Last Sunday, Eitan and his mother Tal, his father Amit and his little brother Tomer were happy to spend a day of sunshine, mountain air, healthy physical activity and beautiful views of the lakes of northern Italy along with their great-grandparents, Tal's grandparents.

Does it seem strange that a grown woman's grandparents would take part in a pleasant yet challenging excursion, which even involved taking the cable car up and then walking through the woods?

This is not strange for a Jewish family, not at all. No matter how observant young Israelis (like the sweet Biran family) are of a religion, Judaism, which encourages women and men to marry at a very young age, to have children, to educate girls and boys, to love life, theirs and all humankind's, even the least observant are usually inclined to start a family at a young age.

Eitan, we know that shortly after midday your lives suddenly met with fear, pain and darkness. The cable from which all of you, along with the other tourists including little Mattia, were hanging on with confidence and perhaps, at least you children, a little incredulity, snapped. Then the cabin took on a very strong speed running backwards, towards the point from which you had started. It broke loose and flew into the void, stopped only by the tall, mighty trees.

Eitan, your father Amit was also a mighty tree. All your loved ones were, but your father, probably because it was by chance that you were next to him - while your mother Tal was a little further away with Tom - embraced and protected you until the very end. Baruch Hashem for keeping you, for protecting you while growing up with your aunt, your grandparents, in the blessing of the memory of your loved ones.

And I would kill those who are fully responsible for what happened in Stresa, if I could. As my daughter Irene pointed out to me, the shame of their behaviour is slightly, just slightly, mitigated by the sincerity with which they admitted their actions.

In Italy, this immediate transparency on responsibilities in judicial matters is a rarity, and I hope that it will be seized by the competent bodies to bring justice. However, it remains shocking to know that not one, but a group of people entrusted with the safety of so many others, can sink so low, can lose their humanity and the reason for their presence in the world, so as to value every human life not more than a sold ticket.

I can't believe I am saying this, but after all the sorrow and the anger and the tears of these last few days, I still have been shocked last night by the words of a journalist during her reportage from the hospital in Turin where you are being treated and where your aunt and grandparents are with you.

She kept repeating that you are the only survivor of your family, saying that you have lost everything, that you have nothing left, with a tone that almost gave away the idea that - I am horrified to say it but that is what it sounded like, I hope it is not true - in such a situation it is not worth it... I pray that I was wrong, that she was only a bad journalist.

Of course the suffering of a child for the loss of his entire world, both inner and physical, such as his family, is immeasurable. But precisely because of this, and at the present time in history when, especially as Jewish people, we feel kind of vulnerable, the love for life and the worth and respect we give to every single life, including our own, must be encouraged and nurtured as an individual strength.

So, Eitan, your recovery will be hard, but you know, we Jews believe that " ... they who save a life, they save the whole world". Your father, with HaShem's help, did that, and it is a wonderful thing that you can continue your story and all the good that will come of it.

Shalom,  LiOr