I met Rebecca in January 2018. She was wearing a bright yellow sweater, glasses, and smoking a cigarette. Something about her presence was both comforting and intimidating. I don’t remember what we spoke about, but I remember that she was unafraid to speak her mind, even though we were on a sort of “trial day” for Garin Tzabar. I got the impression that she was bold, not someone to mess with.

We went through the seminars and moved to Saad in August 2018. In group activities, Rebecca was always a leader. She was different than anyone I had ever met- kind of like the main character of the kind of book I liked to read as a teenager- fierce, strong, principled, and beautiful. Of course, that is only what you saw when you looked past her hilariously mismatched clothes, funny snack choices, and very messy room which we all made fun of (and offered to help clean of course). She was a character. I remember having a special bond with Rebecca- sometimes I can be shy before I feel comfortable with a group, but I felt that Rebecca always wanted to hear what I had to say and even appreciated it. To this day I still think it is a huge honor that she considered me intelligent because she was so.

When we all drafted we saw each other less, but her presence was always felt. We would catch up on weekends (when she wasn’t sleeping of course) and sometimes over the phone. I got out of the army about a year and a half before Rebecca, but her last position on the Gaza border is the place where I served for 2 years, so we talked about it often. I think a lot about how many frustrations she expressed- how she said “it’s only a matter of time”…

I feel that I only got to know the “real” Rebecca when she got out of the army and we moved in together. We found an apartment and roommates, painted and furnished our little home. Several times a week we would stay up late into the night talking on the couch, which served as her bed for the first few weeks. We talked about everything- politics, philosophy, pop culture, romance, art, sports…everything. And Rebecca had something insightful and interesting to say about everything. But more than that, I got to know Rebecca as she really is. Before living with her I saw a tough,smart, and driven girl. And she was all of those things. But she was more than that. She was also incredibly sensitive,caring, and loving. I am so grateful that I got to get to know that side of her.

Sacha, Robbert, Margalith, and Asher: Thank you for your daughter and sister. I’m so grateful for the time we had together. She always spoke so highly of you guys. I have thought of her every single day of the past 10 months and will always hold her memory close. יהי זכרה ברוך.

Rina Yahalom

Jerusalem, Israel