WE DON’T KNOW REBECCA, BUT WE REMEMBER HER

Shortly after 07/10 my husband and I visited Har Herzl to light candles at the graves, and to pay no our respects to fallen soldiers, friends of our daughters and young men from our yishuv that had tragically fallen in battle.

After doing this several times, we took it upon ourselves to light candles at all the graves in the entire burial plot; sadly an ever increasing number of graves; once a week. Thus we came upon Rebecca’s grave. We of course immediately recognized that she, like ourselves, had made aliya, and that she had an unusual story. Also our daughter was planning on moving to Amsterdam, and so our attachment to Rebecca and the very small part of her story that we read about on this and other sites was established.

We light a candle at her grave every week (we very, very seldom miss), and daven for her, we mention her parents names and ask that they be given strength to cope with this devastating loss. We can only imagine how painful it is having your child tragically lost and buried so very far away.

Rebecca rests between the graves of Oria Aimalek Goshen and Hadar Nissim Kaplok. Oria is on Rebecca’s right, his family has planted many fragrant herbs on his grave, I always bless on the herbs – “borei isvei vesamim” (“Who creates fragrant herbs”) and ask that Robert and Sasha and children be included in the  zchut (merit) of this bracha. Hadar on Rebecca’s left, according to his photo has the friendliest, smiliest face that always reminds me that even in the face of this devastating loss, there are joy-filled memories.

We reach out with a hug from afar and hold you all close in our hearts. Very often when I get to Rebecca’s grave I see that there is already a candle burning, and I light a second one. Know that she is not forgotten.

We hope to attend the coming yahrzeit ceremony in Amsterdam and perhaps deliver a personal hug to the family.

יהי זכרה ברוך.

Ingrid Aboud

Herzliya