Tali Dee, the bereaved daughter of Lucy (Leah) Dee and bereaved sister of Maia and Rina Dee, spoke with Israel National News Sunday after the end of the shiva mourning period.
“At first, it was hard after so many people had been around us and we were suddenly left with the emptiness of the house. We feel the absence much more, but still, no one leaves us. We have a lot of support from all our friends and the community. We don’t feel alone at all.”
Tali noted, however, that at night the feeling of emptiness is more palpable, “when we are left alone with our thoughts, but even then, there is always someone to call and talk to.”
After the family finished the weeklong shiva mourning period, they began work memorializing their murdered relatives.
“It is very important to us that they are remembered,” says Tali. “To remember my mother, we are building an event hall above the new synagogue which is under construction. She loved the community and joyful events.”
“In memory of Rina, we are building a new [youth group] branch building. She was part of the branch that was established this year and it did not yet have a building. In memory of Maia, we are establishing a [park at a] spring because she loved to go out and hike in nature with her friends.”
“My mother was caring, always helpful to everyone, and did everything quickly. I could always count on her. Maia loved to study Torah and spread Torah, she would say Torah teachings at the Sabbath table, and Rina always thought about others before thinking about herself.”
Regarding her father, Rabbi Leo Dee”s, repeated comments regarding the importance of Israeli unity, Tali said: “This is what our people need most now, and if we have a platform because of our disaster and mourning, we must use it to promote the most important values, unity of the people.”
Tali said she is uncertain how to approach the upcoming Memorial Day, which lasts from Monday night to Tuesday evening.
“I don’t know how to get ready. I can talk to other mourners, but we’ll have to wait and see.”
She panned calls by some anti-judicial reform activists to bring their protests into military cemeteries during Memorial Day.
“It’s the country’s mourning for the fallen soldiers and for those who lost their lives, it’s not the time to show anger towards the government.”