Dafna Meir’s Family and Other Terror Orphans Celebrate Purim
These photos, provided by the families, appeared today in Yediot Achronot. They celebrate the victory of joy over terror this Purim.
Dafna Meir HY”D, murdered in a terror attack at her home two months ago, left behind a grieving husband, Natan, and 6 children. Before she was killed, every year, the Meir family would dedicate many hours to creating original Purim costumes, and this year Natan chose to continue that tradition.
Natan Meir told Yediot, “We searched for a costume with a dual meaning which would express our conflicted feelings. On the one hand, we wanted something which would express the sadness which accompanies us, and on the other hand we wanted to express the joy of the holiday and the laughter which continues to be a part of our home. We laugh and cry, cry and laugh.” So this year the Meir family made two masks for each family member– one happy mask and a second mask which is sad or angry.
And the Meirs even made a mask for Dafna…Natan explains, “Of course, we didn’t forget Dafna. She also deserves a costume, so we made her a smiley face with an angel’s halo. But for Dafna, who is now in the world which is only good, we only made a happy face. While the rest of us also have a face of pain. Because only here there is suffering.”
6-year-old Aviya Litman lost her father and brother in a terror attack 4 months ago on the way to their sister’s Shabbat Kallah. Aviya explains (with remarkable eloquence for a 6-year-old!) why she chose her costume, “It was important for me to show that I am continuing to live. The smiles of my brother and father will always accompany me, and I am certain that they would want us to celebrate our first Purim without them.”
This past Succot, when Rabbi Nechemia Lavi heard the screams of the Benita family after they were attacked by a terrorist, he ran out of his home to save them and was, tragically, killed along with Aharon Benita HY”D. Rabbi Lavi left behind a widow, Neta (who after Purim will become my daughter’s homeroom teacher!) and 7 orphans. In the photo below, Yisrael Tzvi (10) is a guitar player, Chana (8) is an Egyptian woman, Rut (5) is queen of the stars, and Dvir (3) is a clown.
Natan Benita (2) is the child of Adelle and Aharon Benita. Aharon Benita HY”D was killed this past Succot while walking to the Kotel with his family, who were also injured during the attack. Natan is dressing up this year as Fireman Sam. And, Natan’s mother explains, there is a good reason why, “Natan fell in love with this character when he watched the series during his hospitalization. They told him that Fireman Sam is not the only hero, also Natan is a hero!”
3-year-old Tahel Sofer was severely burnt when a terrorist threw a molotov cocktail at her family’s car earlier this year. This year Tahel dressed up as Queen of the Butterflies. Tahel’s mother told Yediot, “The pressure suit is doing good work, and the scars on her body are beginning to heal. It will take time, but we are patient.”
With blessings to all for a joyous Purim, kicking off a year of good news for Am Yisrael and the entire world:)
Puts everything in perspective. Thank you and purim sameach, may it be a day of true joy and clarity.
Tears. Tears and joy. Thank you for sharing these so we can hold them all in our hearts and prayers vividly. A Frelichen Purim. Enjoy in good health and happiness!
v’nahfoch hu. We manage to survive and turn things up-side down! We live to celebrate. Hashem should comfort all those for their terrible losses. We should all be zocheh to celebrate with Moshiach!
Adelle and Aharon Benita have besides Natan also a younger child named Shulamit who survived the attack unharmed Baruch HaShem. They were at the time of the attack my second floor neighbours here in Beitar Illit. Purim sameah.
thank you for the correction!!
most amazing blog post i’ve read. perhaps ever.
thank you
wow, that’s quite a compliment! especially coming from you– I’m sure you’ve read many many blog posts!
In Ramat Beit Shemesh there is an incredible Purim costume gemach with hundreds of amazing costumes and many children get theirs from there. This year, they rededicated the gemach in honor of Dafna Meir HY”D, so her neshama had a lot of happy zechuyos this Purim.