Parents of Sgt. Rotem Yanai Say Tearful Goodbye: “Who Will Call Me ‘Mommy’ Now?”

Tearful Farewell

Sgt. Rotem Yanai, of blessed memory, was killed in northern Israel by a Hezbollah drone strike. At her funeral, her parents delivered a heartbreaking farewell to their daughter.

“Rotem, my child, my one and only, my special girl, the sunshine of my life,” her mother said. “I don’t know how to stand here before this large crowd and try to say goodbye to you in just a few sentences that could possibly capture the greatness of your character and your values.”

Her mother also read from a passage Rotem had written to her for her birthday: “My dear Mom, you are an inspiration. When I become a mother, I want to be a mother like you.”

Overcome with grief, her mother cried out: “Who will call me ‘Imoosh’ (Mommy) now? Rotem, my daughter, you will never get to be a mother.”

Family’s Grief

Sgt. Rotem Yanai’s father also eulogized her, struggling to accept the loss of his daughter.

“Rotem, my dear and beloved girl. I am standing here stunned and refusing to believe it. Who will call me ‘Bini’ now? Who will nag me about the car every weekend? Where did you go? I am sorry I could not protect you. I love you endlessly, your Bini.”

Her brother Dor also spoke through tears, describing the mark Sgt. Yanai left on those around her.

“There was something special about you. Your good heart, the way you made everyone around you feel loved. You left a mark on every single person. I love you and miss you more than words could ever describe.”