Israel – Teenage Girl Dies in Sleep After Returning from Selichot Prayers in Hebron

Israel – A 15-year-old girl died in her sleep today, a few hours after returning from Selichot (atonement) prayers in Hebron ahead of Yom Kippur.

An initial investigation suggests that the girl, who studied at a seminary in the Krayot area, near the northern city of Haifa, returned to her home in Kiryat Shmuel at around 5 am. The girl’s mother, who tried to wake her in the afternoon hours, found her lying unconscious in her bed.

Neighbors tried to resuscitate her until Magen David Adom emergency services arrived at the scene.

“Our paramedics continued with resuscitation attempts, but unfortunately had to pronounce her dead at the scene,” said MDA Carmel head Shimon Biton.

As soon as news of the girl’s death became known, several of her friends and teachers arrived at the family home.

Zevulun Police launched an investigation, but its request to perform an autopsy on the girl’s body to determine the cause of death was denied by the Magistrates’ Court in the Krayot after the family objected to the autopsy.