Memories of Yonah in Baltimore

In Baltimore, Yonah displayed his sensitivity to others by volunteering for NCSY’s Yachad program. He demonstrated extraordinary patience with his group of physically and mentally challenged children. His special talent and skill convinced some parents to ask him to help their children. Instead of visiting his many friends, Yonah spent many Shabbats interacting and playing with autistic children.

Yonah was a good reliable and trustworthy friend to his classmates. He never said anything negative about any of them. He exuded love and happiness for all of them.

He rarely spoke about them. As a mother, I only knew a few of his friends but I knew he was popular and had many friends. People liked to be around him because he was happy, funny, and fun.

Yonah was an avid sportsman. He played basketball, football, and tennis. When he came home from Yeshiva in Israel, he worked as a tennis teacher for Baltimore Tennis Patron Association. Students and parents loved his patience and teaching technique. They sent him thank you notes and gave him generous tips. In Israel, he became Efrat’s official Tennis Teacher. On the road to Jerusalem, Yonah’s in laws pointed out Efrat’s tennis court where Yonah use to give lessons. In Kiryat Arba, Yonah was also teaching tennis to the children. In addition to tennis, he was part of the Kiryat Arba Basketball team and played football. With his father-in-law he practiced fencing. There was a short video made of Yonah fencing with his father in law at KA. His moves were agile and quick. He really enjoyed the sport. When Yonah started teaching for Baltimore Tennis Patron, I suggested that he wear a baseball cap instead of his kippah because all of his students were not Jewish. I feared some anti-Semitism. Yonah shook his head and simply said, “Mom, I’m wearing my kippah. They will have to accept who I am.” They did and in fact most of his students and their parents respected his commitment to his faith.

Yonah was a good student at T.A. He loved the school and his classmates. Whenever I met his science teacher at the local grocery store (Seven Mile Market), she always raved about Yonah’s scientific ability. She often said he should pursue a career in science because he was her smartest student. But science is not what he pursued. He went 2 years to Or Yerushalayim and then Machon Lev in engineering and computers. He got married in Israel to a beautiful, bright Israeli girl who loved Israel as much as he did.

An acquaintance met Yonah when he brought him some items I sent him. Upon hearing the tragic news about Yonah, he wrote me the following:

I had the honor of meeting him once in Israel when I brought him some stuff you sent with me. I say HONOR because I talked to him for a while, had doughnuts and soda and his profound Love for his land and his place in his land sent shivers up my spine!

The first time I went to Israel, I had shivers knowing I was coming to G-Ds land, but that paled in comparison to what Yonah felt and what he imparted to me!

I told him how worried you always as for him, and he said….”That’s my Mother. I belong here. We all do, and no matter what, we belong here!”

There is nothing anyone can say to ease the grief and pain. May G-d Bless and honor his memory. May G-d bless his wife and child. May we all nearly as much love for G-d’s land as he did, for that will surely bring our salvation! I am so sorry.

There is a Facebook section dedicated to Yonah’s memory. Over 450 people have signed on to talk about this amazing, sweet, smiling young man. I have received many phone calls from his friends telling me how Yonah always went out of his way to do things for people. One of his friends was in a car accident and needed rides to her work. He drove her daily to work for weeks until she could drive again His death has been a shock to all of friends and family. People in U.S. and Israel loved to be around him because he radiated joy, happiness and contentment. He will be missed.

Yonah was my only child not named after a deceased person. He was named after the dove sent by Noach. He was a symbol of spiritual peace. Yonah personified his name. He never liked to see people argue or fight. He tried to make people feel happy and peaceful. One member of our synagogue in Baltimore told us how Yonah when he was about 16 years old interceded when 2 children were battling each other. Yonah approached the two boys and stated that they should use their brains instead of their fists. After that one of the boys decided that he didn’t want to fight and walked away.

For over 2 years, Yonah couldn’t obtain Israeli citizenship because some dishonest government official stole his and other people’s identity. That made it difficult for him to find a decent paying job in Israel. But Yonah never complained and was determined to become one. He believed everything would work out. Everything would be "Kol Beseder, Baruch Hashem," his favorite statement. Many times I pleaded with him to return home to USA. ”Home is here, Ima. Even if I die in the land, I will be able to say to Hashem I did what you told me to,” he exclaimed to me just 5 months ago.

He finally got back his identity and Israeli citizenship after winning a lawsuit. There are still appeals and Israeli justice is very slow. Three and half months ago, he landed a good job with an internet company. His life was complete.

Rabbi Geller of Machon Lev, the school he graduated from, told us at Shiva that Yonah’s death puts all of Klal Yisroel before Din (Judgement). When such a young innocent, sweet, happy person is killed than all his friends, his family, and his country are being judged. I believe that is so.