The tragic deaths of 21 students and a teacher in a flash flood in Jordan last week prompted an Israeli school hit by a similar disaster earlier this year to write a letter of sympathy and condolence.
Ten Israeli high school seniors – nine girls and one boy – were killed in April when they were caught in a flash flood while hiking near the Dead Sea as part of a pre-military preparatory program. Fifteen other students were rescued, some of them injured.
Last week, on a hike on the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea, a group from Victoria College in Amman was caught in a flash flood, and 21 people were killed.
One of the Israeli victims was Agam Levy, a 12th-grader from the Dror Experimental Educational Campus school in Tel Mond in central Israel.
Her school decided to write to Victoria College this week to extend condolences and show solidarity.
"The students and faculty at Dror Experimental Educational Campus mourn your deep loss and wish a speedy and safe recovery to all those injured," principal Ariella Ben Ari wrote.
"The forces of nature are not bound by international borders, and neither should the human heart be. Let's hope that you will know no more pain."
The students also expressed their sympathies, writing: "Having lost a student and friend to a forceful flood, along with nine others, we could not stand idly by. We want you to know that we are here for you, ready to talk with your students to try to understand how we process this and how we move on. We share your immense grief and send a big hug."
The letter was written in both Arabic and Hebrew and was submitted to the Jordanian Education Ministry by the Israeli Ambassador to Jordan, Amir Weissbrod.
The tragedy in Jordan sparked public outrage and prompted the resignations of Tourism Minister Lina Annab and Education Minister Azmi Mahafzan.
