Adopt-a-Family

Bury Hebrew Congregation ‘adopts’ the Atzmi Family of Kiryat Ono

Ray Cook writes:

On 6th May 2002, 55,000 Jews from across Britain gathered in Trafalgar Square to show solidarity with Israel.
One of the speakers at the rally was Sharon Evans who told how her daughter had been severely injured in a terrorist attack.

On returning from the rally, on the initiative of Barry Goldstone, it was decided to set up a committee to 'adopt a family'. Sharon Evans was instrumental in the organisation which matched Israeli families with communities in the diaspora.

On the 28th September, after several months of waiting, I received an email from Sharon Evans of ‘Adopt-a-Family’. In the email she gave me the name of the Atzmi family, an email address and a phone number as well as some background on their son who was killed by terrorists.

Within hours I was speaking to the father, Yair, on the phone and I have since been communicating with him regularly by email and phone.

A committee had already been formed with the following objectives:

• to find at least one family in Israel who have suffered the loss of a loved one as a result of terrorist actions
• to provide moral support for the family by phoning, writing, emailing
• to keep the congregation informed of the developing relationship between us and the family by use of this notice board and on the shul website
• to support any projects the family may undertake to provide a fitting memorial for their loved one.

Below is an extract from an email from Yair Atzmi:

“In this letter I want to give you a general background about my family. We live in the small city of Kiryat Ono which has a population of about 40000. The city is situated in the centre of the country, next to the city of Ramat Gan and close to Bar Ilan university. It is about a 20 minute journey from Tel Aviv and is the business centre of the state.

RACHEL and I have been married for 23 years and we had 3 children. “TAMIR” of Blessed memory, SIVAN and JONATAN. Sivan is 19 years old and she works in Ramat Gan. Yonatan is a high school student.

TAMIR started his 3 year military service on 28th August 1999.

On the 19th February 2002, TAMIR was murdered by terrorists with 5 other soldiers at the army checkpoint near the Arab city of RAMALLAH. They crossed the barrier in the disguise of innocent citizens and suddenly they yanked automatic rifles from under their clothes and opened fire from a distance of 3 metres, killing them all.

TAMIR was a good boy, charming, patient, a painter, he liked animals, especially cats & dogs. He loved his family more than anything else. When he was a boy he sculpted a “HANUKKA LAMP” and received a very good mark for it. He was also a good painter, and his drawings hang in our living-room.

One of the drawings depicts two medical assistants carrying a stretcher, and on this stretcher is placed a wounded, bleeding Israel. This drawing was published in the manual of the Ministry of Education for the 50th jubilee of the State of Israel.

TAMIR was the best soldier in his brigade, and was always willing to volunteer for any difficult task. As a result, he also received his parachuting wings, (which is truly something special).
It is still difficult for me to write about TAMIR, and it is still is a subject of much pain and grief…"

Links to Tamir on the Web:

B'Tzelem article

Terror Victims Association