Family Finds Comfort in Jewish Mourning Practice

Stand for Israel  |  January 31, 2024

While Sgt. First Class Cedrick Garin’s family isn’t Jewish, they took reassurance in participating in the Jewish tradition of shiva, after their son lost his life on the battlefields in Gaza, reports The Times of Israel:

There were two distinct venues for those who came to pay their respects to the family of fallen soldier Sgt. First Class Cedrick Garin on Monday morning in Tel Aviv: inside the tent and outside the tent.

Inside the tent, set up to accommodate the visitors who would have overflowed the family’s apartment, Cedrick’s parents Imelda and Rico mourned their son who fell in Gaza and lauded his heroism and strength in the face of adversity.

Most people who paid a shiva call during the seven-day mourning period did not know Cedrick personally and had never met his wife or parents. But they came out in hundreds to honor the Israeli-Filipino soldier who was killed a week ago when he and 20 other soldiers came under RPG attack in Gaza in what turned out to be the single deadliest incident for IDF troops since the ground operation began.