Israel grieves together as devotion, unity, and rescue solidarity confront heartbreaking loss with dignity.
The body of Moshe Lodmer, a 16-year-old student at the Boyan Yeshiva in Modiin Illit, was located Friday after four days of intensive searches. Lodmer had been missing since Tuesday after being swept away by strong currents in the Modi’in Stream while entering the water with a friend near the yeshiva.
The friend was rescued on the day of the incident and immediately alerted authorities, triggering a large-scale search operation. Lodmer, a resident of Beitar Illit, had recently begun his first year of studies at the Tiferet Yisrael Rozhin Boyan Yeshiva, where teachers and classmates described him as dedicated and full of promise.
Search efforts were led by the Israel Fire and Rescue Service alongside the Judea and Samaria District Police, security forces, rescue units, and hundreds of volunteers. Lieutenant Commander Shlomi Harosh, commander of the Benjamin Region Fire and Rescue Service, said the operation was exceptionally complex due to heavy water flow, bridge crossings, and stormy weather.
Police confirmed the body was found on the fourth day of continuous searches, highlighting extraordinary cooperation among emergency services and volunteers. The tragedy has cast a heavy shadow over the Modiin Illit and Beitar Illit communities, which are uniting in mourning and support for the family.
May his memory be a blessing.
