Céline Turjeman
76, born in Tunisia.
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel, Jerusalem.
Interviewer: Nava Tal
When I was young, I studied teaching and taught in Nahariya and Shlomi.
One day, tragedy struck our family.
On a Friday evening, we went to my mother-in-law’s home to eat together and welcome Shabbat. We were dressed nicely, clean, and happy, walking as we always did. Our four-year-old daughter, Nurit, was with us.
After the meal, our daughter wanted to stay overnight with her grandmother, but we persuaded her to come home with us.
As we walked back on foot, we suddenly heard a gunshot. We did not have time to understand what was happening, and then we saw our beloved child between life and death.
She had been accidentally shot during a conflict between a group of people. The bullet pierced her heart and killed her instantly.
The pain and sorrow were immense. My entire life has been marked by pain and grief.
Nurit was a very intelligent child. She knew how to answer every question. When she passed away, even the kindergarten supervisor came to comfort us and said that she had been a special and exceptionally bright child.
I was a young mother, 28 years old, and since then Nurit has been engraved in my heart forever.
She passed away in the month of Adar. All the schools were celebrating Purim, while I alone remained in mourning for many years.
In addition, my brother was killed in the Yom Kippur War.
Since arriving at the hotel, I feel as though I have lost my hands and feet. We move constantly from one hospital to another. I underwent eye surgery, am scheduled for surgery on my other eye, and just recently I fell and broke my shoulder.
Who could have imagined this? For over a year, Shlomi has been destroyed, our home has been destroyed, and we have been separated from our children and grandchildren. How much inner strength is required to endure such a long and difficult period.
We decided to initiate and establish an independent business in Shlomi — both for livelihood and for meaning: to meet people, to talk, and to leave the house after so many years of mourning.
We opened a stationery and gift shop, and its success was tremendous.
We were the only store of its kind in Shlomi. After others saw our success, more similar shops opened. Even the grocery store next to us began selling basic school supplies.
We believe that livelihood is in the hands of Heaven. We are people of faith, and God provides all our needs.
Thank God, we lack nothing.
76, born in Tunisia.
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel, Jerusalem.
Interviewer: Nava Tal
Mary Pinto, 70, born in Israel (Safed).
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel, Jerusalem.
Interviewer: Nava Tal
Ilana Amrusi, 69, born in Israel (Tiberias).
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel.
Interviewer: Nava Tal