Memorial Day event at Jerusalem's Ammunition Hill remembers the lives of six soldiers and Malki

Arnold Roth (above) recites the Kaddish memorial prayer
at the end of the segment devoted to Malki

The evening of 8th May 2011 was chilly. As the sun set, ushering in a national day of remembrance, a crowd of some 3,500 participants from all over the world, assembled at the Ammunition Hill memorial site in Jerusalem's northern suburbs, stood silently as a siren - echoing hundreds of other sirens sounding at the same moment all over Israel - wailed to mark the start of Yom Hazikaron.

Immediately afterwards, as the attendees took their seats, the names of seven fallen young people - six soldiers and a fifteen year old school girl - were read aloud.

Organized by MASA, a co-ordinating body overseeing hundreds of programs which provide young visitors with a taste of life in Israel,  the solemn ceremony [video below] took place this year under the title "The Seven Species". This refers to the seven fruits and grains that are referred to in the Torah as characteristic of the Promised Land, Israel. Today they serve as a metaphor for the traditions, beliefs and connections that tie the Jewish people to their homeland. Seven young lives, all of them ending in a sudden and tragic death in the course of war, provided the event with its focus.

The life of Malki Roth, the sole female and the only non-combatant among the seven, was movingly depicted in music (Shaar Harachamin sung by Meir Banai - online here) and words in the Ammunition Hill ceremony, at the end of which Malki's father, Arnold Roth, publicly recited the Kaddish, the memorial prayer recited in honour of the dead. Following is the text that was read aloud while pictures of Malki's life appeared on the giant screen.

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The Seven Species:
Malki Roth

Nine-Eleven occurred a month after Malki died.

Her family, friends and neighbours gathered together in their hundreds on that very day to mark the “shloshim”, thirty days after her life ended.

Earlier that day, the morning of September 11, 2001, the official papers registering Keren Malki, or the Malki Foundation, were issued by a government office here in Jerusalem.

The Malki Foundation exists to help families of children in Israel with serious special-needs, without regard to their religious or national background.

Malki was born to Frimet, a native New Yorker, and Arnold, an Australian. Frimet and Arnold were and remain ardent Zionists who made the decision almost as soon as they met that they would raise their children in Israel.

Zionism was an integral part of their strong ties to Israel, to Israeli society, and to their relationship with the Almighty. Its values guided Malki throughout her life. A gifted classical musician and a popular youth-group leader, she devoted her free time to helping children with special needs.

Malki’s sister was a baby when she became very sick. Malki then nine years old decided to become her mother’s main helper in caring for her little sister. And she found the time to help other families with children with serious special-needs. She felt she could give them love and take care of their needs, while knowing these children might never be able express their love for her in return.

Malki believed with all her heart in the power of giving. She knew they needed the soft touch of an angel – a “mal’ach.” They needed Malki.

Malki was standing with her closest friend at the counter of the Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem on August 9, 2001 when a Hamas bomb ended their lives. She was fifteen. Thirteen other innocents, mostly children and mothers, also died. 132 people were injured in the attack.

During the shiva, her heartbroken parents, brothers and sisters sat together and made the decision to continue as Malki would have wanted: to support families with children with serious special-needs, doing this in Malki’s name.

Today, Keren Malki assists hundreds of families every year. Families who have made the decision to raise their special-needs children at home rather than hand them off to institutional care. By funding treatment and medical equipment, it empowers these families from every part of Israeli society: on Israel’s periphery and from the cities and development towns; secular and religious; Jews, Moslems, Christians, Druze.

Malki never paid attention to these differences. Neither does the foundation that honors her name.

The Roths feel the Malki Foundation represents the spirit of Malki: optimistic, energetic, always with an open hand and willing to help. Malki’s smile opened Heaven’s gates for those in need. It is the answer to their prayers.

May her memory be a blessing.

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An edited version of MASA's video of the Memorial Day ceremony is below. Or click here.