Tearful Family Members Mourn Sisters Slain in Chol Hamoed Terror Attack

JERUSALEM (VINnews/Sandy Eller) – Thousands wept openly at a joint funeral for two Efrat sisters who were escorted to their final resting places in Kfar Etzion on Monday.

As previously reported on VIN News, 20 year old Maia Dee and 15 year old Rina Dee were killed in a Friday terror attack in the Jordan Valley as they traveled with their family from Efrat to Teverya on the first day of Chol Hamoed Pesach.

Keren Dee’s tearful eulogy was heartbreaking, as she spoke of the close bonds she had shared with her sisters, reported The Times of Israel (https://bit.ly/3Kl6YvL).

“Maia, you were my whole world, you were my best friend, my big sister,” sobbed 17 year old Keren adding, “we went through everything together.”

Keren promised to do her best to follow in Maia’s footsteps as a role model for their younger siblings.

“I am not certain I will succeed in replacing you,” said Keren.  “I promise to take care of Tali and Yehuda like you took care of us.”

💔 There are no words, only heartbreak: Rabbi Dee eulogizes his two daughters, Maia and Rina, who were brutally murdered by #Palestinian terrorists just a few days ago. We mourn with the loved ones of sweet Maia and Rina in the wake of this tragedy. 🕯️🕯️#StandAgainstTerror pic.twitter.com/l4WfswyhFH

— StandWithUs (@StandWithUs) April 9, 2023

Keren apologized to her younger sister Rina for not protecting her from harm.

“I would do everything to have been in that car instead of you,” said Keren. “I am scared to think what you did in those moments of pain.  How did you cope with all that fear and I wasn’t there to save you?  The world is losing a pure soul.”

Rabbi Leo Dee’s words about his two daughters were equally heart-wrenching, describing them as them two flames whose light will continue illuminating the world.

Speaking emotionally throughout the funeral, Rabbi Dee lauded Maia as everyone’s friend and praised Rina as a dedicated student who spent hours cleaning up the local youth club.

 Rabbi Dee highlighted his daughters’ mutual love for the State of Israel and talked about their future aspirations saying, “You dreamed of traveling the world, now you’re traveling to heaven.”

Thanking those who have been praying for his 48 year old wife Lucy’s recovery since she was critically wounded in the shooting spree, Rabbi Dee spoke emotionally about the tragic conversations that lay ahead.

“How will I explain to Lucy what has happened to her two precious gifts when she wakes up from her coma?” asked Rabbi Dee.

Tragic scenes from the funeral of terror victims Maia and Rina Dee today in Efrat.

'You dreamed of traveling the world, now you’re traveling to heaven' pic.twitter.com/vlGKEgfRFT

— Ynetnews (@ynetnews) April 9, 2023

Despite his tremendous grief, Rabbi Dee emphasized the tremendous unity he has seen since the devastating attack and the importance of positivity in the face of incredible difficulty.

“The formula for faith is always to focus on what you do have and not what you do not have,” said Rabbi Dee. “I still have three wonderful children and a wonderful wife.”

In a BBC interview (https://bbc.in/3GqcRqn) this weekend, Rabbi Dee said that he has been haunted by nightmares since the deadly rampage, sharing that he had heard about the attack without realizing that it involved his family.

After calls to his wife and daughters’ phones went unanswered, he saw a picture online of the car that had been attacked and understood immediately that they had been involved.

“We could just see one of our suitcases in the back seat,” said Rabbi Dee, who had been traveling in another car.  “There was massive panic and screaming.”