The last letter to the family: see you after landing

 Ramon / The relatives in Israel flew tonight to join the widow, Rona, in Houston * Bush and Putin called Sharon to comfort

   
Wolferman presents a photo with his son Ilan Ramon and his grandson, yesterday at his home in Omer Photo: Alberto Dankberg, Haaretz (courtesy of Walla)

"I'm holding on a little longer, but that will come later," Eliezer Wolferman, Ilan Ramon's father, said last night, shortly before he flew to Houston, Texas. With a face that didn't reveal anything, he summed up what happened to him hours earlier in five words: "I don't have a son, it's sad."

Wolferman, a 79-year-old Holocaust survivor, lives in Gani Omer, a residential neighborhood for an adult population, over the age of 50. Shortly after seven o'clock, the father of the first Israeli astronaut came with his body to the home in Omer, after participating in the television broadcast, which was supposed to be celebratory, on the occasion of the landing of the Columbia shuttle . A short note was waiting for him on the door of his house, left by his neighbors: "Eliezer, we are with you and here."

Ramon "In terms of safety, I'm very quiet, I'm not afraid," he said in June last year. Photo: IDF spokesman

Wolferman told the journalists who were waiting for him near the house when he got out of the taxi that he did not believe that it would end like this. "I don't know where I am, I didn't expect that," he said, "even when they said that the connection with the ferry was lost, I was sure that everything worked out. I knew the two guys who flew her. I was sure they would land, even without the connection." Afterwards, he locked himself in the house together with the head of the Omer council, Fini Badash, who was the first to comfort him.

At that time, many family members and friends of the Ramon family arrived at the home of the parents of Rona Ramon, Ilan's wife. In the parents' apartment in Kiryat Ono, the friends huddled together, sitting on many chairs in the living room, watching TV, overcome with grief. Outside the apartment, the neighbors gathered, talking
in a whisper

Marciano, an 11-year-old boy, received a hat from Ilan Ramon with the names of all the members of the ferry crew embroidered on it: "I constantly check on the Internet how Ilan is doing and how the crew on the ferry is doing. I was promised that when Ilan returned I would be able to have a meal with him at Rona's parents, now that will no longer happen," he said.

Flora, Rona's cousin, told how all the family members sat in the parents' house in the afternoon, excited, to watch the landing: "We sat together, and together we saw this terrible tragedy in its full force."

Flora said that it didn't take long until Rona contacted them by phone from the US. "She spoke to us after she had already been informed of the disaster that happened, but all she repeated and told the parents was to be strong. They are adults and that was important to her. She strengthened us, and we tried to strengthen her," she said.

Last night after midnight, five members of the Ramon family were supposed to board a flight from Ben Gurion Airport in Lod to the USA - Ilan's father and his brother, as well as Rona Ramon's sister, sister-in-law and cousin.

The cousin, Itzik, has not yet had time to unpack his luggage. Only last Tuesday he returned from Florida, where he was present at the launch of the space shuttle on January 16. "Now, with the same suitcase, he flew to comfort Rona," said the family's neighbors.

The home of Gadi Ramon, Ilan's brother, in Zichron Ya'akov was also full of people last night who came to help and support the family, while the phones did not stop ringing, expressing condolences and offers to help. Last night a small party was supposed to take place there, to mark Ilan's landing with the ferry in Florida. After receiving the tragic news, it was cancelled.

Two hours after receiving the message about cutting off the connection with the ferry, the first contact was made between Gadi and Rona, Ilan's wife, who spoke to him from the US. Rona demanded the safety of Eliezer, his father, and Gadi assured her that he would take care of the father. "It's a terrible disaster that happened to us," Gadi told Rona on the phone. Then Gadi told the journalists that at first, when he sat in front of the screen and saw the reports live, it was difficult to understand what was happening.

"For me he was not a symbol. He was a good brother and friend. When I would tell Ilan that I was worried about him with the flights he was making, Ilan would laugh and say that it is safer to fly than to drive on the road in a car," Gadi said.

The last contact with Ilan, Gadi Ramon said, was made with the help of an e-mail, which Ilan sent from space, in which he wrote: "See you after the landing." He also expressed his great joy to return to Earth. Gadi read the e-mail last Wednesday, and yesterday he sent his brother a letter of reply, wishing him a successful landing.

"I also saw him on the website during all the days of the shuttle mission. He is seen on the site happy in Adam, and my consolation is that he has achieved what many people dream of doing," said the brother.

At Hav BaOmer's house, in a neighborhood with an elderly population, acquaintances from the neighborhood walked slowly into the small house, whose response was clearly evident. They came to comfort, but did not know what to say. They watched in silence as Wolferman answered the onslaught of phones that didn't stop ringing.

"Until the last moment, I was sure that everything would be fine," said the astronaut's father to the Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, who called him. "Now, that's it," added the father, "we don't have a tree, I don't have a tree."

Later, President Katsav, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, Air Force Commander Dan Halutz, and many others also called Nahem. Even in his difficult moments, Wolferman made sure to thank everyone with patience and politeness, in freezing silence.

