A heartfelt plea for increased light

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits Eva Sandler, wife of Rabbi Jonathan Sandler and mother of Arieh and Gabriel, victims of the March 19 shooting in Toulouse, France. [Flash90 photo]

Chava (Eva) Sandler, the widow of Rabbi Jonathan Sandler, who was murdered during the attack on the Toulouse, France, school last week, released the following statement.

My heart is broken. I am unable to speak. There are no ways for me to be able to express the great and all-consuming pain resulting from the murder of my dear husband, Rabbi Jonathan, and our sons, Arieh and Gabriel, and of Miriam Monsonego, daughter of the dedicated principal of Ozar Hatorah and his wife, Rabbi Yaakov and Mrs. Monsonego.

May no one ever have to endure such pain and suffering.

Because so many of you, my cherished brothers and sisters in France and around the world, are asking what you can do on my behalf, on behalf of my daughter, Liora, and on behalf of the souls of my dear husband and children, I feel that, difficult though it may be, it is incumbent upon me to answer your entreaties.

My husband’s life was dedicated to teaching Torah. We moved back to the country of his birth [from Israel] to help young people learn about the beauty of Torah. He was truly a good man, loving, giving and selfless. He was sensitive to all of God’s creatures, always searching for ways to reveal the goodness in others.

He and I raised Arieh and Gabriel to live the ways of Torah. Who would have known how short would be their time on this Earth, how short would be the time I would be with them as their mother?

I don’t know how I and my husband’s parents and sister will find the consolation and strength to carry on, but I know that the ways of God are good, and He will reveal the path and give us the strength to continue. I know that their holy souls will remain with us forever, and I know that very soon the time will come when we will be together again with the coming of Moshiach.

I wholeheartedly believe in the words of the verse: “The Lord has given, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord.” I thank the Almighty for the privilege, short though it was, of raising my children together with my husband. Now the Almighty wants them back with Him.

To all those who wish to bring consolation to our family and contentment to the souls of the departed: let’s continue their lives on this Earth.

Parents, please kiss your children. Tell them how much you love them, and how dear it is to your heart that they be living examples of our Torah, imbued with the fear of Heaven and with love of their fellow man.

Please increase your study of Torah, whether on your own or with your family and friends. Help others who may find study difficult to achieve alone.

Please bring more light into the world by kindling the Sabbath candles this and every Friday night. (Please do so a bit ear-lier than the published times as a way to add holiness to our world.)

The holiday of Passover is approaching. Please invite another person into your homes so that all have a place at a seder to celebrate the holiday of our freedom.

Along with our tearful remembrance of our trials in Egypt so many years ago, we still tell over how “in each and every gen-eration, they have stood against us to de-stroy us.” We all will announce in a loud and clear voice: “God saves us from their hands.”

The spirit of the Jewish People can never be extinguished. Its connection with Torah and its commandments can never be destroyed.

May it be God’s will that from this moment on we will all only know happiness.

I send my heartfelt condolences to the Monsonego family for the loss of their daughter, Miriam, and I pray for the speedy recovery of Aharon ben Leah, who was injured in the attack.

Thank you for your support and love.