Relatives, friends, loved ones, my beloved Mom,

I tried to think, what can one say after the passing of a woman like you. If there was one thing in common in what people told me about you lately, it was that no words can describe you. How can one describe a person like you? How much power concentrated in such a small body! How can a person weighing 50 kilograms serve as the anchor for so many? How much giving can spring from a woman so small?
I have yet to meet a person that feels he can fill the large shoes you leave behind. A 150 cm woman with size 99 shoes? Surly, this is impossible. Yet that’s who she was. A living miracle, if you like.

Mom never stopped taking care of everyone until the last minute. ‘Take a photo of me,’ she asked when we said our final goodbye. ‘I want everyone to see that I am happy and at peace with the end’. She was worried that, God forbid, someone will be sad when she dies.
I didn’t have a camera with me, but I did take her picture in my mind’s eye, and I can see her as she was then ‘“ peaceful, even smiling. At that stage, this is really what she wanted, and she was at peace with the nearing end.

But it is impossible not to be sad over the passing of a woman like her. It is said in the Jewish tradition that in every generation exist special righteous people, hidden saints, ‘Tsadikey Yesod Olam’, that sustain the whole world by their goodness.’  Mom was such a hidden saint. A woman who’s entire inner world was dedicated to others. How much goodness has this woman spread in the world. How can we not be sad that her candle stopped shining among us?

Besides giving, the family was Mom’s main value, and she was the Great Queen of the family. Her royalty was not displayed by royal garments. She loved most her worn clothes, and whenever she finally bought herself some new garment, it was a special occasion. She was also not the kind of queen that demanded special honors. On the contrary, she knew how to contain the other and also swallow her pride when necessary. Mom saw her royal position as a burden of responsibility. She would listen to anyone in need, and took every problem so personally. What a queen she was! How can we not lament her passing?
But Mom accepted her death, and did not want us to be sad. So, even if I cannot reach her high standard, I at least try to remember the positive.

Mom lived a full life ‘“ Full in years, full in activity, full in values, full in meaning. She has lived to enjoy the fruit of her actions in all fields: Family, work, helping others.
She raised a wonderful family, and enjoyed good sons, loving daughters in law, and seven lovely grandchildren. The years-long tradition of our family gatherings was always a source of great joy for her.

She enjoyed a life-long and love-filled relationship with another unique person ‘“ my father. This unbreakable bond between two people so different from each other was a wonder. In their wisdom they knew how to turn difference into completion, and were team mates, partners, friends, parents and lovers, all in one. Personally, I feel I was privileged to be raised by these two amazing yet so different people. For me they are like a ladder with its feet on the ground and reaching the skies.

In this context, one must mention Mom’s dedication to treating my father, as she herself was undergoing chemotherapy, and God forbid she’ll let me take her or help her. ‘Save your strength,’ she would tell me half-jokingly, ‘You’ll need it when my condition will get worse’. Even when dad was very limited, she refused offers to help, and took it upon herself to care for him, literally self-sacrificing herself. She didn’t see the price she paid for her dedication, or perhaps she did see but didn’t care ‘“ Taking care of Dad was above all.
Professionally, Mom served hundreds and thousands of people.

First as a nurse in Beilinson hospital, where she served in one of the most difficult wards, Skin & Radiology, and later in Mishan, in another difficult field ‘“’  Geriatrics. As a nurse, Mom combined professionalism in its highest level with another equally important yet sorely missed element – humanism. Wherever she worked she excelled, and was a living inspiration and source of guidance for a new generation of nurses. Some of these nurses even had the privilege to treat my mother in her final days, and were able to thank her in person for what she has given them.

Also as a beautician she served tousands ‘“ Women, men and some less defined. In this field too, she offered her patients much more than hair removal, and always expressed genuine interest in their lives. Many patients kept in touch with her for years, cherishing all that they have received from her. I would like to point out that my mother never charged her patients for her psychological and consultation services, even though as a child I sometimes felt that these were the main services Mom provided, and that hair removal was just something they did during therapy.

When she worked less, she filled her time volunteering in various organizations ‘“ for soldiers, for the elderly. But for her, being alive meant giving to others, and she didn’t need an organization or formal volunteering in order to assist. Every visit to the hospital, for treatment or checkup, was an opportunity to help. Someone wants a glass of water, someone is anxious before an operation. To each she gave what she could. Once, she found a set of keys in the street and immediately started asking the people going by if they lost it – Eccentric? Not really. Exceptional? Absolutely!

Mom’s last years were not easy. First came her diagnosis and treatment, and almost immediately afterwards, Dad’s diagnosis and taking care of him until the end. For this reason I am happy, and she was too, that her life didn’t end on that terrible night when my father died at the same time Mom was hospitalized in terrible pain.

More than two years have passed since my father’s passing away. During these years Mom had many joyous moments. There were some grandiose occasions: The appearance of her youngest grandchild, my Liyah, who filled all of our lives with light and joy; Mom’s 80th birthday celebrations with the expanded clan, including lifting her 81 times! But mainly, these two years were filled with simple joy ‘“ periods of feeling good and energetic, being independent, and most importantly ‘“ continuing her position as the great matriarch.
In spite the difficulties, as long as her quality of life was acceptable, Mom knew to accept the difficulties with grace, and how to enjoy what life had to offer. One can say the my mother lived as long as she wanted to, and died when she wanted to ‘“ Isn’t that typical
In her final days, Mom enjoyed something she wasn’t able to enjoy before. She was wrapped in love, hugs and kisses from all those who received from her and tried to give something small in return. Only in this state was she able to switch from giving to receiving.

I would like to thank everybody ‘“ friends, relatives and loved ones ‘“ that have helped Mom and the family during the past few years. I don’t want to mention names, for they are too many and I don’t want to offend anyone, but I owe a special personal thanks to Nava, my beloved wife. Without her backing I could not have supported my parents as I did. Nava wasn’t just my backup, but did so much for my mother herself ‘“ running errands, taking care of various arrangements, but most importantly with regards to the family. I think my mother saw in Nava the person to whom she can pass the family torch and I am sure she will carry it with pride to the next generation.

The latest addition to the list of givers was Ranjoo ‘“ Mom’s lovely caretaker. They were together for a very short time, yet it was enough for Ranjoo to fall in love with Mom, and she took care of her with all her heart. So on behalf of my mother and us all, I would like to thank her.

Thank you, Ranjoo, for everything you have done for my mother. She appreciated your tender care and kindness. You treated her with all your heart, like she treated others. I think I am speaking for all of us when I say you have earned a permanent seat at our family table. Thank you!

Before I finish, I return to the beginning. There really are no words to describe this woman. Like the rose, after which she was named, she filled our lives with beauty and fragrance while asking for so little. So many people, hundreds and thousands, had the privilege to receive from her. My brothers and myself, her grandsons and granddaughters, owe her our lives in many aspects ‘“ she gave us life, she loved us, she sustained us, she taught and educated us, sometimes firmly, but mostly gently and through personal example.

I am not worried about your future, my beloved Mom. If there is a heaven you surly have a front row seat, next to Dad, of course.
I will try to justify the privilege of having a mother like you, and to honor your presence in my life, in the past and in the future.
Thank you, Mom, you’ll always be with me.