JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The Jerusalem Post is reporting that the Meron victims’ families will finally be awarded financial compensation from the government.
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According to initial reports, the families of the 45 victims who tragically perished will be given an initial payment of 500,000 shekel per family, pending government approval.
The announcement was made by Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman and Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and more details will presumably be forthcoming.
As VIN reported recently, it’s been eight months since the Meron tragedy, yet the families have not received one penny in compensation.
Rabbi Avigdor Chayut, who tragically lost a son, Yedidyah z”l, in Meron, and who himself was injured (in addition to losing a talmid), recently told Kikar Shabbos that the government has not paid any attention to the families whose lives were damaged.
“The government is ignoring its citizens,” he said in anguish. “The committee’s interim conclusions said that ‘the [government] is sorry for the families’ grief,’ so I ask, ‘How?’
Rabbi Chayut continued, “There is no discussion of compensation. I do not believe anyone can compensate me, and I don’t need compensation. I’m only asking for the tools to cope.”
What about the families of the victims who survived but were critically injured and are still in a coma, such as Yosef Azriel ben Chaya Michal??
What about all the money that was collected for the victims and their families from outside of the government? How much are they getting from those sources? Is someone watching to make sure that the victims or families get that money, that is not squandered on excessive expenses and salaries, siphoned off, or pocketed improperly?
Huh is right – The medina is not responsible for every violation of sechel and safety by the Meron organizers
Can you guys explain this to me? These people were crushed in a stampede in an event not run by the government. (Am I mistaken?) On a site not controlled or owned by the government. (Again, am I mistaken?)
Why is the government paying the bereaved families? At least here in the US, the people in charge of the event would have to pay.
Any anti-Zionist Hasidim among these families should refuse to take money from what is to them “the treifene medinah”.
Taking this money means that the government will have the right to control/limit future events of this nature. Rabbanim and Chareidi politicians wont have a say. Considering that the government is now controlled by Abbas (thanks to Bennett), this is a dangerous precedent. Do we really want this? The compensation will come from our pockets anyway (Abbas’s constituents dont pay taxes so its Jewish money) , we are better off supporting the families ourselves.
It’s government fault . The police put up the walls that’s what caused this great tradegy .
That’s why they should get few million each
Why is the medina obligated to compensate them for going to a dangerous event? If someone climbs a tall cliff and has an accident in the process, does the government have to pay them too?
This works out to about $3500 USD per family at the current exchange rate.