Remembering a special father and his special daughter

Ruti and her father Arik on the right (Image Source)

Stories of heroism by victims of the October 7th invasion by Hamas abound. 

It is essential that we publicize them - intensively. 

Those precious men, women, children and infants have already been deleted from the minds of far too many politicians, journalists and decision makers around the globe.

Earlier this week, former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett was interviewed by a BBC anchorwoman who focused - as most of her colleagues now do - on Gazan casualties. He called her out for omitting any mention of Israel's massacred innocents.

Her icy response: "I began by talking about the hostages".

Bennett responded: "I'm not talking about the hostages. I'm talking about the babies that were murdered."

And so I will also attempt to counter that outrageous trend by sharing the life story of two Israelis, Arik and Ruti Peretz, whose precious lives were cruelly ended by Hamas at the Re'im music festival.

They were unlike most of the other young, vibrant, attractive attendees. 

Arik was a father in his late fifties. 

Ruti, his 17 year old daughter was profoundly disabled. He was an inspirational father for all of us raising adult children with disabilities.

And his daughter Ruth was so similar to my Haya in the extent of her disabilities.

Arik and Ruth's bodies were found and identified twelve days into this war at the site of the festival.

Her half-sister revealed that Ruth suffered from CP, was Ensure-nourished via a G-tube, had a brain shunt and used a motorized wheelchair.

Despite all those impairments, her father would bring her to countless dance festivals both here in Israel and abroad. With rare determination, he would tackle every obstacle posed by her disabilities to enable her to attend and enjoy those events.

 
Avi Nissim, a trance singer who performed at many of those festivals, recalled: "Arik is a hero of Israel, the most wonderful father in the world. He dedicated his life with total devotion for his beloved daughter Ruth. Ruth proved to everyone that life can be celebrated even with severe disabilities. They did not pass up any party." He added: "Ruth would spin around in circles with the wheelchair and be immersed in the music. I would watch her from the sidelines with astonishment and excitement."

The photos below of the pair at those festivals make that abundantly clear.

Share and remember their story of love, sacrifice and devotion snuffed out by vicious blood - thirst and Jew hatred. [Source of images below]

My husband and I have learned how quickly Hamas victims are forgotten by the rest of the world. Our Malki, whom Hamas stole from us in the Sbarro massacre of 2001, has taught us that painful lesson.

יהי זכרם ברוך - may all their memories be a blessing.