A eulogy for an unsung heroine of Israel

Dear Mother

Your soul departed this world on Daled B’Iyar (the fourth of the Hebrew month of Iyar) Yom Hazikaron, the very same day that is dedicated to the memory of the fallen Israeli soldiers who  died in the defense of our Jewish Homeland in Eretz Yisrael. G-d took your soul and placed it , alongside theirs, under the  wings of His beloved Schechina, on this particular day as if by a predestined design, His hidden plan

Why? I asked. Why could He not wait and allow me to see you one last time and properly bid you farewell? I had begged and pleaded with Him for several days prior to the day He collected you to be with Him for eternity. The question haunted me and would not let go

I now know why, mother. He just had to. And I am grateful to Him for the honor he bestowed upon you, upon us, by doing that

 G-d knew that your love for our Eretz Yisrael was deep and strong. He recognized your passion for Zionism. He knew of your love for Judaism and Israel that you infused in us, your children, since early childhood, a love that knew no limits. You were a soldier of another kind. You were one of His soldier, mother

You came to this blessed piece of land as a refugee, a broken, torn human being. You came here after years of suffering, pain and humiliation. Your only sin for the suffering you endured was that you were born a Jew. You came with dad, a man whose soul was paralized and appearance disfigured. You came with a young boy, the embodiment of miracle

Despite all the hardships that you faced, you and dad built a home in Eretz Yisrael, the Land of our forefathers. You raised us with warmth and love, dedication and unending attention. You spared us nothing despite the poverty. Yes, you were poor in the early years of the young state, but you were wealthy at the same time. Your wealth was in your spirit, your Zionist Spirit, the spirit of champions, the same one that runs through the heroes and heroines of the Tanach, Joshua, Deborah and other heroes of our Jewish history. Like them,you were a blessing to us and, through us, to many

Regardless of the distances that separated us, mother, I remained attached to your naval during the bad and good times. You were by my side always, my dear Jewish mother. Your support through some of the most difficult moments, reminding me of our strong defiant Jewish Spirit  the one that vibrates in Israel, was the pillar of fire that guided me through the darkest of times. I drew much solace, comfort and strength from it

You were to me what Eretz Yisrael and the Temple were for our people, a source of Pride, Love and the guardianship of Hope. G-d could not have taken your soul on any other day but on this very day. Doing otherwise, would have been an appalling injustice

 We will miss you, mother. Your legacy will continue to light our path and the path of many future generations

May your memory be blessed