Following an intensive international effort spanning several days, the body of Reb Akiva Rand z”l, the young avreich who was killed in a tragic automobile accident in Moldova last week, arrived in Israel. The successful transfer of his remains brought a measure of relief to his grieving family and the hundreds of Tchernobyler chassidim who had anxiously awaited the outcome of an extraordinary campaign to preserve the kavod hameis.

Behind the scenes, a complex diplomatic and legal battle unfolded immediately after news of the tragedy reached Israel. The operation was led by Chabad shluchim Reb Mendy Axelrod and Reb Schneur Tiefenbrun. Also involved were the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Israel’s embassy in Moldova, and ZAKA’s International Unit, who all mobilized to assist the family during their darkest hours while working tirelessly to ensure that the niftar would be brought to kever Yisroel without delay.

At the same time, Reb Mendy Axelrod and Reb Schneur Tiefenbrun, and ZAKA’s International Unit, engaged in an intense legal and diplomatic struggle with Moldovan authorities and the country’s judicial system. Despite an initial insistence by local officials that an autopsy be performed, the askanim ultimately succeeded, through persistent efforts, in securing the release of the body without any postmortem examination.

Volunteers remained at the crash scene for many hours, carefully tending to every aspect of the recovery with the utmost respect and dignity. They meticulously gathered all necessary remains and evidence to ensure that Reb Akiva would receive a proper Jewish burial.

Hundreds of chassidim, relatives, and friends accompanied him on his final journey during the levayah, which departed shortly after midnight from the Tchernobyler beis medrash on Rechov Tuval in Yerushalayim. He was laid to rest on Har HaMenuchos.

The fatal accident occurred last Wednesday while Reb Akiva was traveling with a group of chassidim to Moldova to visit the resting place of the tzaddik, Rav Yechiel Heshel of Krylovitz, whose yahrtzeit had been observed the previous week. While driving near Kishinev, Reb Akiva apparently lost control of his vehicle, which veered off the roadway and plunged into a deep ravine. Local emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene, while the other passengers were injured and transported to a nearby hospital.

Friends and acquaintances recalled another painful dimension of the tragedy. For many years, Reb Akiva and his wife longed for children, pouring out countless tefillos before finally being blessed, through Heaven’s mercy, with three young children. Those three children have now been left orphaned by the devastating loss of their devoted father.

Tehei nishmaso tzrurah bitzror hachaim.

{Matzav.com}