Hundreds attend funeral for 4-year-old terror victim Adele Biton
Biton, who was critically wounded in a terror attack two years ago and died from pneumonia complications, was laid to rest at Yakir settlement, where she grew up. Community rabbi: How does one eulogize a 4-year-old infant?'
Hundreds of people paid their last respects to Adele Biton on Wednesday as she was laid to rest in the settlement of Yakir in the Shomron Regional Council. Among those who attended the service for the four-year-old terror victim who died on Tuesday from pneumonia complications were Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, Economy Minister and Bayit Yehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett and Kulanu candidate Maj. Gen. (res.) Yoav Galant.
Rafi, Adele’s father, eulogized his daughter, saying: “The grief is eating me up like cancer. My inability to help you is driving me crazy.” He added that with his daughter’s passing, they also became a family who lost loved ones to terror acts, connecting them "with hundreds of thousands who fall apart at night.”
Her mother, Adva, said: “As a baby you didn’t like to sleep. Now I understand that you had things you had to do. You managed to do so much in your short life. Even those who did not know you personally felt connected to you.”
Knesset Speaker Edelstein said in his eulogy: “Dearest Adele, in these difficult times of shock and grief, we try to see a bit of the light. I have no words of comfort. You had such a large soul in such a small body. In your short life, you taught us a huge lesson, along with your parents. You and your mother were hurt in a stone-throwing attack, but your parents didn’t give up and fought for the chance of rehabilitation. We believed you would return to a normal life. This lesson you have given us of unconditional love has been unexpectedly cut short."
Aaron Cohen, the rabbi of Yakir, said: “How does one eulogize a 4-year-old baby? What do you tell about her? Do you talk about her sweet smile? There are children who are saints, and the question is not what they did in their life, but what they caused the people of Israel to do. Adele managed to affect the lives of many people. She instilled in us a strong connection to the people and to the country.”
Rabbi Cohen added: “Adele did not die from complications, but from a terrorist who initiated the process of her murder two years ago. He murdered Adele.”
Minister Bennett also eulogized Adele: “What does one say at the grave of a four-year-old girl? She spent half of her life learning how to walk, and the other half trying to learn how to walk again. She spent half of her life learning how to laugh and the other half trying to smile again. I want to talk about the love Adele received from the people of Israel, from the family and from friends. This is a courageous and optimistic family, which has been fighting for life and for sanity.”
Adele was critically hurt in a terror attack two years ago. The incident occurred on March 14, 2013 near Ariel when a truck driver suddenly hit the brakes after his vehicle was struck by stones hurled by Palestinians. The car behind him, carrying Adele, her two sisters and their mother Adva Biton, lost control and collided with the truck. The two other sisters, Avigail and Naama - aged four and five - sustained moderate injuries.
On Saturday night, Adele began to feel ill and suffered from a cough. Her parents called an ambulance on Sunday night, and she was taken to the Schneider Medical Center, where she was admitted to the pediatric ward. Her condition deteriorated Monday evening and she was admitted to intensive care, where she was in critical condition and later sucummbed to complications.
Her mother Adva said on Tuesday: "There is no doubt (her condition) is part of a progression of neurological injuries, from which she suffers, which complicates her ability to cope with medical issues. Every little thing puts her under great stress."
Adele spent the last few months at home. "Every day she was home was a day of joy," her grandmother Rachel said.
