JERUSALEM (VINnews) — An Israeli rabbi whose two sons were caught in a drowning incident, leaving one in critical condition and the other missing, issued an emotional appeal Sunday asking for forgiveness and urging spiritual reflection.

Bchadrei Charedim reports that, Rabbi Shlomo Spiegel, head of a yeshiva group in Jerusalem’s Beit Yisrael neighborhood, sent a message to his students calling on them to pray for his sons and to strengthen their conduct toward others.

In the message, Spiegel described the ordeal as a deeply personal and spiritual shock, writing that he felt singled out by divine providence. He reflected on the timing of the incident during the period of the Counting of the Omer, when Jewish tradition emphasizes respect and unity, and warned against failures in interpersonal conduct.

“With eyes swollen from tears, I ask forgiveness,” he wrote, urging anyone who may have been hurt by him or his family to grant full forgiveness. He also asked that anyone with financial grievances come forward so they could be addressed.

Spiegel also shared the names for prayer — Avraham Yeshayahu ben Shoshana and Yissachar Dov ben Shoshana — asking the public to pray for their recovery and safety.

He encouraged his students and followers to take on practical commitments, including avoiding hurtful speech and exercising greater sensitivity in daily interactions, saying such efforts could bring merit for his sons.

The incident, involving two brothers from a haredi family, has drawn widespread attention in Israel, as rescue teams continue searching for the missing son while the other remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Community members have responded with prayers and calls for unity as authorities continue efforts related to the case.