Just an hour before he took off, Wolferman talked to Rona, the newly widowed: "What can you say to a woman who has become a widow with four children? I told her to hold on, until I come to strengthen her, or maybe she me. We'll see who will succeed," he said.

When he left the house in Gani Omer, seven soul candles were lit outside the family home. After his departure, his wife remained in the settlement, hospitalized in the nearby nursing home, cut off from reality due to her illness.

"When Ilan took off, I said it's a shame she can't see her son become the first Israeli in space," Wolferman said last night, "Now, I'm glad she at least doesn't know about what's going on. For me, there won't even be a grave to go to".

Ben Eliyahu: Despite the heavy grief, I am not sorry that I sent Ramon into space  
 2.2.2003 
 
 Last night the security system arranged the travel of Ramon's relatives from Israel to the USA. The family members were supposed to leave on an El Al flight from Tbilisi to the USA, early in the morning. In addition, Israel's air attache in the US left Washington for Houston, to take care of the necessary arrangements.

The Minister of Defense, Shaul Mofaz, spoke last night with Ramon's father, Eliezer Wolferman, and told him that "the security system and the entire people of Israel are grieving the tragedy with the family members."

Mofaz assured the astronaut's father that the security system would be at the disposal of the family in any matter that might be required, during the flight to the US and afterwards. It seems that Ramon, who was in active service, will be recognized as an IDF soldier.

Mofaz also spoke last night with US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Mofaz told his colleague that Israel sees itself also in the future as a partner in the space program and that it is important to say the words precisely on such a day.

Rumsfeld was interested in whether Ramon was among the pilots who bombed the Iraqi reactor Mofaz replied in the affirmative and even said that Ramon was a young participant in the action.

The former commander of the Air Force, Major General (Res.) Eitan Ben-Eliyahu, who sent Ramon on the mission nearly five years ago, told Channel 2 yesterday that despite the heavy grief he feels over the death of the astronaut, he does not regret the decision to launch him.

The former Air Force commander added that although such a mission involves risks, which were known to all, it is of great importance in advancing knowledge and technology.
 
 

Bush, Putin and Fischer called Sharon and expressed their condolences  
 "This is a tragic day for the astronauts' families, and a tragic day for science," said the US president in his conversation with Sharon
  
2.2.2003 
 
The Minister of Finance, Sylvan Shalom, will represent the State of Israel at the American state ceremony, which will be held today or tomorrow, in memory of the people of the space shuttle Columbia that exploded yesterday.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office informed the US authorities yesterday that the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance will represent Israel in the mourning ceremonies. Shalom arrived yesterday in the USA for the annual conference of the Bundes organization. The Minister of Finance is scheduled to return to Israel the day after tomorrow.

The President of the United States, George Bush, spoke on the phone yesterday with the Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, and told him: "This is a tragic day for the families of the astronauts, and a tragic day for science. I know that there was a brave Israeli citizen on the ferry, Lt. Col. Ilan Ramon."

Bush asked Prime Minister Sharon to convey condolences on his behalf and in the name of the American people.

The Prime Minister expressed his condolences to the American people and the families of the astronauts, saying that "at times like these, the hearts of the American people and the people of Israel beat together."

The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, called Prime Minister Sharon yesterday evening and expressed his condolences for the disaster and the loss of Ramon's life, whom he called "an excellent man and a man of hope." According to Putin, "this is another tragedy that is happening to Israel in these difficult times". Sharon replied: "Israel and Russia are strong nations, going through difficult times but managing to be strong and so it will continue."

The Prime Minister also received a condolence call last night from the German Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer. In his conversation with Sharon, the German Foreign Minister said that "the German government knows how important the launch of the first Israeli astronaut into space was for the people of Israel."

Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday ordered the Israeli embassies in the US to assist in every way the family of Lt. Col. Ramon and all other relevant parties, following the explosion of the Columbia ferry.

Netanyahu spoke last night with Orna Bar, Ramon's sister-in-law, and at her request ordered to assist her when she arrives in the US and accompany her there.
Israel's ambassador to the US, Danny Ayalon, flew from Washington to Florida yesterday to help Ramon's family. Ayalon was joined by the air attaché at the Israeli embassy.

The former foreign minister, MK Shimon Peres, said last night that what could have been a day of great joy turned into a painful and sad day. The former foreign minister said yesterday that "Between the desire to see new horizons and the personal sacrifice, the entire State of Israel identifies first of all with the personal loss (...) Today is a day of mourning and pain for the entire Israeli people. There are no words to praise the wonderful behavior of Lt. Col. Ilan Ramon, who at the height of his glory showed courage, modesty and Israeli patriotism and left us orphans in his cruel fall," Peres said.

The government company for medals and coins announced, before the crash, that it would issue a medal to commemorate the launch of the first Israeli astronaut.

The design of the medal was done in full coordination with the Israeli Space Agency and its director, Avi Haravan. The designer of the medal is the artist Aharon Shebo, who chose to incorporate a verse from the Psalms, "On Israel his pride and strength in the heavens". The company said that after the disaster the medal will become a memorial medal.