Often, here in Israel, tears of sadness fall, meeting up
with tears of joy. From tragedy, hope is built. When terror strikes, people
here often pick up the bitter pieces and then try to mend the world. There are
many organizations here that were established by families who lost loved ones
to terror.
with tears of joy. From tragedy, hope is built. When terror strikes, people
here often pick up the bitter pieces and then try to mend the world. There are
many organizations here that were established by families who lost loved ones
to terror.
Yesterday, I read of a new angle on this. A young nurse,
Ally Schiff, made aliyah with Nefesh B’Nefesh last week. She was greeted at the airport with song and dance, tears of joy. Yet Ally’s motivation to be here was to
honor the memory of a nurse who was tragically killed by a terrorist.
Ally Schiff, made aliyah with Nefesh B’Nefesh last week. She was greeted at the airport with song and dance, tears of joy. Yet Ally’s motivation to be here was to
honor the memory of a nurse who was tragically killed by a terrorist.
Dafne Meir was stabbed to death on January 17 at her home in
Otniel. This happened in front of three of her six children. Her murderer? A 16 year old Palestinian who
was known to the family. He took a meat knife from his home, killed her in cold
blood, returned to his parents saying nothing, then fell asleep in his bed.
Otniel. This happened in front of three of her six children. Her murderer? A 16 year old Palestinian who
was known to the family. He took a meat knife from his home, killed her in cold
blood, returned to his parents saying nothing, then fell asleep in his bed.
This is incomprehensible, haunting and disturbing. The tragedy that befell the Meir family will never leave their
thoughts and lives. Ever.
thoughts and lives. Ever.
Not only was Dafne a wonderful wife and mother to six young children,
she was a well-respected nurse at Soroka Hospital who caringly treated Jews and
Arabs alike. She found her job very meaningful and even composed a prayer about seeing
G-d’s hand in healing while she was studying for an exam on neurosurgery. She kept this
private prayer in her locker at the hospital.
she was a well-respected nurse at Soroka Hospital who caringly treated Jews and
Arabs alike. She found her job very meaningful and even composed a prayer about seeing
G-d’s hand in healing while she was studying for an exam on neurosurgery. She kept this
private prayer in her locker at the hospital.
When Ally Schiff heard of Dafne’s death, she was completing
nursing school at Johns Hopkins University. She was so moved by Dafne, she
decided to make aliyah and work as a nurse in Israel to help continue the work
that Dafne did.
nursing school at Johns Hopkins University. She was so moved by Dafne, she
decided to make aliyah and work as a nurse in Israel to help continue the work
that Dafne did.
She met Dafne’s husband Natan a few days her arrival at the Kotel.
Ally prayed at the wall, then recited Dafne’s prayer, explaining her desire to make a difference here
in Israel in the memory of this wonderful woman.
Ally prayed at the wall, then recited Dafne’s prayer, explaining her desire to make a difference here
in Israel in the memory of this wonderful woman.
Modest, loving and kind. We can see the beauty of Dafne’s soul in Dafne’s own words.
“May it be Your Will, Creator of the world, He Who manages it
with mercy and loving kindness, to grant me the ability to give medications to
Your people in need of salvation, and also to the members of other nations who
are in the devoted care of your faithful messengers, who continue their holy work
day and night, on the Sabbath and holidays, without letup.
with mercy and loving kindness, to grant me the ability to give medications to
Your people in need of salvation, and also to the members of other nations who
are in the devoted care of your faithful messengers, who continue their holy work
day and night, on the Sabbath and holidays, without letup.
“Grant that I understand, remember and realize, that the
medications are a gift from You, and their efficacy is Your message to
us.
medications are a gift from You, and their efficacy is Your message to
us.
“Grant that I view and feel joy at their beneficial influence
of the medications I, mercifully, can give those who are ill.
of the medications I, mercifully, can give those who are ill.
“Grant me the ability to concentrate when giving out these
medicines, to understand the way each acts on disease.
medicines, to understand the way each acts on disease.
“Grant that I notice in time any of my errors or those of my
colleagues when handing out medications, and that I act quickly to correct the
errors before the medication enters the body of the patient.
colleagues when handing out medications, and that I act quickly to correct the
errors before the medication enters the body of the patient.
“Grant that I act with modesty, learn and teach others about
the successes and failures in giving medication.
the successes and failures in giving medication.
“Grant that I give medications to the sick from a position of
good health and that I remember to be grateful that I myself do not have to
take them.
good health and that I remember to be grateful that I myself do not have to
take them.
“Grant that I learn to have empathy, although in good health,
with the patient’s suffering and help him with all my ability every day and
every hour, using the tools that You have given me.
with the patient’s suffering and help him with all my ability every day and
every hour, using the tools that You have given me.
“Amen.”
Dafne’s beautiful prayer has since been translated into many
languages and has reached out to many, including the Christian world.
languages and has reached out to many, including the Christian world.
As Natan said to Ally when they first met, leaving one’s
family and familiar surroundings is a huge step.
family and familiar surroundings is a huge step.
I am in complete admiration of Ally and wish her much
success. May she be an inspiration for people to live in Israel,
and may others follow Ally’s selfless
initiative, making aliyah to honor the memory of the many Israeli terror victims who
led fulfilled, meaningful, beautiful lives such as Dafne Meir.
success. May she be an inspiration for people to live in Israel,
and may others follow Ally’s selfless
initiative, making aliyah to honor the memory of the many Israeli terror victims who
led fulfilled, meaningful, beautiful lives such as Dafne Meir.
Natan explained to Ally that her aliyah is “another building
block for the country.”
block for the country.”
This is a video published in May in memory of Dafne Meir, may her memory be a blessing.
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Anyone know how to get in touch with Ally Schiff? (I'm a nurse at Hadassah and would love to reach out to her)
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