שירה

(05  ה15 במאי)

Dear Aviva and Shahaf,
Hi! My name is Shira Aharon. I am 17 years old and i live in new york.
I was visiting the website www.all4israel.org
when i learned of what happened to your son and brother.
This website collects Tzedaka and tells the news.
It also shows pictures of the terror victims and tells their story.
I found a picture of Tom on this website.
I never saw such a beautiful face in my life.
I stared at the picture for a good 10 minutes not understanding how he could be taken away
from his family, friends, and country.
All this happened around December.
Once in a while i would go on that website and look at Toms picture.
I knew that i would never forget his face or name.
Four months later i went to Israel for Pesach. Me and Miri Gadasi are very close.
My mom and Miri have been friends for a very long time.
Anyways i was at Miris house one day and she asked me to take Shai's laundry to his room.
So i went into his room and that was when i saw a picture of Tom.
It was the same exact picture i saw on the internet in December at my house.
I froze and i was shocked.
It took me a few minutes to gather my thoughts and understand what was going on.
That day i went with Miri to visit his grave. It was very hard for Miri and also for me.
Miri lit a ner neshama and i said some tehilim.
For a few days after my visit to the cemetery i could not stop thinking of Tom.
I couldn't get his face out of my head.
Everything seemed less beautiful.
Miri gave me a card with Toms picture and its in my wallet (arnak).
The day I got back from Israel i went straight on the computer.
I went on the website you made for him.
Its such a beautiful webpage and you could tell you worked very hard on it.
I looked at evry single picture that was put up and i noticed something.
I noticed how beautiful and real his smiles were.
He lived life to its fullest and enjoyed every minute.
His 20 years of life could have been like someone elses 60 years.
It takes an amazing person to accomplish what he did in 20 years.
He touched so many peoples lives and made a difference.
He is very lucky to have such a wonderful family and so many friends that love and care about him.
I wish I would have been lucky enough to know him.
On Yom Hazikaron I spent a very long time on Toms website.
I read all the letters. I read the letters that both of you wrote.
I read the letter that Shani and her dad wrote. And i read the letters that his friends wrote.
After all this i felt like I got to know Tom a little.
The letters made me cry so much.
Shahaf i read that you were in new york in march.
Next time you come to new york you can stay at my house. My house is your house.
If i can help with anything in any way let me know.
If you want anything from new york tell me and i will bring it for you when i come to israel.
With all my heart and with lots of love
Shira Aharon