Amos's words at the funeral

I will start by reading part of the section "Joy and Sorrow" from the book "The Prophet" by Gibran Khalil Gibran

"Some of you say, 'Joy is greater than sorrow,' and

others say, 'Nay, sorrow is the greater,'

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.

Together they come, and when one sits alone

with you at your board, remember that the other

is asleep upon your bed.

…

When you are sorrowful, look again in your

Heart, and you shall see that in truth you are

Weeping for that which has been your delight"

And indeed, the pain that we, and everyone who knew Naomi, feel stems from the happiness she has brought to us and to you.  Naomi had an influence on many people she knew, from very different circles, not only in our community – friends she made in different places in her army service, friends from Australia, from her travels abroad and in Israel. Although these were different circles of people, she made a connection between them, and I was surprised to discover last night, when a group of her friends from Midreshet ben Gurion sat with us, that through Naomi they knew many of her friends from totally different circles.

Naomi was a child of nature. Since she was a child, she loved nature and especially animals. Lately she became more involved in horse riding, even though, unlike her younger sister, she did not take formal riding lessons.  She was delighted to ride in the farm where she worked in Michigan for a few months. We had many plans to enjoy riding together, as this is a favorite family activity. When Naomi was young we took her to many walks and trips in order to know the country, but later on, she took us to places that she knew and loved.  She showed us places that only she knew about, in the area of the Midrasha, through her trips with her high school friends. Later on, she took us to places she liked to go while guiding soldiers during her army service.

Naomi was a child of sun. Everywhere she went, when it was cold and cloudy, she always waited eagerly to reach a sunny area, and she often changed her travel plans and adjusted them to move to sunny areas.  She always said how suitable it is for her to live in this place in the desert.

Until 5^th grade, Naomi migrated between at least six different places with us, as needed for our work, but then we moved to the Midrasha and she found her place here, until the end of her 11^th grade. Yet, she had other opportunities to travel abroad, to South Africa, to be with her loving family there, Ruth's parents, and to Australia, Thailand and India (already before her army service). She enjoyed her army service, where she guided soldiers, showing them the nature of the country, the battle fields from the past, and problems of the quality of the environment.

Yet, after all this, Naomi decided to go and travel again after the army. She made three different trips after the army. From the last one, she returned yesterday. We could not understand this urge for more and more travels, but we accepted it with love and with apprehension. We realized how hard she worked in between these trips to earn enough for these travels, and it was obvious how very important it was for her.  Naomi made it easier for us to accept her travels by updating us constantly where she is and where she is planning to go next, and by being cautious in her travels.

Recently she told us she is extending her trip in south-east Asia by a few months, till August, to return right for the courses she needed to take in preparation for her academic studies. "By then, I will get this bug of travels out of me, and I will be able to study in full concentration and in calm". So now it looks like she has reached tranquility, but in a way very different than that she has meant.

Yesterday, when we went to inspect the coffin that arrived from India, we saw a beautiful and very peaceful Naomi. In a sense, it comforts us to know that in her last moments, Yossi, who brought her love and happiness in the last few months, stood next to her and supported her. Even though she may have not understood the words that Yossi spoke to her, she surely felt it in his voice and in the touch of his supporting hands.  That's, at least, how it looked to us, from the tranquility in Naomi's face.

The whole extended family wishes to thank the warm community in which we live, in the Midrasha, in the whole region, the Local authority, in our work places, and to thank friends from all over the country – ours, and especially those of Naomi.

Amos

Hila's words of parting

Naomi

This morning I ran into a book about flower fairies.  The fairies live in a magic garden and care for the garden flowers.  Different kinds of flowers grow in the garden, and each flower has it own fairy.  They water the flowers and ripen the fruits, they wear the leaves and keep them company.

You were the fairy of life – you drank life's nectar, enjoyed life's warmth, you smiled and laughed with life.  You traveled the world and gathered friends.  Life itself showed its bright side to you:  you were a child of nature, beautiful and talented.  An independent young woman, open, mature and fascinating, you were deep and full of curiosity.  One could talk with you about anything in the world.  You were confident and comfortable and full of joy.  In the photos you are always smiling and you seem so very happy.  This is the way we'll remember you, Naomi.  Out in nature, dressed in casual clothes, wild hair and surrounded by friends.

You were a good sister and a model for Merav.  You made your mother and father so proud, they loved you so much.  I suppose you know that.  You kept a very special connection with your family: they always knew in details your plans and your whereabouts and the special things you experienced, unrelated to the geographic distance between you. "Naomi finished school" "Naomi is in the army" "Naomi has a boyfriend" "Naomi is planning to travel abroad", Amos used to tell proudly.

