Shots from terrorists were fired from a vehicle that overtook Rabbi Raziel Shevach HY”D, who was driving on Highway 60, near Chavat Gilad. (Gilad Farms)
Shevach who was thee Rabbi and Mohel of Chavat Gilad, sustained multiple shots to his upper body and was evacuated in critical condition to Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba.
Doctors worked hard to save his life but he did not survive and died on the operating table.
Rabbi Shevach studied and taught in the Ro’eh Yisrael Yeshiva, during which he passed the rabbinical ordination exams while also undergoing training to be a Mohel and a Shochet. (ritual slaughterer)
His friend Rabbi Yehoshua Gelbard, the director of the Ro’eh Yisrael Yeshiva, eulogized Rabbi Raziel.
“He was a unique combination of a Torah scholar and a servant of G-d, who studied Torah diligently out of vitality and joy, and enlightened all those around him.”
“During the exams for the rabbinate, he stayed at the yeshiva and studied steadily all week until the small hours of the night. Alongside the Torah study he was a good friend and a man of action who naturally volunteered to save lives as part of Magen David Adom and also volunteered in Chevra Kadisha. This loss is inconceivable,” Gelbard added.
A massive manhunt has been launched for the vehicle of the terrorists, who shot at Israelis and managed to escape.
Magen David Adom (MDA) Director-General Eli Bin spoke about Rabbi Shevach who was a volunteer paramedic in the MDA.
“The MDA family lowers its head today, following the murder of the our beloved volunteer, Rabbi Shevach. Rabbi Shevach was wearing his MDA uniform at the time of this attack, he was always prepared to provide assistance,” said Bin.
Member of Knesset Bezalel Smotrich happened to be on Highway 60 at the time of the terror attack, and stopped to help.
“Jewish blood is not cheap. This is an intolerable situation, when a subhuman comes to sow destruction,” Smotrich said. He called on Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman to instruct the IDF “to act with an iron fist and make clear to the Palestinians that for every action like this they will pay a high price.”
President Reuven Rivlin said following the attack: “I was very sorry to hear about the death of this special man. Our hearts, our prayers and our thoughts are with the mourning family.”
Rabbi Raziel Shevach leaves behind his loving wife Yael and 6 young children.
