Goodbye

How do we conclude?
How do we sum up a child? A young man?
How do we sum up a whole life, countless moments, enormous bursting energy?
How do we explain how many moments of laughter, how much mischief, how much creativity?
How much flexibility? How many heartaches? And poems? And love?
Our Ofry was a whole world and knew wisely how to create rich worlds for himself. Rich in friends, in experiences, in courage. Rich in art, in dancing, in silliness, in games, in laughter…

At the age of 19, at the beginning of his military service, Ofry started suffering from depression. He did not hide it and did not obscure it, and for a year he fought courageously not to sink. He took care of himself with dedication and relied on everyone who reached out to him, and there were many such people. Friends from the army, friends at home, Tchelet, the nuclear and extended family, the staff in the unit, and professionals there – psychiatrists, psychologists, commanders. He received a protective and supportive envelope that allowed him to continue, to grow, and eventually to leave the crisis behind and successfully complete his military service.

Since then, the depression did not return, and Ofry carried on in the world alongside his illness. Slowly and gradually, he reduced the medication, and three weeks before his death he even stopped it completely.

The three years that followed were good, healthy, and rich. Ofry never rested for a moment and lived life in turbo speed. He traveled in Israel and abroad, volunteered, painted, created, built, gardened, loved, ran, danced, drank, dreamed, and planned for the future.

On the last weekend before he passed away, he felt signs that the depression had returned. Something of the sense of lack of concentration, a great sensitivity to noises, lights, and the pains of the world overwhelmed him. He probably understood that another struggle was awaiting him.

On Sunday, December 31, 2023, Ofry passed away of suicidality.
We believe that even though he did it himself, it wasn’t truly a choice.

So how do we sum up a child? A young man?
We conclude with deep gratitude and appreciation for countless moments and experiences that will always accompany us. For the beauty, the art, the creation and Ofry’s unique fingerprint, which is soaked in every corner of our home, garden, and hearts.
Love forever.