[COMMUNICATED]
After tens of Jews were tragically trampled in the Meron disaster several days ago, the stories brought to light about one man in particular have made a remarkable impact.
Shimon Matlon was the father of eight and a beloved teacher in Beitar. His friends describe him as a kind-hearted and generous man whose face would light up the room with his warm smile.
Just hours before the Lag Ba’Omer festivities, Shimon handed an envelope to a close friend of his by the name of Yossi Elituv with the strange instructions not to open it until Sunday. Yossi put the letter in his pocket and forgot about it until he received the terrible news that his friend was killed. When he eventually opened the letter, he couldn’t believe his eyes. It seemed almost prophetic, as if Shimon was giving comfort to his friends and family after losing him. These were the unbelievable words that Shimon wrote just hours before he was horrifically crushed to death:
(Translated from Hebrew)
“Instead of being filled with disappointment, accept everything with love
Instead of being rigid, be flexible
Instead of grumbling, let your mind take the lead
Instead of complaining, just give more thanks
Instead of drowning in water, say “Everything is from above”
Instead of blaming the world, remember who is in control
Instead of boiling with anger, take a deep breath and stretch
Instead of getting annoyed, strengthen your faith
Instead of seeing black, choose to see the glass half full.”
That was how Shimon lived. And this was how he died as well. According to eyewitnesses, as Shimon struggled to breathe amongst the bottleneck of desperate humans, a volunteer tried to help free Shimon from the entanglement. But Shimon quickly cried out to the volunteer, “There’s a little boy here, save him! It’s more important.”
Those were his last words.
Shimon put a little boy’s life before his own. A boy that he didn’t even know. That was simply the kind of man that he was. Now that he is gone, Shimon’s wife and eight little children are inconsolable. They have a long and difficult journey ahead of them, one that they will walk without his constant love and support. Shimon’s wife now faces the terrifying challenge of raising their eight children all on her own.  An emergency fund has been set up by the Vaad HaRabbanim to provide Shimon’s widow and eight young orphans with much-needed financial relief for the years to come. Click here to donate.