Yom Hazikaron is Israel’s Memorial Day for fallen soldiers or any victims of terror who died since 1860, when Jews were first allowed to live in Israel outside of Jerusalem’s Old City walls. Here are some stories of fallen women that touched me.
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On the day before her wedding (9/9/03), Nava Applebaum (20) and her father (50) were killed in a suicide bombing. Friends and relatives were all in town for Nava’s wedding, and her father took one last opportunity for a quiet heart to heart talk with his daughter by taking her to Cafe Hillel alone. Instead of the intended wedding, invited guests attended the funerals of both father and daughter. The devastated chosson (groom) threw the wedding band he was going to give Nava into her grave. Many memorials and charitable projects have been undertaken in Nava’s name. One of the most touching is the use of Nava’s wedding gown. The top of Applebaum’s unworn wedding gown was made into a covering for the Torah ark at Rachel’s Tomb. It is inscribed: “Nava Applebaum, A Bride for Eternity.” The skirt of the wedding gown was formed into a wedding canopy for other couples to stand beneath during their chuppah ceremony.
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On March 11, 2011, two Arab teenagers managed to sneak into the Israeli neighborhood of Itamar in the dead of night, and murder five members of the Fogel family: Rabbi Ehud (Udi) Fogel, 36, his wife Ruti, 35, and three of their children – Yoav, 11, Elad, 4, and Hadas, 3 months old. They were found by their 12 year old daughter, who had been at a shabbos youth group that evening. The family was no stranger to adversity, as they had moved to Itamar after being thrown out of their former Gush Katif home. The Fogel family memory lives on and continues to inspire people to have faith, value community, and uphold the Jewish commitment to living in Israel. Sadly, after her death, Ruti Fogel’s image was the subject of controversy when Machon Meir (Meir Institute), a Jerusalem-based religious Zionism center, published in their weekly bulletin a photo of the murdered Fogel family members, but blurred the face of Mrs. Fogel, due to the institute’s policy that forbids publishing women’s pictures.
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On May 2, 2004, Tali Hatuel (34) and her 4 daughters were killed after their car was ambushed by 2 Palestinian gunman. Tali Hatuel was driving with her daughters to meet her husband in the nearby town of Ashkelon. As they were driving on the Kissufim road leading out of the Gaza Strip the Palestinian gunmen began shooting at her car. The car spun off the road and the gunmen shot mother and all four daughters at point blank range. Tali Hatuel lived in the Gaza settlement of Gush Katif with her husband David and their four daughters Hila (11), Hadar (9), Roni (7) and Merav (2). At the time of the killings, Tali Hatuel was 8 months pregnant, and expecting a boy. She was a social worker who devoted much of her time to helping Israelis who had lost relatives in terror attacks.
May their neshamas and those of all fallen Jews have an aliya and may their memories be for a blessing to all of klal yisrael.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
