‘Oriya, Can You Hear Me?’

Yom Hazikaron, Memorial Day, May 13, is the day when Israelis remember both the soldiers who have died defending their country, and the civilians who have been murdered by terrorists. On this Yom Hazikaron, Hannie Ricardo — an Israeli singer, song writer, and historian — spoke of her daughter Oriya, who was murdered at the Nova Music Festival by Hamas terrorists on October 7. She delivered the following remarks to mark both Yom Hazikaron and Mother’s Day, her first without Oriya. More can be found here: “My Daughter Was Killed on October 7; Here Is My Message to the World,” by Hannie Ricardo, Algemeiner, May 16, 2024:

Since I was a young girl, I have been invited to participate in memorial ceremonies — to read a poem or to sing a song. For many years, I have stood with parents who lost their dear ones, holding their hands and supporting them.

I am taking part in this memorial ceremony today for the first time in my life as אמא שכולה, a mother who lost the most precious thing in life — my daughter.

I dedicate my words today in memory of my beloved Oriya, who gave me 26 years of light, love and happiness, and to her close friends, the couple Sharon Refai and Shahar Manzur, and the brave Eli Refael, Sharon’s brother who came to rescue them and he, too, was murdered with them; and in memory of Roya and Norrelle Manzuri, Ron Zarfati, Ron Yehudai, the best friends Mapal Adam and Hilly Solomon, Omri Aharak, Yarden Buskila, and all the beautiful people who were brutally murdered on October 7, at the Nova Music Festival.

Never again — the couplet of words I heard since my childhood — have become, since the October 7 massacre, a concept empty of content. Now more than ever, we must fill it up with stronger content.

Never again means that we, as Jews, must be united in the understanding that we are here by right and not by grace, not by the grace of people, nor other religions, or the shameless UN, which gives the impression that its entire role is to lend a hand to the haters of the Jewish people, whomever they are….

And I will end with the words I chose to end the Oratorio Kaddish Oriya and Terezin, which I wrote and dedicated to Oriya, and which will be premiered on October 7, 2024, at the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv:

אוריה, האם את שומעת? זאת אני, אלייך קוראת. אמא מתגעגעת, ותפילה אלייך נושאת.

עשי שלום עלינו, אוריה, שלום עלינו ועל כל ישראל, ונאמר אמן

And I will repeat in English so everyone can understand:

Oriya, can you hear me? It is me, calling you. Mom misses you and carry a prayer to you:

Make peace upon us, Oriya, upon us and all of Israel, and we shall say Amen.

Nothing need be added to, or subtracted from, this. There is no need to dilate further on the theme. It is perfect of its kind.

“Dejadme llorar, orillas del mar”