The Family of Erik (Ernest) Rafaelov, z.l.:

Erik, 16 years old, was beaten to death on May 2, 2010, by the stepfather of his girlfriend when the two returned later than expected from a Lag B’Omer celebration. Erik’s mother Mira, 45, who works as a cleaner in Soroka hospital was at the hospital when he was brought to the emergency room early in the morning, with no advance warning that this brutally beaten young man was her son. Adding to the tragedy is that there was a delay of several hours from the time Erik was attacked to the time he was finally brought to the hospital, suggesting the possibility that his life might have been saved if only he had received treatment in time. As it was, by the time Erik reached the hospital he was in a state of brain death; he was declared dead 24 hours later.

Mira and her husband Edward, 50, lost a son in infancy in their native Chechnya and have one remaining son, Vladimir, now serving in the IDF. Edward suffered severe injuries in a work accident at a building site several months ago and is now in a rehabilitation center in Ashdod. Not long before his accident, a fire in the family’s apartment forced them to move in with Mira’s parents. The mother, Galina, is ailing and housebound.

Mira, today bereaved of a son brutally murdered, with her husband hospitalized in severe condition, and having recently lost her home, is trying to hold together a family and coping with inconsolable grief. In addition to the emotional and physical distress, the family’s financial situation is also very difficult right now.

SELAH social worker Natasha Koretz and caregiver Alex Gershanov were with the family at home before Erik’s funeral, on Tuesday, May 4th. At the funeral, Natasha stayed with Mira, while Alex supported Erik’s brother Vladimir. The family asked the staff at the rehabilitation center where Erik’s father Edward is recuperating not to tell him yet about this terrible tragedy, for fear the trauma would be too much for him to bear. His condition is such that he would not have been able to attend the funeral under any circumstances.

SELAH is staying in close touch with the family and will be making frequent home visits in the coming weeks.