Naomi
- January 30, 2001 (Houston) |
Dear Susie,
I know it is a difficult day for you (as if any other
day of the year you don't remember). One of Yonatan's
pictures is on the wall in the kitchen, and I think
of him often when I sit at the table and see him as
a young boy, a young man and a soldier (it is a collage).
I wonder what he would be like now if he were here,
tall and handsome, full of quiet charm. The loss is
so incomprehensible.
We always love him and just wish this love could be
of any help to comfort you and Maya, Boaz, Moshe, and
the rest of the family.
Love,
Naomi
|
Jean
Salomon - January 4, 2001 (Paris) |
We all love you
Jean
|
T.Y.
Stavia - January 4, 2001 (Geneva) |
Salut Suzie,
Mon pere m'a envoye l'adresse du site sur Yonatan.
Je suis allee voir ta page de journal.
Je n'oublie pas, je n'oublierai jamais, Yonatan. Je
pense a lui comme mon "jumeau" d'Israel, meme
age, meres amies. Je me souviens de ma visite chez vous
avec Nathalie, mon amie de France (petite, blonde, a
moitie russe) lorsque Yonatan etait rentre de Grece.
Il etait tout bronze, enthousiasmé: il nous avait raconte
les iles, le bateau, la fete la nuit, les randonnees
qu'il avait faites avec ses amis.
Je parle de lui autour de moi, pour rappeler aux gens
que vivre en Israel c'est etre confronté a la guerre,
a la mort, et pour qu'ils sachent qu'il a existé, que
c'etait un jeune homme fort, brillant, et que ce qui
est arrive est injuste.
Si tu souhaites venir te depayser en Suisse, tu seras
toujours la bienvenue chez moi.
Je t'embrasse fort,
Stavia
[translation
from the French]
Hello
Suzie,
My
father sent me the address of the site about Yonatan.
I went to see your journal.
I
don't forget, I will never forget, Yonatan. I think
of him as a my "twin" from Israel, the same
age, mothers who were friends. I remember visiting you
with Nathalie, my French friend (small, blonde, half
Russian) when Yonatan returned from Greece. He was bronzed,
full of enthusiasm: he told us about the islands, the
ship, the nights partying, the hikes with his friends.
I
speak of him to people around me, to remind them that
living in Israel means
facing war and death all the time, so that they will
know he existed, that he was a young man who was strong,
and brilliant and that what happened was not fair.
If
you come to Switzerland for a change of scenery, you
will always be welcome at my home.
I
embrace you strongly,
Stavia
|
Sharonna
Cohen - January 12, 2001 (London) |
I only met Yonatan a few times, but I miss
him very much.
|
Roi
Kibrik - January 14, 2001 (Israel) |
stopped in to talk to you on my way to
South America...
That day when we stayed alone in the desert we spoke
about several things, two of them were the trip you
planned to Lebanon after the army and the book "Atlas
Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. Next week I'm flying to
South America to make my trip and try to achieve my
goals. About Atlas Shrugged I didn't say my last word
yet, although we didn't agree on the details, we shared
the same analysis and vision so I think you will forgive
me that I'm still sticking to my approach.
|
Tamara
Karni Cohen - January 14, 2001 (London) |
It is very difficult to express with words
what emotions pass through my mind and subsequently my
heart. I can say that despite meeting Yonatan only a couple
of times, I will always remember his natural warmth to
anyone he met, and Susie's words of affection in 'a mother's
journal' reminded me of this.
|
Yitzhak
Herman (Argaman) - January 14, 2001 (Canada) |
Shalom,
My name is Yitzhak Herman (Argaman). I was born in
Israel in 1947, have been living in Canada for many
years. I first learnt about Yonatan through a short
story in the newspaper "Maariv". One of many
sad stories about lives lost in Israel's endless wars.
What attracted my attention was his last name: Zirkel.
This is also my mother's last name.
I remember growing up in Israel, not ever knowing or
meeting another Zirkel. My mother, my Grandmother and
my uncle were the only Zirkels I ever new. "We
are a very small family" they told me, "The
rest of the family perished in the Holocaust, except
for a couple of cousins who ended up in America or in
Brazil but we don't know if they are alive or how to
get in touch with them".
As a result of the sad news of that tragic day, and
because the newspaper mentioned that Yonatan was from
Kibbutz Shoval, I wrote the family and was happy (How
can one be happy after reading such news?) when Batia
and Shayke wrote me back and were kind enough to invite
me to their home on my next visit to Israel.
When I came to visit several months later I was welcomed
warmly and felt like MISHPACHA. Shayke tried to recreate
for me the Zirkel family tree and family history. With
my limited knowledge of the fact we could only conclude
that it is likely, very likely that we are indeed relatives
going back two or three generations in the small village
in Ukaraine/Polsand/Russia where our great Grandfathers
came from.
All of the above is just background info of how and
why I fit into the picture. Family or not, I feel like
I am part of you. I never knew Yonatan yet I feel your
pain and sense your loss. No words could do this feeling
justice. The heart and mind keep asking: Why should
a young, handsome, talented, promising young man lose
his life? It is beyond comprehension. Something is seriously
wrong in this world if tragedies like this keep happening.
Your web page is beutiful and shows how much loved
Yonatan was and how much he is missed.
Shalom and best regards, may you know no more sorrows.
|
Bernice
Bass & George Sossenko - January 15, 2001 (Florida) |
Dear
Batia and Shaike,
We
cried, we smiled, we felt the heartbreak of losing such
a young child. We marveled at Yonatan's courage.
We
know that if he belonged to your family, he was special,
and a very unique tribute you made for him.
We
thank you from the bottom of our hearts for sharing
these moments with us.
Yonatan,
we didn't know you personally, but we are certain that
you are at peace, in the company of exceptional people,
looking down at Israel, your beautiful family, and friends,
praying for complete harmony, and a swift end to
this terrible needless suffering.
All
our love,
Birdie
and George
|
Melanie
Circle - January 15, 2001 (U.S.A.) |
...thank you so much for sending that
[Web site address] to me. I wandered through that web
site with tears and appreciation.
Thank you.
|
Gabe
Woollam - February 3, 2001 (Canada) |
This is a wonderful site. I only met Yonatan once when
I visited Kibutz Shoval with my grandparents in 1994,
when he happily took the time to take my sister and
I to float in the Dead Sea (I still have a picture of
him floating with his feet and hands in the air, thumbs
extended) and up to Mesada. I will always carry a memory
of Yonatan's warmth and friendliness, and wish that
I had a chance to really get to know him.
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