Do what is right

It is nearly a month that we try to come to terms with the fact this world will have to continue without Rebecca. And the wholes are not mended, not in the team at work that she was part of, not in the story of Israel and of all the parts of her journey that remain untold.

A fond memory which I have is during her year in the board of Habonim-Dror Rebecca was selected as a high-school student to read something at a very official WW II memorial in the Hague in May 2017.

Of course I came there “all the way” from Amsterdam to support her. There she was standing in a crowd of non-Jewish people, telling her story, proud of her heritage and her history. This was very representative for who she was and what she would become: a proud Jew who stood up for her rights.

This was a lesson also to me: do what is right and do not be afraid. I’ve hardly seen a pioneer so in sync with her ideals and values implementing this in her life. She’s not here with us physically but in spirit she will live on and her story will be told.

Michael Hess

Ramat Gan, Israel