Mourning the Maccabiah tragedy

It's hard to fathom that a tragedy of epic proportions occurred amid an event as exciting and celebratory as the World Maccabiah Games.

The fatal collapse of a pedestrian bridge at the Ramat Gan stadium was a horrifying start to the 15th international games, which are meant to be an adrenaline-pumping celebration of Jewish athleticism and culture.

Instead, these games will be haunted by the image of scores of athletes being flung into the Yarkon River in a horrific scene of twisted metal and broken limbs. At least two Australian athletes died, and scores more were injured in the tragic accident.

Though competition was rightfully postponed for a day following the bridge collapse, the games are now under way, surely producing moments of great triumph. But they proceed in the shadow of profound sorrow, shock and anger at an accident that surely could have been prevented.

In coming months, there will be much criticism hurled at the bridge builders and engineers; we hope those responsible for constructing a structure that could not bear its anticipated weight will accept culpability -- in whatever form that takes.

More immediately, we hope Israel will do everything possible to determine the most appropriate way to nurture -- and apologize to -- the Australian delegation, some of whose members remain seriously injured.

That may mean acknowledging the poor judgment of forging ahead with the artistic and dancing program at the opening festivities even as the search for bodies went on in the muddy river nearby. We believe that decision showed great insensitivity.

But despite our criticism for Israel's handling of the games' opening night, our main task now is mourning the loss of vital lives and missed opportunities. That loss touches not only the Australian Jewish community but Jews around the world.