As night fell on Thursday, and Lag BaOmer spread its joyous light throughout Israel, Rabbi Shimon Matalon shared an envelope with a friend, instructing him not to open it until Sunday.
Written content from Chabad and Anash
Later that night, Shimon was among the 45 men and boys who lost their lives in the tragic crowding in Meron.
As revealed by Israeli journalist Yossi Elituv, the envelope contained a single sheet of paper with the following lines (roughly translated from Hebrew):
Instead of being filled with disappointment,
Accept everything with love.
Instead of being rigid,
Be flexible.
Instead of complaining,
Let your mind be in control.
Instead of harping,
Be more grateful.
Instead of seeing problems,
Filter out negativity.
Instead of drowning in water,
Know it’s all from G‑d.
Instead of blaming everyone,
Remember Who is the greatest of all.
Instead of getting angry,
Take a deep breath and stretch.
Instead of being upset,
Exercise your faith.
Instead of choosing darkness,
Choose the full half of the glass.
Instead of sinking into despair,
Remember that everything is a test from G‑d, Who saves.
Because G‑d decides what’s going to happen,
But you decide what your attitude will be.
Rabbi Shimon Matalon, a Lubavitcher chossid from Beitar Illit, and a beloved educator in the local Talmud Torah, is among the victims who perished in the tragic incident in Meron.
Rabbi Shimon Matalon, a Lubavitcher chossid from Beitar Illit, is among the victims who perished in the tragic incident in Meron early Friday morning.
He was 37 years old.
R’ Shimon was a beloved educator in the Talmud Torah ‘Chanichei Hayeshivos’ in Beitar Illit, and a member of the Chabad community in the Dekel neighborhood of Beitar Illit.
Friends described him as a kind and generous soul who always greeted everyone with a smile.
Chabad journalist Yossi Elituv, who is a member of the same Chabad Shul as R’ Shimon wrote: “The Malach Hamaves entered our community and chose one of our finest in the Meron tragedy, the beloved educator Rabbi Shimon Matalon, who was always kind and giving to everyone.”
He leaves behind a wife and 10 children.
Baruch Dayan Haemes.