The Mount of Olives cemetery in Jerusalem held a memorial ceremony today (Thursday) marking three years since the passing of the late Sheldon Adelson - a lover of Israel, one of the greatest donors to the Jewish people and the State of Israel, and who founded Israel Hayom with his wife Dr. Miriam Adelson.
Sheldon Adelson z"l, Photo: Moshe Shai
The memorial service was attended by his widow, Dr. Miriam Adelson and their children, former Chief Rabbi of Israel and Chairman of the Yad Vashem Council, Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, friends and friends.
The moving ceremony was presided over by cantor and singer Shai Abramson, who delivered the prayer "God Full of Mercy." Alongside him, singer Maya Avraham performed Yossi Gispan's song "When the Heart Cries" and "Love of My Life" by Queen. Rabbi Lau read a chapter of Psalms for the elevation of Sheldon's soul, after which the sons recited Kaddish Adam and Matan.
Dr. Miriam Adelson at the memorial service marking three years since Sheldon Adelson's death, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Dr. Miriam Adelson spoke of the growing longing: "Three years have passed since Sheldon passed away, three years without the love of my life, the unique and great man, the giant, around whom my entire universe is celebrated, for whom the sun has risen every day."
"Need your wisdom"
Dr. Adelson noted that the late Sheldon always stood by Israel and supported the Jewish state with all his might," adding that "for us Jews, this is a frightening and stressful time. A time when I would so much like to lean on Sheldon. I'm sure he would stand tall and steadfast today, as he did as a teenager in Boston, when he stood up to a group of Irish thugs who were harassing Jewish children. If Sheldon were with us today, he would support Israel with full force in the just war it has embarked on."
The Adelson family, on the memorial day marking three years since his death, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
"Sheldon would look at Gaza and place the responsibility on whoever it belonged to, on Hamas and only on Hamas," Dr. Adelson continued. "He would look into President Biden's eyes and say, 'I never voted for you and I never would have voted for you, but I'm grateful that you stood with unwavering loyalty to Israel.'
"Sheldon, my one and only love, you have passed away but have not said goodbye to us. We will never say goodbye to you. It's customary to say 'rest in peace', so sorry we don't let you rest, we still need you so much. Thank you for your love, wisdom and advice, in our hearts you will always live," Dr. Adelson eulogized.
Loved Jerusalem
The daughter, Yasmin Lukacs, also eulogized at the gravesite, saying that Sheldon chose to be buried in Jerusalem "because of his great love for the city and what it symbolizes as the eternal and undisputed capital of the State of Israel, of the Jewish people throughout the generations, and because of the very important place Jerusalem had in his heart.
Adam and Matan, sons of Sheldon Adelson, on the memorial day marking three years since his death, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Lukacs noted that "Sheldon had another reason to be buried here - his desire that we, the children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren be in Jerusalem at least once a year. We will come from all over the world and we will all be here together, see these amazing landscapes and experience the holiness and importance of this city.
"On October 7th, the thought crossed my mind - what Sheldon would have thought about what was happening here, how he would have accepted it, how much it hurt him, the country and the people, and the people and every soldier. How much he loved this place. I know he was strong and optimistic and mobilizes all his abilities and the people around him, and his family and opinions and money to do everything he can to make us in a better place.
Memorial for Sheldon Adelson, marking three years since his death, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
"Dad," Lukacs added, "we are here and we are your emissaries and we will do everything we can to make things better here and we will continue to come to Jerusalem much more than once a year and see all this beauty and be together. Because together we will win."
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