Israelis Reconnect with Lost Figures from Their Past
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Four Israelis have reconnected with people from their past, including former military colleagues, a fellow cadet, a first love, and a childhood pen pal. The reunions were facilitated by the Facebook group 'Closer,' which helps people find lost contacts. While some reconnected successfully, others found their past acquaintances had passed away, still allowing for a form of closure.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Four Israelis reconnected with lost figures from their past through the Facebook group 'Closer'.
- Ruth Shilo reconnected with former Air Force colleagues Eva Dedon and Zvia Bukbaza.
- Itamar Hatzor found his former cadet friend Avi Schwartz after 50 years.
- Naama Harpaz helped her grandfather visit the grave of his first love, Rina.
- Oren Cohen reconnected with his childhood pen pal Ayala after decades.
Four individuals in Israel have successfully re-established contact with people from their past, decades after their connections were severed. These stories, shared through a Facebook group called 'Closer,' highlight the enduring power of memory and the possibility of rekindling old relationships, sometimes with unexpected outcomes.
Ruth Shilo, who served in the Israeli Air Force in 1979 at the Etam base, reconnected with two former colleagues, Eva Dedon and Zvia Bukbaza. Despite losing touch after their military service, Shilo initiated contact, leading to phone calls, shared photos, and laughter, though a physical reunion has yet to occur.
Itamar Hatzor, 75, recalled a formative experience from 1970 when he and another cadet, Avi Schwartz, were caught skipping a navigation exercise for an Air Force party. They were sentenced to 21 days in military prison but were released after 11 days following an appeal to then-commander Ariel Sharon. Hatzor later used the 'Closer' group to find Schwartz, who had changed his name to Shaham. The reunion after 50 years was described as a very emotional experience.
Naama Harpaz sought to fulfill her 93-year-old grandfather Shalom Alexis Mesika's wish to reconnect with his first love, Rina. Mesika met Rina in 1956 shortly after immigrating from Tunisia. Their innocent relationship ended when she moved away for studies. Harpaz discovered Rina had passed away two years prior, but managed to arrange a visit to her grave, allowing her grandfather to say a few words and achieve a sense of closure.
Oren Cohen, who moved to Belgium in 2003, found a letter from his childhood pen pal, Ayala, while going through old items. He posted a humorous message on Facebook seeking her, which went viral. He has since reconnected with Ayala and they are corresponding, with a potential future meeting. Cohen reflected on the innocence of their childhood correspondence, noting how different communication is today.