Eliezer's Mother:
Eliezer was born in Tamuz, our second son after ur first born girl. We lived in the old city of Jerusalem back then.
When Eliezer was 17, we moved to Gush Azion. Eliezer studied in grade school in the old city and in Himmelfarb high school.
When Eliezer was born, I felt that he burst out with such speed and decisiveness that there was no doubt that he knew where he was going and who he was going to meet. Two weeks later we discovered a defect in his digestive system (he was born without a gall bladder and with no contact between his liver and digestive system). Baruch Hashem modern medicine found a solution discovered by a man from Japan named Kasai and we were able to send him into surgery that had risk, but also gave Eliezer a chance. Eliezer was lucky to have a surgeon that was blessed with capable hands and a wonderful personality (Professor Schiller). The surgery was a success but it was the first step of a long process. In the end, the process ended when Eliezer was 2.5 years old and throughout the entire time, Eliezer cooperated, agreed to all the demands without complaining. Like for when he was required to drink the bitter juices from his gall bladder that had been taken out of his body during the first months, that needed to be returned to his body.
Hashem gave Eliezer joy and love for life, a sharp mind, sense and wisdom, infectious humor, curiosity, an interest in the world and in others and courage. Eliezer used all these tools during the first years of his life and he caught up physically. He always challenged himself with tasks and aspirations in areas that were harder for him.
The years in the old city were happy ones for Eliezer. He was gifted with social and leadership skills. He initiated a lot in the business world. For example: He imported candy from abroad and sold them to the kids in the old city. He sold merchandise to the tourists who came to the old city during the high holidays which meant that sometimes he had to change his kipa color or style and taught himself some key words in different languages so that he has a way to contact the buyers. He would even get his friends to work with him. In later years, he worked in the Bagels store in the old city. He enjoyed serving the customers and was friendly with the staff. He gave money to the needy and they became attached to him.
When he became bar mitzvah, Eliezer revealed a new talent in reading the Torah. He read Parashat VaEtchanan in a moving and uplifting way. During the celebrations, he demonstrated his musical talents as he joined the Pirchei Yerusalem singing group. He spent years learning cantorship and voice exercises.
After high school, Eliezer studied in the preparatory program in Atzmona, where he experienced the death of five of his friends by terrorists.
After this program, a man who knew him from the bagel shop turned to him and offered him a job similar to the one he had in the old city, but in a new store in the Mea Sheaarim neighborhood, near Meer yeshiva. And so Eliezer examined, did research, investigated, made plans and created a business for this man including workers and marketing. Eliezer ran the store and through that acquired a vocabulary of words in Yiddish so that he can communicate with his clients.
When Eliezer was 19 years old, he began having coughing fits. Half a year later, after many visits to doctors who couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him, Eliezer was presented with another challenge, a rare form of lung cancer.
The conventional treatment of the disease got in the way of treating the liver which wasn’t intact to begin with, and we began to get help from alternative medicine.
Surgery was not an option in his condition as the disease had spread to both lungs and the doctors explained that there was no way to have surgery.
Coping with this the second time was very difficult especially since during this time most of the people his age were traveling the world and joining the army. (Thank g-d Eliezer was able to travel many countries with his friends during his high school years).
Due to his liver disease, Eliezer was not accepted to the army as an average soldier but after much effort, he was able to volunteer in the army in the Intelligence corps. This service was cancelled once the cancer was discovered.
The next two years were challenging for Eliezer but were rewarding as well. Everything was done with the will to experience, to live well and the whole time having conversations with Hashem about how? what? Why?
During these 2 year, Eliezer started a business, took a trip abroad where he underwent a complicated surgery due to an issue that developed of his 2 diseases (liver and cancer). He succeeded in studying a semester in the university in Rechovot to study Hotel Management and lived in Rechovot with a friend.
He proceeded in developing his hobby of cooking and of course, never neglected his fellow man and would make food for the needy and even arranged to make a Purim meal for needy families.
During Eliezers last months, he taught himself the book "Mesilat Yesharim" and "Pirke Avot" and was successful in convincing the rest of the family in learning together. Eliezer internalized and implemented the studies. He learned to be thankful for every bit of good that he received and was able to turn the anger for the hardships he was going through into an even stronger love and thoughtfulness for those around him, especially for his family. Until the very last moment, Eliezer continued to plan trips around the world and make plans on how to feel better. Nevertheless, 2 days before he said goodbye, he boldly discussed with the rabbi his fears of leaving this world.
During the last month, Eliezer suffered from breathing difficulties, in addition to his usual pains. On Friday night, Parashat Tazria- Mezora, the family stood around his bed in Hadassa hospital. We had just completed our tefilla of Kabalat Shabbat and the atmosphere was unique and uplifting. A few minutes after the end of tefilla, the angels came to collect his soul and suddenly, we were without him.
We live with Eliezers essence with us daily, on Shabbat, chagim, during family events, even with friends who have become our family.
Eliezers powerful strength accompanies us and gives us strength to have joy and reinforces our relationship with Hashem, who has shown us so much help and compassion during hard times.
His Neshama guides us to work on our midot, in our attempts to be diligent and create when why are tempted by fatigue and laziness and with all the challenges that we need to cope with every year.
We thank Hashem that we were able to enjoy Eliezer for that short time and we pray that we have the zchut to meet him again at Techiyat HaMetim.