Ray of Light

When their son Ori disappeared into the darkness of the Hamas tunnels, his parents chose to spread a message of light in Israel and abroad.

Last week, after the horrific news of his fate emerged, they spoke of Ori’s path of kindness, and those he’d saved on that dreadful Simchas Torah morning.

In two searing conversations, Elchanan Danino urged greater unity and empathy for the hostages, and Einav spoke of the emunah that she’s shared over the last year. The unity and faith that has accompanied Ori’s ordeal, they say, should be a guiding light as Klal Yisrael navigates the road ahead.

It’s Chol Hamoed Succos, and a shaky cellphone camera records as a chareidi family sings in celebration of a Yom Tov that’s about to turn to grief. Among the white-shirted boys singing joyfully, a tall man dressed in black sports gear doesn’t seem to fit. But as the family sings “Middas Harachamim,” he joins in with fervor. “Ube’ad amcha!” he cries in the video, “ube’ad amcha, ube’ad amcha rachamim sha’ali!”

The clip is a chilling one because of the aftermath. This was the last gathering that soldier-turned-Hamas-captive Ori Danino Hashem yikom damo joined with his family. “Who would have believed that a few days later, Ori would be held by these cursed murderers in captivity?” says his father, Elchanan. “Oy, Tatte, instead of middas harachamim, we had middas hadin.”

The full measure of that judgment landed on the family last week, when they learned — via rumors swirling on the media and chat groups — that their son had been murdered inside a Hamas tunnel.

“Yes, those leaks from irresponsible people reached me as well,” says Elchanan Danino. “And I want to tell those murderers at the keyboard: Know that from the time Shabbat ended, as the dreadful rumors spread, we were murdered, plain and simple.