(Mourners at the funeral of Dafna Meir. Photo credit:
Yishai Fleisher)
Yishai Fleisher)
Hundreds of people attended the funeral last Monday for Dafna Meir, the
38-year-old mother who was stabbed to death fighting off a terrorist who broke into her
home in Otniel. She leaves behind her husband and four children.
38-year-old mother who was stabbed to death fighting off a terrorist who broke into her
home in Otniel. She leaves behind her husband and four children.
Otniel is a community of approximately 130 families and part of the Har
Hevron (Hebron Hills) Regional Council which is comprised of over a dozen
communities.
Hevron (Hebron Hills) Regional Council which is comprised of over a dozen
communities.
Family and friends noted her kindness and compassion as a nurse, and mother
of adopted children as well as her own children at the funeral which left Otniel and
proceeded to Jerusalem’s Har Hamenuchot cemetery.
of adopted children as well as her own children at the funeral which left Otniel and
proceeded to Jerusalem’s Har Hamenuchot cemetery.
Meir’s murder is one of 25 committed by terrorists since September 2015. In
addition, attacks have wounded hundreds, such as a incident the day after Meir’s murder
in which a pregnant woman in Tekoa was attacked by a knife wiedling
terrorist.
addition, attacks have wounded hundreds, such as a incident the day after Meir’s murder
in which a pregnant woman in Tekoa was attacked by a knife wiedling
terrorist.
A significant number of terrorists have emanated from the H1 portion of the
city of Hebron and from the Hevron Hills region in general.
city of Hebron and from the Hevron Hills region in general.
Yishai
Fleisher, international spokesperson for the Jewish community of Hebron
attended the funeral. Although he did not know Dafna Meir personally he felt compelled
because he was unable to attend the funeral of his friend, local Hebron gardener Genadi Kaufman who was murdered in
a terrorist attack near the Tomb
of Machpela several weeks before.
Fleisher, international spokesperson for the Jewish community of Hebron
attended the funeral. Although he did not know Dafna Meir personally he felt compelled
because he was unable to attend the funeral of his friend, local Hebron gardener Genadi Kaufman who was murdered in
a terrorist attack near the Tomb
of Machpela several weeks before.
“I needed to get closure and give this special woman her the last respects,”
he stated in his weekly podcast, which was recorded at the funeral.
he stated in his weekly podcast, which was recorded at the funeral.
“We have the privilege of honoring this amazing woman. She was murdered by a
terrorist and fought him hand to hand while protecting her family. She fought every day
for her patients with same tenacity. She lived in Judea, because that is the essential
homeland of the Jewish people. We are broken-hearted – but, in the end, Dafna’s spirit,
which will now be renowned, will strengthen us,” Fleisher stated.
terrorist and fought him hand to hand while protecting her family. She fought every day
for her patients with same tenacity. She lived in Judea, because that is the essential
homeland of the Jewish people. We are broken-hearted – but, in the end, Dafna’s spirit,
which will now be renowned, will strengthen us,” Fleisher stated.
Also interviewed on the program was Jerusalem based educator Rabbi Judah
Mischel, who quoted the Torah passage “and Aaron was silent,” in reference to the deaths
of Aaron’s two son. “But now is not the time to remain silent,” Rabbi Mischel commented,
calling for more government action in response to the wave of stabbing attacks. He
explained that the Biblical accord described a divine act, while last week’s murder was
a politically motivated terrorist attack that could have been
prevented.
Mischel, who quoted the Torah passage “and Aaron was silent,” in reference to the deaths
of Aaron’s two son. “But now is not the time to remain silent,” Rabbi Mischel commented,
calling for more government action in response to the wave of stabbing attacks. He
explained that the Biblical accord described a divine act, while last week’s murder was
a politically motivated terrorist attack that could have been
prevented.
