BATSHEVA HAYAT: “I LOOKED AT THE FAMILIES OF THE FIREFIGHTERS; I SAW MYSELF " Keren Hayesod flies mother and widow of Carmel firefighter to Arizona to take part in ceremony for Prescott Valley fire victims “What Keren Hayesod did is unforgettable. The connection between us, which started in the hospital and continues until this day here in Arizona, will never be broken”, said Hofit Hayat, widow of firefighter Danny Hayat, who perished in the Carmel Forest fire in December 2010, together with his friend Uri Samandayev and 16 year-old volunteer firefighter Elad Riven, of blessed memory. “Our family became part of the Keren Hayesod family". Keren Hayesod made it possible for Hofit, together with her mother-in-law Batsheva, to fly to Arizona to take part in a memorial service for the 19 American firefighters, members of the elite “Hotshots” crew, who fell while battling a fire early last week. The memorial was held in the ice hockey auditorium in Prescott Valley, Arizona. "When I looked at the families, I felt I was closing a circle and was inalienably connected to them”, said Batsheva. “The American firefighters and the bereaved families were very moved that we came to meet them, to identify with them and to express solidarity and they overflowed with love and warmth. I took part in the ceremony in the presence of Vice President Joe Biden, the Governor, the Mayor and members of Congress. There were 8,000 people in the hall and a similar number crowed together outside. Thousands of uniformed firefighters from various units from throughout the United States came for the service. “I was so moved when I heard the sole survivor, Brendan McDonough, speak about the 19 firefighters who died, noting that while he thanks God for remaining alive, his heart aches for his brothers who perished in the terrible blaze. “In addition to Vice President Joe Biden, 12 other officials spoke at the ceremony including Prescott Mayor, Harvey Skoog , Arizona Governor, Jan Brewer and the commander of the Hot Shots. "I sat with the staff of the Israeli Consulate who accompanied us from Los Angeles to Prescott and then approached the bereaved families who sat in front of the stage. We met with hugs and warmth. I told them that I am the mother of an Israeli firefighter who perished in the fire under unbelievably similar circumstances on Mount Carmel two and half years ago, and they cried together with me." "I met a grandmother who told me about her only grandson, a firefighter, who was killed, and a young widow, who held a month-old baby, “added Hofit. "We embraced and cried together." Later, at a ceremony at the Jewish Community Center in Phoenix, the Mayor of Prescott and the community’s rabbi spoke. “I told them about the assistance we received from Keren Hayesod donors immediately after the Carmel fire, the help Keren Hayesod gave at the request of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his wife Sarah in funding medical assistance to the injured, and the monument it helped to construct on Mount Carmel in memory of the 44 fire-fighters, policemen and prison wardens who fell”, said Batsheva. “Keren Hayesod donors also helped rehabilitate Mount Carmel and villages that that were damaged by the fire, including Yemin Orde Youth Village. Now, Keren Hayesod responded once again to a request by the Prime Minister and sponsored our trip here so that we can represent Israel with dignity.” "The rabbi knew a lot about Danny and told his story to those gathered at the ceremony”, said Hofit Hayat. “He said that community members and the entire people admire us for coming here to tell our story and to express solidarity. The ceremony was very powerful and moving, and we will never forget it”. She noted that the rabbi had presented her with a copy of the book about Danny. “Here in Arizona firefighters are still visiting families of victims and helping, and we are joining them. Not all the burial ceremonies have taken place yet. At the end of the week we will meet in Los Angeles with Vice Consul Uri Resnick at his home. We will screen the presentation about Danny and will see the movie about him.” kh-uia.org.il/En/Newsandevents/KHnewsblog/Post.aspx?id=524
Posted on: Thu, 11 Jul 2013 08:41:17 +0000
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