06 May '13..
The strength and wisdom of taking pain and grief and turning it into something meaningful and positive is not a usual feat. Michael Palmer is one who did just that.
Having lost his beloved son, Asher and grandson, Yonatan z"l in a horrific brutal terror attack in September 2011, Michael decided to take his pain and direct it towards helping commemorate his loved ones.
Asher z"l was supposed to begin his studies in Azrieli College in Jerusalem and Michael decided that he would create a scholarship fund in memory of Asher and Yonatan in the College that would help married students be able to afford the studies. I had the enormous privilege of attending a special session in the College where Michael spoke to some of the 36 students, expressing his appreciation of their studies allowing a living memory of Asher and Yonatan.
Also Shmuel Palmer, brother of Asher, who had also studied and graduated from this College of Engineering spoke beautifully of Asher , and Yonatan z"l and the importance of the scholarship fund.
The Dean spoke, and then each of the students who were present at the event spoke. Introducing themselves each told who he was and what the scholarship has meant for the student and his family. More than that was the expression of the commitment to commemorating the memory of Asher and Yonatan by studying in this College.
Some of the students had been friends and studied with Asher. Some live in Kiryat Arba and knew Asher and had also attended the funerals of Asher and Yonatan. All of them spoke of how they remembered the tragic results of the terror attack, and expressed their appreciation to Michael for granting them this scholarship.
The scholarship concentrates not only on the studies of the students, but also is suited to those students who served our country, and who wish to continue to contribute to the development, and safety and security of our Land, our Torah, and our people. The occasion was one of the most moving that I have ever been privileged to attend and the beautiful and meaningful commemoration of two lives by this scholarship fund is awesome.
I truly believe that by taking the pain and turning into something productive and by giving and doing good, we are defeating the evil that tries to destroy us. By taking the hate and turning into love in memory of our loved ones who were murdered simply because they are Jews we are defeating the forces of evil.
Asher z"l wished to continue to contribute to or Land and Nation not only by the path he chose in his studies but by settling the Land with his family.
The evil that is trying to destroy us will never achieve this because we turn the hate into love.
Yehudit Tayar is a first response medic, is on the Board of Hatzalah Yehudah, Shomron and the Jordan Valley, serves as one of the spokesmen for the Jewish pioneers in Yesha, and lives in Bet Horon with her family for almost 33 years.
Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh.
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