Parents of 4-Year-Old Killed by Firetruck: 'We Have Complete Faith' and Their Request to the People of Israel
"We are not looking for people to blame," say the grieving parents who lost their 4-year-old daughter in a tragic accident. "We had the privilege of living with her for three years and seven months, a wonderful, amazing child."
- נעמה גרין
- פורסם ה' אב התשפ"א
(Photo: shutterstock) #VALUE!
![Penina Moshe (Photo: Courtesy of the family)]()
Penina Moshe (Photo: Courtesy of the family)
Yesterday, a fatal accident occurred in the city of Lod. Penina Moshe, not yet 4 years old, was killed after being hit by a firetruck that ran a red light and collided forcefully with the family's private vehicle in which Penina and her mother, who survived miraculously, were traveling.
Initial investigation suggests that a firetruck on duty ran a red light and crashed into the vehicle containing the mother and daughter. Mother Vered recounted, "I didn't hear a siren; suddenly I saw the front part of the firetruck, and then I saw Penina. When I hear a siren, I know to clear the way." Penina's parents expressed their belief that it is hard for the firefighters who were in the truck at the time of the accident, and they know there was no intention to cause harm. "We pray that they remain strong."
Father Yitzhak explained that he and his family have complete faith that there is a reason Hashem brought this blow upon them against their wishes. "For three years and seven months, we had the privilege of living with her, a wonderful, amazing child who was the center of the home and knew how to express love."
Penina Moshe (Photo: Courtesy of the family)The father requested: "Anyone who can, please pray that Hashem gives us strength, and may they read Mishnayot for the elevation of the soul of Penina bat Vered." He added, "One needs to drive carefully. Even if it is legally permissible for emergency services to drive through red lights, they should do so with caution, even on red."
Vered and Yitzhak have two other young children - Michael (9) and Rafael (5). "Michael said he wants the Messiah to come so we can see Penina again," the mother recounted sorrowfully. Father Yitzhak said, "She was an amazing and special child."
MDA paramedics Tal Sinai and Dudi Matoof recounted: "We arrived at the scene and saw a private car with severe damage to its rear end, and a 4-year-old girl who was unconscious sitting in a safety seat inside. We quickly took her out of the car and began advanced CPR, which included chest compressions, ventilation, and medication, and evacuated her in an intensive care unit ambulance to the hospital while continuing CPR, as her condition was critical. Another injured person was treated on the spot and evacuated to the hospital in mild condition."
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Moshe Ben Harush, head of the ZAKA Ramla-Lod team who treated the scene, said: "This was an accident involving a truck and a private vehicle. When we arrived, we saw a private car crushed at the rear due to the impact. A 4-year-old girl, unconscious and seated in a safety seat, had been extracted from the car, suffering from multi-system trauma. MDA teams evacuated her to Assaf Harofeh hospital in critical condition, performing CPR on the way to the hospital, where they had to confirm her death. ZAKA Shfela volunteers respectfully treated the deceased at the difficult scene."
At the parents' request, please read Tehillim for the elevation of the soul of Penina bat Vered and for the comfort of the mourning parents:
Psalm 49
For the leader; of the sons of Korah. A psalm: Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world, all you of humankind, you of man together, rich and poor alike. My mouth speaks wisdom, my heart's meditation brings insight. I will incline my ear to a parable and open my riddle on the harp. Why should I fear in evil times, when the iniquity of my foes surrounds me? They trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches. None of them can by any means redeem another or give to God a ransom for him, for the redemption of their soul is costly, and it ceases forever, that he should continue to live eternally and not see the pit. For he sees wise men die, the fool and the senseless perish alike, leaving their wealth to others. Their inward thought is that their houses are forever, their dwelling places to all generations. They call their lands after their own names::
But man does not abide in honor; he is like the beasts that perish. This is the way of those who are foolish, and of their posterity who approve their sayings. Selah. Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them. And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their beauty shall consume in the grave, from their dwelling. But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive me. Selah. Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the cost of his house increases, for when he dies he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him. Though while he lived he blessed his soul, and all men shall praise you when you do well for yourself, he shall go to the generation of his fathers, they shall never see light. Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.:
Psalm 16
A Miktam of David: Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You. I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have no good beside You." As for the saints who are on the earth, they are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight. Their sorrows multiply to those who bartered for another god; I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood, nor will I take their names upon my lips. The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot.:
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me. I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will dwell securely. For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
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