tzipora, the only Sassoon child to survive the inferno, continue with daily rehabilitation.
“My wife is a tremendous optimist and my daughter Tzipora returned to school where her friends support and encourage her,” said Sassoon. “It is hard for her that she suddenly has no brothers and sisters and even physically, she still has trouble breathing and with her vocal cords and many burns but over time we expect improvement.”
Sassoon said that his wife and his daughter still have issues with their hands and that he is in frequent communication with them both, doing his best to offer as much support as he can from afar. The two have moved into a new house.
“Our house is filled with too many painful memories,” explained Sassoon. “It will soon be turned into a synagogue and will have a small hall suitable for those who need a venue to make a bris. It will turn the building into a house of mitzvos, a house of Torah.”
Many in the Jewish community have offered encouragement to the surviving family members. Sassoon said that his wife and daughter had hoped to come to Israel for the yahrtzeit but were unable to come because they were not feeling well, postponing their first visit to the graves of the Sassoon children for a future date.
Sassoon’s dream for the future?
“That my wife Gayle and my daughter Tziporah will join me here in Israel so that we can once again live together as a family.”
Just reading this is devastating,heartbreaking. Moshiach ,we need you now!!!
Did I miss something in this article? Why is Mr. Sassoon living in Israel while his injured wife and daughter are sill here in the US?
Oyi !!! May hashem give him and all of us the strenghth to continue
This tragedy is beyond anything we can understand. Hashem is the source of rachmonuous and just like we x understand WWII we x understand this
May moshiach come already and all be united again
Tziporah and Gila are in my prayers every morning and evening for a complete Refuah Shelaima.
U missed ur jewish heart
He also needs major therapy etc. So mabey he was told to live in Isreal so he can be nx to his 7 kedoushim
But u probably r from the ערב רב so how would u know or feel another jews pain
A question was asked – until I read further, I also was puzzled. Don’t fight! Do you think this gives menucha to Rabbi Sassoon, his wife and daughter, or the 7 precious neshamos they lost? You yell & scream for Moshiach but you turn on each other on a dime. When will you get it?
I have a friend who lost children under terrible circumstances. Someone said something very negative about the mother’s derech/emunah (her emunah & bitachon are incredible) to me & I said “if this is what it takes for her to get out of bed, get dressed, & go out every day, so be it.” Don’t criticize the family’s choices, & don’t attack each other if you do.
No. 3 asked the right questions. But the sanctimonious responders have to show their santimony.