Shira Malul slides on her old black sneakers and catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her hair is neat, but there are bags under her puffy, bloodshot eyes. She forces on a grin and waves at her reflection, practicing meeting new classmates for the very first time. It’s nearly impossible.
It’s her first day at high school, and her mother is not there to cheer her on.
Three years ago, Shira’s mother Rut was diagnosed with cancer. Shira never knew. Rut wanted to give Shira a normal childhood, and she succeeded. Shira finished elementary school not knowing that her mother traveled weekly to chemotherapy treatments in a nearby hospital, slowly growing weaker and weaker. One day, Rut suddenly slipped into a coma.
And to her family’s utter disbelief, she never woke up.
Shira and her father and six little siblings are reeling from the unfathomable pain of their great loss. Heartbreaking photos from the levaya show Shira sobbing into her father’s chest, while her younger brothers chant Kaddish over their mother’s lifeless body wrapped in a tallis.
Rut was a kindergarten teacher and now that she is gone the Malul’s aren’t sorely missing just their mother; They are lacking stability as well. Donations are being urgently collected to help continue what a mother's love might have given them: some comfort and security. A warm meal. Clothes and supplies for the new school year. It will never be their mother, but at least they won't be alone.