Saying goodbye at river bank
Photo: George Ginsberg
Rose Pizem
Photo: AFP
Memorial service for Rose Pizem held at river bank
Dozens of Israelis gather to pay respects to murdered four-year-old on Yarkon River bank where her body was found. Plans are in motion to commemorate via statue
While Rose Pizem,
the four-year-old girl whose disappearance and murder shocked Israel, was laid to rest in Paris on Monday, an alternative service in her memory was held on the banks of Tel Aviv's Yarkon River, near where her body was found.
Doron Fedetzur, a 51-year-old dentist from Tel Aviv, was the driving force behind the service on the river bank. "I felt that this matter needed closure in Israel," he told Ynet. "I sent emails to friends, and I received a lot of responses."
During the service Fedhatzur read "The ballad for little Rose," a song that was written by blogger Uri Katzir, and was published on Ynet. Katzir teamed up with singer Irit Dotan, who composed and performed the song.
Rose Pizem
Raanan Ben-Zur
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"I have an emotional connection to this issue," explained Katzir. "Somewhere, in Rose's helplessness, I see my daughter. I put the ballad up on my blog and I started receiving a lot of responses. Someone copied it and posted it as a talkback on Ynet and it became an internet hit. I was encouraged to compose music to it, and that's how I met Irit."
At the same time, Ynet published a response from law student Dana Feller in regards to the case that caused a stir: "Those who wish to erect a memorial for Rose please write."
Rose's funeral service in France. (Photo: AFP)
Soon a group of several hundred people came together, in their shared desire to commemorate Rose in Israel. Feller said that "I received emails from places like Los Angeles, New York, Germany, France and of course Israel. People told me that they had pictures of Rose in their wallets; some wrote that they wanted to adopt Rose. Both men and women cried on the phone to me."
"People said that they lit memorial candles for her soul, and there are those who plan to fly to France and place flowers on her grave," added Feller. "We all share the memory of her face; no one will forget that face. Rose's death brought infanticide to the forefront."
Gali Gilor, a special education teacher from Ramat Hasharon, was among those who wrote Dana feller. "I was thinking to write to Dana that if there is no grave, than at least there should be a tombstone, something to remind us that she was here. This child needs now to receive the love that she didn't receive during her lifetime. I was walking around in tears because of what happened to her," Gilor said.
Several days ago the group sent Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai an application for a permit in order to construct a monument. In their application, which was sent by attorney Ronen Bendal, the petitioners asked for aid in perpetuating Rose's memory so that it "may serve as a reminder to people's cruelty."
According to Gilor, the group is still waiting for approval, so that they can begin fundraising.
Gilor added that "we were thinking about a Rose-shaped statue, because of her name; and benches or chairs would come out of its petals. It will be made from recyclable materials to symbolize a connection to the earth and continuity."
