Israeli President Yitzchok Herzog spoke today with Yigal, the Yerushalayim taxi driver who bravely rescued an 85-year-old woman from the scene of the terrorist attack in Ramot.
During their phone conversation, Herzog expressed admiration for Yigal’s actions, telling him: “I’m excited to speak with you, dear Yigal. You are truly a model of civic courage. I watched the video and said – get me Yigal! All the credit to you! You are a role model citizen. I want to say thank you. In this way you bring tremendous pride to the State of Israel, and I wish you good health, happiness and joy.”
Yigal, however, humbly rejected the label of hero. “I don’t see this as any act of bravery. I simply think that any taxi driver in such a situation must act this way. There was a passenger, an elderly woman about 85 years old, and I had to get her out of there,” he responded.
Footage from a dashcam shows the moment Yigal pulled the woman from the danger zone amid the chaos of the attack. His quick thinking and sense of responsibility have since drawn widespread public attention.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Police in north London are looking for a suspect seen on security cameras smearing an unknown substance on two shuls and on a walkway regularly used by mispallelim in Golders Green.
The incidents, which happened last Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, are being treated by the Metropolitan Police as religiously motivated acts of vandalism. Reports have indicated that the material involved was excrement.
Det Supt Tony Bellis condemned the behavior, saying: “This is a revolting and appalling act and we are urging the public to help us locate those responsible as soon as possible.”
CCTV footage of the offenses was collected by Shomrim, a volunteer neighborhood patrol organization that monitors Jewish areas in north-east London, and passed on to investigators.
A representative for Shomrim NW described the attacks as “a deliberate and disgraceful anti-Semitic act targeting places of worship and members of our community.”
The spokesperson continued: “It is utterly disgusting, and those responsible must be caught and brought to justice. Nobody should have to face such hatred when going to pray or at their own home.”
{Matzav.com}
Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu came at midday to the site of the gruesome terror attack at the Ramot junction in Yerushalayim, where six innocent Yidden were murdered.
Netanyahu declared, “We are at war with terror on several fronts. We will destroy Hamas and free our hostages, sadly we were unable to prevent this morning’s attack.”
Speaking about the heroic actions that took place, he said, “A soldier from the charedi Chashmonaim Brigade acted with amazing composure. Two charedi civilians who were armed assisted him. We must understand that we are all in this war — we must stand together.”
Netanyahu, who had been scheduled to appear in court today until the session was canceled due to the attack, turned his remarks toward the judicial system while at the scene. “Court — you are also in this war, you are also part of this war. We do not go easy on our enemies, we will strike them forcefully — and so you should act in the same way as well.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Reb Levi Yitzchok Pash Hy”d, who served faithfully for many years as a maintenance worker in Yeshivas Kol Torah in Yerushalayim, was tragically killed this morning in the devastating terror attack that took place at the Ramat junction in Yerushalayim.
He had been standing at the bus stop together with another staff member from the yeshiva when a driver stopped and kindly offered to take them to the yeshiva. Both of them accepted the offer and entered the vehicle.
Just then, another person approached, explaining that he needed urgent transportation to the hospital for medical care. Reb Levi Yitzchok, who had already settled into the car, immediately stepped out to allow the man to take his place. Only a few minutes later, the dreadful shooting attack broke out, and in that terrible moment, Reb Levi Yitzchok was murdered al kiddush Hashem.
At 57 years old, Reb Levi Yitzchok lived in Tel Tzion and was known throughout the Bayit Vegan neighborhood as the longtime, dedicated worker at Kol Torah. Those who worked with him describe him as a warm, caring individual who was beloved by everyone and always carried himself with a generous spirit.
Just last night, he had been celebrating together with family at a chasunah on his wife’s side in Beitar Illit. His relatives recall that he was known as someone who lived to give, always extending a helping hand to anyone who turned to him for assistance.
The levayah is scheduled to take place today at 4:30 p.m. from Shamgar in Yerushalayim, proceeding to Har Hamenuchos, where he will be laid to rest.
{Matzav.com Israel}
