Ceremony For NJ Man Who Died On Mount Meron Draws Thousands

JERUSALEM — A funeral service and ceremony were held for Donny Morris, the Bergen County resident who died during a crush at Israel's Mount Meron, over the weekend. By now, tens of thousands of people have watched his mother, Mirlana Morris, eulogize her son thousands of miles away from her Bergen County home.

Morris, of Bergenfield, stepped to a microphone in Israel over the weekend to share insights about her son, Donny, who is one of 45 people who died during the stampede last week when thousands gathered to celebrate Lag B'Omer. Read more: Bergen County Man Dies In Mount Meron Stampede In Israel: Reports

He was buried on the Mount of Olives, a cemetery which overlooks Jerusalem's Old City, according to The Times of Israel. Many of the others who died had already been buried by Sunday, but Morris' service was one of four that had been delayed to allow relatives to arrive from the United States, Canada, and Argentina, the publication added.

"I have so many questions, but little to no answers," Morris said, through tears. "But what I do know for sure is you were loved by so many."

Morris said that countless stories were shared with her that confirmed what she already knew about her son, and his positive impact on those around him. But immense sadness remains in the aftermath of his death.

"While this pain is more than a mother can bear, I'm really not alone," said Morris.

She revealed that her son had contracted COVID-19 during the pandemic, but that his spirits remained high as he recovered. Weekly 8:30 a.m. phone calls on Fridays kept the family connected while Donny studied abroad in Israel.

"They were literally the highlight of my day," said Morris.

She wasn't the only family member to speak at the ceremony. Rabbi Yechiel Morris, his uncle, remembered his nephew as a "mensch of the highest order."

Watch the ceremony below:

The Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey shared that Morris was a graduate of the Marsha Stern Talmudic Academy, and was studying in Israel during a gap year in 2021.

He was one of as many as 100,000 who attended the ceremony at Mount Meron, but was reported missing on Friday, and multiple publications confirmed his death later that afternoon.

"It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Donny Morris, son of Mirlana and Aryeh Morris of Bergenfield, was one of the victims of the tragic event that occurred yesterday in Meron, Israel," the federation said.

"Our deepest condolences go to the Morris family. May Donny's memory only be for a blessing."

Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. also offered condolences to the family upon hearing the news.

"My prayers are with Donny and his entire family after he perished in this unspeakable tragedy at Meron," Pascrell said.

Gov. Phil Murphy said he was "devastated" following Thursdays events, and President Joe Biden also issued a statement, and issued condolences via telephone to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"The United States stands with the people of Israel, and with Jewish communities the world over, in mourning the terrible tragedy at Mount Meron," said Biden.

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