Some things that happen in Israel are, quite simply, heartbreaking. No other word will do. The death of Asaf Ramon is heartbreaking. He and his father Ilan were both upright, unassuming men who trained to the utmost of their ability and were prepared to risk their lives to protect this country. The family's grief is keenly felt by us all.
Even without this tragedy, today would have been grim enough. I have just returned from Ra'anana's military cemetery where there was a memorial ceremony for Aharon Tsarfaty, one of my son's best friends. Aharon died on the Monday before Rosh Hashanah three years ago, during a tryout for Shayetet, the elite naval commando unit.
Today, many of Aharon's close-knit group of schoolfriends are in elite combat units, my son included. It has become too commonplace these days to criticise the IDF and to take all these fine young people for granted. Instead of travelling, studying at university or starting work like their peers outside Israel, they have to undergo lengthy, gruelling military training. Aharon saw his service not only as a duty, but also as a privilege, and he had trained very hard just for the tryout.
Aharon Tsarfaty and Asaf Ramon epitomised all that is good in Israel. On this blackest of days, my thoughts are with Aharon's parents and younger brothers, and with Asaf Ramon's family.