Seven of the teens killed in flash flood disaster laid to rest
'I was promised everything would be okay, but nothing is okay,' says mother of Ela Or; 'You will always be the love of my youth, and I will never forget you,' says boyfriend of Yael Sadan; families of Maayan Barhum and Tzur Alfi speak of their efforts to save others.
The remaining three—Romi Cohen, Adi Ra'anan and Gali Balelli—will be buried on Sunday.
"You were a special child," her mother Sarit said at the funeral. "I didn't have time to see you when you were preparing your bag for the trip. I was delayed a bit at the school (where she works as a principal—ed.), and at first I didn't agree for you to sign the permission slip in my name. So I spoke to the guide and asked her, 'How can you go on a trip in such a stormy weather?' I never received answers. I was promised everything would be okay and secure, but nothing is okay."
Ela's father Itzik said he didn't realize just how special his daughter was until he heard her friends eulogize her. "We were privileged to have you for 18 years. God, may His name be a blessing, picks the special flowers fast, and you were a special flower," he said
Her grandfather Rafi Angel said that when he heard of the weather forecast, "We called the guide and begged her to cancel the trip. The answer was 'Don't worry, trust us.' And here are the results of this 'trust.'"
Hundreds of family and friends came to accompany Yael Sadan on her final journey at the Shamgar Funeral Home in Jerusalem.
"You were supreme joy, I just can't believe it, it's incomprehensible," said her father Kobi. "What didn't I do to make you happy? It's impossible to say goodbye to you. I can't say goodbye to you. You're etched into my heart forever."
Yael's boyfriend Asaf added in tears, "Thanks to you, I am who I am today. You will always be the love of my youth, and I will never forget you. I thank you for allowing me to live by your side for six years."
Maayan Barhum looked forward to starting the pre-military academy. "Maayan couldn't wait to start studying, to get to know new people from different places and sectors, to travel and grow," said her high school homeroom teacher.
Her mother Dorit lamented the loss of her daughter. "Maayan made me a mother. She gave me the most important job in the world. She taught me values and Zionism... you were helping everyone climb out, believing everything will be okay, that some angel was going to come and protect you," she said.
Her sister Orit said she "can't believe you were taken from me. I can't think of you not coming out of your room to give me a hug. I had the privilege of being your sister."
Orit said the last time she saw her sister was when the two went to the beach on Tuesday. "I kept you safe, so nothing would happen to you. I'm sorry I couldn't keep you safe this time. You'll be with me in every moment in life, forever and ever. I love you."
Her sister Chen said it "doesn't make sense that we're eulogizing you. Why do I need to bury my sister? This isn't right. But the Lord works in mysterious ways. You were an angel; He wanted you next to Him. Watch over us from above, keep us safe. I'll miss you so much. I'll think about you every day. I love you so much, my beautiful young sister."
Maayan's close friend Dror Selah eulogized her, saying "She was one of those people you can't be sad around. Yesterday we were sitting here, the entire class, and talked and reminisced and everyone described her as a ray of light, and this is how she really is. She lights up our life and always radiates. She's my ray of sunshine."
Only three weeks ago, 17-year-old Tzur Alfi from Mazkeret Batya was starring in plays put on by the Rabin high school's theater class. He was supposed to start his studies at the pre-military academy next year.
"Tzur had strong values, was a humanist, friendly and aspired to be an educator," Meir Dahan, the head of the local regional council, told Ynet.
"We don't feel any anger, we only feel love," said Tzur's father at the funeral. "We embrace the guys from this dear prep school. Our condolences to everyone at the school; keep going on trips and being good."
"My little brother, just the other day I helped you pack a bag for a trip you never came back from. I'm still waiting for someone to tell me it's not you," his sister Yael said. "You were like a twin brother to me, my best friend, a role model. I've never met a person as good as you."
He demonstrated these qualities during the flash flood that claimed his life. "I heard you tried to help your friends and save them," his grandmother Pnina said at his funeral. "This is the noble self-sacrifice of a born leader. It sounds like you. You loved everyone."
Tzur's friend said she was "angry at you. It could've ended differently. Why did you help everyone? In such moments, most people save themselves. But you're not most people. Why couldn't you, just once, have put yourself ahead of others?"
Agam Levy's funeral was held at the Lev HaShaon cemetery. Her friends later gathered at the youth house in Moshav Herut and wept. Her friends spoke of an excelling student who loved physics and the Land of Israel. She was active in the Bnei HaMoshavim youth group and always helped anyone who needed it.
"She always looked for the good in people. This is a great loss to all of us," one of her friends said through the tears.
Another friend, Asaf, was also supposed to go on the trip, but decided to stay home to study for an English test.
Her teacher, Ayelet Yagar, said Agam "had a massive heart with room for everyone. She radiated her goodness outwards."
Agam was supposed to start studying at the prep school next year, and her friends said she was excited for the trip.
Ilan Bar Shalom from Rishon LeZion was found hours after the others following extensive search efforts at the stream.
She was an excelling instructor in the city's Young Leaders program, and was supposed to start studying at the prep school next year.
Shani Shamir, 18, is the daughter of a veteran family in Shoham and attended the local high school. She was a coordinator for Scout leaders and served in the municipality's youth council.
Her mother Yael is an educator, while her father Arik was an Air Force pilot and now works as a businessman.
Three to be laid to rest on Sunday
The parents of Adi Raanan from Moshav Mikhmoret received the terrible news while they were abroad.
Her grandfather wrote on Facebook: "A terrible disaster has struck us, and we are still having a hard time comprehending the bitter news. The parents of our wonderful granddaughter are on their way back to Israel."
Psychologists from the regional council visited Adi's school to offer support and professional help to the students.
She will be laid to rest on Sunday at 6pm.
Romi Cohen, 17, from Moshav Maor, stood out in everything she did. "Dancing was very important to her. She participated in delegations of Jews and Arabs to the US and was active in the school students' council," a family friend said.
Romi's father said that "There was a large-scale disaster here. We'll seek answers when we finish the shiva (Jewish 7 days of mourning—ed.)."
Gali Balelli, 18, from Givatayim, was about to graduate from the Shimon Ben Zvi high school in the city and supposed attend the pre-military academy next year to prepare for a meaningful army service.
Her friends from school and from the Krembo Wings, a youth group for children and youth with and without disabilities, gathered to say goodbye.
"Gali was one of the leaders of the Givatayim branch and an inseparable part of the movement," Krembo Wings said. "We share in the pain of the Balelli family and embrace them."
"I only have good things to say about Gali," said her school principal. "She is a very special girl, filled with the desire to give to others. She recently received the Elad Riban Prize for excelling in her social activity and for her volunteer work with Krembo Wings. We can't even imagine carrying on without her."
Elisha Ben-Kimon, Amir Alon, Roi Rubinstein, Yishai Porat, Raanan Ben-Zur and Yael Friedson contributed to this story.
