Ten Days of Waiting: The Story of a Family, a Stormy Sea, and the Search That Brought Them Home
- IMFoC
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
How ZAKA volunteers searched day and night, refusing to stop until they could give a grieving family the closure they deserved
For ten days, a family lived between hope and fear, waiting for news that never came.
What began as a day at the beach turned into a tragedy when two brothers were pulled into the waters off Tsanz Beach. The older brother, Yissachar Dov Spiegel, was rescued in critical condition and rushed to the hospital, where he fought for his life for several days before passing away. His younger brother, Avraham Yeshayahu, only 17, disappeared beneath the surface.
From that moment on, the mission was clear: find him, no matter how long it takes.
What followed was not just a search operation, but a relentless effort carried out by ZAKA volunteers alongside Israeli emergency forces. The Mediterranean Sea is unpredictable and unforgiving, especially in areas filled with reefs and strong currents. Visibility underwater can drop to almost nothing, and waves crash violently against the rocks, turning every dive into a risk.
Still, the teams continued.
Divers repeatedly entered the water, navigating dangerous conditions to search for any trace of the missing boy. Above them, drones scanned the sea, while jet skis, kayaks, and helicopters worked together to cover every possible angle. On land, teams analyzed currents and mapped reef structures, trying to anticipate where the sea might have carried him.
The work was exhausting, technical, and emotionally draining. But stopping was never an option.
As one volunteer described the effort, “We have a lot of divers. Get in, get out. No stop, no break. All for getting him out.”
What makes this story even more remarkable is not only the scale of the operation but the people behind it. Every individual involved in the ZAKA search was a volunteer. These are people who leave their jobs, their families, and their daily lives behind when a call comes in. They are highly trained, often participating in specialized exercises throughout the year to prepare for exactly these types of missions, but they are not paid for their work.
They show up because they believe that no family should be left without answers.
For ten days, they remained on the ground and in the water, refusing to give up despite the conditions, the uncertainty, and the emotional weight of the mission. Their commitment reflects a deeper value: the responsibility not only to save lives when possible, but also to ensure dignity and closure in the face of tragedy.
After ten days of searching, the volunteers found Avraham Yeshayahu Spiegel in the depths of the sea. It was a devastating outcome, but it brought the family something they desperately needed: certainty. After days of not knowing, they could finally begin to mourn, to process, and to say goodbye.
As Chaim Weingarten, Deputy Director of Operations at ZAKA, explained, this was “a complex operation that lasted many long days… it is a painful moment, but it also brings a sense of closure for the family after days of uncertainty.”
This is the reality of ZAKA’s work. It exists in the space between tragedy and compassion, where professionalism meets humanity. Their role is not only operational but also deeply emotional, carrying the burden of these moments so families do not have to bear them alone.
How You Can Help
Stories like this do not happen in isolation. Behind every search operation are trained volunteers, specialized equipment, and the ability to mobilize quickly in complex environments. This is where support from Canada becomes essential.
Through the Israel Magen Fund of Canada (IMFoC), Canadians can directly contribute to these life-saving and dignity-restoring efforts.
Emergency Response & Search and Rescue
The Emergency Response & Search and Rescue initiative supports critical operations conducted in partnership with ZAKA, ensuring volunteers have the training, coordination, and resources needed to respond when every second matters.
The Israel Rehabilitation & Resilience Fund (IRRF)
At the same time, the emotional toll on these volunteers is immense. The Israel Rehabilitation & Resilience Fund (IRRF) focuses on supporting the mental health of ZAKA volunteers, providing them with the care and resilience tools they need after facing some of the most difficult situations imaginable.
Canadians can help by making a donation, fundraising with us, or becoming advocates for the mission. Every contribution helps ensure that when the next call comes, these volunteers are ready.
The story of Avraham Yeshayahu Spiegel is one of profound loss, but also of commitment, compassion, and responsibility. It is a reminder that even in the most painful moments, there are people who refuse to walk away.
The Israel Magen Fund of Canada (IMFoC) is an official partner of ZAKA Search & Rescue in Canada and a registered Canadian charity, working to ensure that these missions continue and that no family is left without answers when it matters most.
