YEHUDA: A client, a friend and a hero, an inspiration to those who knew him is no longer among us.
This week we were deeply saddened by the passing of Yehuda, a survivor of terror. After a long year of suffering, Yehuda succumbed to an illness, a condition exacerbated by his injuries that he received during a 1989 terror attack. Yehuda was 43 and is survived by his wife Etti and four beautiful children.
Yehuda’s story is one of great sorrow but great strength and courage. It begins in 1989, when he and his beloved wife Etti were hit by large boulders that were thrown at them while driving in their car near Gush Katif. Etti was emotionally traumatized, but unharmed physically; Yehuda z”l was hit in the head by a boulder. He lost an eye and his forehead was severely deformed, resulting in some brain damage. This affected his ability to concentrate and he suffered a degree of memory loss. Despite these challenges Yehuda remained determined to live life to its fullest, working and giving to his community as best he could. He took a very part-time job at the Joint Distribution Committee, doing simple clerical tasks, and always instilling within himself the importance of leaving the house each day with a clear objective and the desire to contribute.
In April 2005, the night before his eldest daughter’s Bat Mitzvah, the entire family was driving together on a rainy evening when tragedy struck them once again. While driving on a particularly slippery road their car skidded and all were injured. Yehuda was in critical condition and was placed on a respirator in the ICU. He had broken ribs and numerous injuries to his lungs. He made it out, however, with only one lung. Upon completion of the rehabilitation course Yehuda returned to work, returned to volunteering in the community and most importantly, Yehuda kept on smiling.
During this past year Yehuda was diagnosed with cancer and required treatment that included the removal of both his voice box (larynx) and his esophagus. He could no longer speak or eat.
Despite the incredible and increasing amount of challenges that he continued to face, Yehuda fought back and held strong. He used his faith, a determination to find the good in each person and every situation, the abundant love for his family, and a desire to contribute in order to find the means to do so. He went home from the hospital for Seder Night − he used his eyes and his hands to tell his children the story of Israel’s Freedom.
I visited him recently while placing a new ATZUM volunteer. I prepared the volunteer for the situation as best I could. However, it was left to Yehuda to make his new friend feel at ease. When we arrived at the nursing facility, Yehuda was sitting in the lobby. He greeted us warmly with a big smile. We communicated with a dry erase board. I told him how happy I was to find him in the lobby dressed and looking so good. He wrote to us: “No matter how bad the treatments make me feel, I get up each day, pray, say Psalms, visit my roommates and sit out here. I have a family to love and a life to lead, and I will do the best I can.”
I will miss Yehuda, a man who taught me many lessons on belief, caring for one’s fellow Jew and about commitment to community, family and strength. He leaves these lessons as a legacy to his children – and to all of us.
Yehi Zichro Baruch
Karyn London
Director, The Roberta Project for Survivors of Terror
