Following Friday’s deadly terror attack, in which the Dee sisters – Maya and Rina – were brutally murdered by an Arab terrorist, the community of Efrat buried its dead today (Sunday).
The community released the following statement prior to the funeral:
“The Efrat community was struck with a tragic blow Friday morning when two of its residents Maya and Rina Dee (H”YD) were killed in an Arab terrorist attack. They were victims of a drive-by shooting while on a family outing celebrating the Passover holiday.
Their mother, Lucy Dee, who was also in the car is currently hospitalized fighting for her life. The funerals for the Dee sisters will be held today at the Kfar Etzion Cemetery.
The Dee family immigrated to Israel from the UK in August 2014. The family are dual Israel-UK citizens. Father/husband Rabbi Leo Dee served for three years as the Assistant Rabbi at the Hendon United Synagogue and for three years as the Rabbi of the Radsett United Synagogue in suburban London.
Rabbi Dee currently teaches at the Mae Boyar School in Jerusalem. Lucy Dee works as an English teacher at the Orot Yehuda School in Efrat. Overnight, the youth of Efrat gathered together to sing, cry, console, and strengthen one another. Social services and grief counsellors circulated and counselled them as they began processing the unbearable loss and pain.
The Rabbinic leadership of Efrat initiated an evening reciting prayers and pslams to strengthen the residents of the community, at the Zeit Ra’anan Synagogue on Saturday night. The Mayor of Efrat, Oded Revivi told his constituents that: “The Efrat community is heartbroken by the tragedy that has befallen the Dee family.”
“We have lost two cherished daughters of the Efrat family,” he continued. “This is the time to lend support to one another, strengthen those who are struggling and use enhanced sensitivity to help each other navigate this awful tragedy. Together with the members of the Efrat Council and its residents we want to strengthen the family and pray for the recovery of the injured mother/wife, Lucy Dee – Leah Bat Tzipora.”