The Jewish Agency and the World Zionist Organization paid tribute Sunday to those who died in the Lag B'Omer disaster last week.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
The two organizations held a memorial ceremony in Jerusalem with remarks and prayers were delivered by Rabbi Noam Koenigsberg of Yeshivat Shaalvim, where 19 year-old Daniel Morris of New Jersey, who was killed in the tragedy, was studying as part of the Masa Program.
Jewish Agency Chairman Isaac Herzog lamented the "devastating tragedy," saying, "The entire Jewish world has come to a standstill. What started as prayers of joy before disaster struck will now become cries of mourning as we grieve the loss of the victims. Tonight, those cries will momentarily transform into hushed silence when the entire Jewish world collectively takes a moment to contemplate their loss."
WZO chief Yaakov Hagoel said, "The tragedy that befell us on Mount Meron impacts each of us. We have a collective responsibility to accept, embrace and love each other because we are one people."
On Monday, the Jewish Agency announced it would distribute emergency grants to the families of the victims. The Jewish Agency received funding for these emergency grants from the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto and Keren Hayesod.