Farewell beloved fairy. You touched us all with your delicate wings and you have warmed our hearts.

You have charmed us all just by being yourself.

I am having a hard time parting from you and I cannot believe that we will never meet again.

Hila 

Words read by Michal, Naomi's aunt, at the end of the Shiva'a.

Ruth's words on the 30th day

In one acute moment in time

We were told of the inconceivable

When we first heard Naomi had been

In a bus accident in India

The impression was

That her situation was not critical

Later, Amos and I understood

That each of us had thought to himself separately

That even if her situation would deteriorate

And she had to be in a wheelchair,

We could adjust our home and our lives

The news of Naomi's death,

Within less than 2 hours

After hearing of the accident

Was unspeakable…

And therefore, it could only be

Sent in an SMS

It felt as a huge stone

Falling into deep water

Without noise, without ripples

Stunning us,

Not graspable

The realization of the full reality…

Gradually expanded into a MASSIVE, HEAVY rock

Falling to a great depth

Causing huge waves in increasingly widening circles…

Creating a void in our lives

Naomi had planned to return to Israel

And study towards work in nature conservation,

Which interested her so much.

These plans are no longer a reality…

Naomi won't have a chance to develop further -

Into a professional life, and parenthood.

Nor will she be able to share with us new milestones…

Over the last months, Naomi was doing

Exactly what she aspired to do.

Through photos and stories brought to us by her friends,

We can feel the intensity of her

    JOY

    INNER CONTENTMENT

    And CALM.

For us, only pictures and memories remain.

  Merav's words on the 30th day

Nimush

On the phone I told you I want to cut my hair before the end of year party and you said I have to wait for you to come back or you'll hit me J and now you're back so I cut my hair.

I will get my braces removed soon and I remember how you wanted to see me without them... I might even get them off before my birthday J

I remember once you had to go to Beer Sheba for something to do with the post office and you asked me if I wanted to come. Near the post office there was such a long line we said we'll come back in an hour so we went to look at clothes and we bought a drink and when we got back there was nearly no line and we laughed at all the people who waited all that time J

In Australia in the first house you had a double mattress on the floor in your room instead of a bed. I came to ask for help with homework and we sat on the mattress and you said something and we started laughing and you fell off the mattress because you were laughing so hard and we couldn't stop laughing for about an hour and we went to make dinner for mom and dad and we forgot the homework and the next day the teacher yelled at me and asked me why I didn’t have my homework and I remembered how we had laughed so I told the teacher that I had had more important things to do.

When you came back from Guatemala dad and I waited for you at the airport and waited where all the passengers go out and I saw you but we had both changed so much that we didn’t recognize each other and then we suddenly saw each other and we laughed

When I was very small I don’t remember what I had said but you picked me up and I cried because I was dizzy and then dad made you stop and made us talk and we "made peace" and you hugged me.

All these little things are the ones I will miss the most and I am so sorry they will be no more

Contributed by Yona, Naomi´s uncle

When Naomi heard that we were going on a hike in the
upper Galilee she immediately decided to join us. That
was a rare opportunity to spend a whole day with her,
so naturally, we were delighted. At her army base in
Zefat we were greeted by a smiling Naomi. She
introduced us to her friends and showed us around the
office before we set off to Nahal Aviv.  It was a
pleasantly sunny day. The slopes were lush green and
the carpets of colourful flowers attracted an abundance
of flying insects - a kind of party that nature throws
every Spring. We walked rather slowly to help Kailo
(3.5 years old at the time) and to inspect interesting
insects. The chemistry between Naomi and the boys was
instantaneous. They chatted and treated her like a
close aunt although they hardly met her before. After
a long lunch we climbed up to the caves and enjoyed
the dramatic views to the West as Nahal Aviv joins
Nahal Dishon. On the way back the boys became bored
from walking so we started telling them funny stories
we made up about very lazy animals as we
continued walking. Naomi laughed her head off and
mentioned that Amos used to tell her similar stories when she was
little. Soon after that, the whining stopped miraculously.
Back in Zefat, Naomi asked to be dropped off at the
Ethiopian absorption centre. She planned to collect
letters and deliver them personally to family members
on her upcoming trip to Ethiopia. After she found her
contact person we had our emotional goodbyes as we
were about to go back to England.  Naomi, like a
butterfly - beautiful, lively, loves the sun and never
stays for long in one place.

Contributed by Lior

Fly free and happy beyond birthdays and across forever, and we'll meet
now and then when we wish, in the midst of the one celebration that
.never can end

  Richard Bach
 

 Words of Nitzan, Naomi's friend, at the first year memorial

(please press here to read) 

Written By Esther, Naomi's Granny

(please press here to read)