Baruch Ben Yigal, whose only son, IDF soldier Amit Ben Yigal Hy”d, was killed during an operational mission in 2020, shared an emotional personal account this week following the murder of Rav Amos Guetta zt”l, recalling a meeting that he says changed his life.

In a heartfelt tribute, Ben Yigal described visiting Rav Guetta during the first year after his son’s death, saying the elderly mekubal offered him comfort born of personal experience—and a blessing that was ultimately fulfilled.

According to Ben Yigal, the meeting was arranged by Rav Meir Bloch, who suggested that he travel to Netanya to meet Rav Guetta, a widely respected mekubal to whom thousands turned for brachos, guidance, and encouragement.

“We drove to Netanya. I met a very special Jew. From the very first moment, I felt like I was sitting down to speak with a father,” Ben Yigal wrote. “He sat inside the teivas hachazzan and received me for a private conversation. When he heard that I had lost my only son, he burst into tears and said, ‘I also buried a child. I know how you feel.'”

Ben Yigal said that during their conversation, Rav Guetta unexpectedly offered him a blessing that seemed almost impossible to imagine at the time.

“And then, out of nowhere, he blessed me and said: ‘May you merit enduring offspring. You will be a father again.'”

At the time, however, Ben Yigal said his grief was so overwhelming that he found it difficult to absorb the words.

“In those days I was so broken by Amit’s fall that I couldn’t attach any significance to the blessing. I thanked him, and we each went on our way.”

Reflecting on the years that followed, Ben Yigal wrote that he repeatedly heard stories of people who had visited Rav Guetta and left strengthened by his blessings and counsel.

“Since then, I have heard about countless people who met Rav Amos, received from him a blessing, advice, comfort, and hope. There is no doubt that he was a special person and a tzaddik, whose entire life was devoted to giving and doing good for others.”

Ben Yigal also expressed profound sorrow over Rav Guetta’s murder.

“And tonight, with great pain, we learned that he was murdered. An 80-year-old man who devoted his entire life to acts of kindness and helping people.”

He concluded his tribute with a prayer honoring both the revered mekubal and his fallen son.

“May his memory be blessed. May the memory of Rav Amos Guetta be blessed, and may the memory of Amit z”l remain forever engraved in our hearts.”

{Matzav.com}