Keith Siegel, the youngest son of Gladys Siegel, was held hostage by Hamas for 421 days. His mother, Gladys, passed away at the age of 97, unaware of his ordeal. The family shielded her from the horrifying reality, focusing instead on advocating for Keith and other Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Keith’s wife, Aviva, who was released after 51 days in captivity, shared a touching moment from their time together. She recalled Keith breaking the captors’ demanded silence to express his desire to hug his mom once he was free. Aviva shared this message with Gladys during her eulogy.
Gladys Siegel was a beloved member of the Jewish community in Durham, North Carolina, known for her involvement in various organizations and her support for the local synagogue. She was a generous and caring individual, always willing to lend a helping hand.
Despite her advanced age, Gladys remained active and engaged in her community, receiving frequent visits from family and friends. Her children remember her as a dedicated advocate for them, just as she was for her civic activities.
As Gladys is laid to rest, her legacy of kindness and generosity lives on through her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She will be remembered for her unwavering support and love for her family and community.
His wife Aviva was freed from Gaza in November 2023. (Jane Gabin)
“Lucy, you were simply a hero, protecting your mom, keeping her from heartbreak, helping her to live out the last days of her life with chocolate in her mouth and peace in her heart,” Greyber said.
The rabbi expressed his apprehension about Gladys’ funeral, unsure if he could find the right words to honor the woman who played a significant role in building the community.
“I don’t know what a world looks like without my dear Gladys, I don’t know what the future holds for Keith, this precious family, or Israel, or our community. I don’t know, and if I’m honest, it’s pretty scary right now to try and imagine where the light is going to come from,” Greyber said.
“But Gladys taught us, ‘Maalin bakodesh,’ we go up in holiness,” he added. “We have to have the courage to light the candles ourselves, to bring more light into the world, to call and send emails of lovingkindness and connection, to march for hunger and bring and make home-cooked meals, to send hugs, and hugs and more hugs — now that Gladys’ light has gone.”
Lee Siegel emphasized the need for the Beth El community to honor Gladys’ memory by intensifying efforts to bring Keith and the other hostages home.
“We ask that the Beth El community honor our mother’s memory with renewed and urgent efforts to help us bring Keith and the other hostages home,” he said. “We must continue to believe that with hard work, a better day is coming — as that will always be our mother’s legacy.”
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