(Elijah was always a big favourite of mine, just for having such eccentric stories. In Kings he calls down a bear to maul a group of children who were making fun of him and calling him bald, and it's like. "Okay.")

I'm so sorry to hear about Dash. I know "there was a reason" often falls flat in times of tragedy, and it's not something I put much stock in, personally, but what I gather is that you're the junior rabbi here. Elijah won't show up to answer you personally, but as you keep traveling, you're going to get your answer. Your perspective from the future will show you what you can't see from right here and right now. In the meanwhile I hope you're doing okay.