Gideon Prodgers z"l
Gideon Prodgers - a young member of the South African Habonim Dror Shnati group to Israel succumbed over this last weekend at Haifa's Rambam Hospital to a critical illness. A memorial service was held on Tuesday afternoon. The hall was packed and there was not a dry eye as one amazing tribute followed another.
Speakers included Alan Hoffman (Director General of the Jewish-Zionist Education Department of the Jewish agency) and Silvio Joscowicz (Secretary General of World Habonim). Others present included Sharon Almougi (Director of Machon lemadrichim of the Jewish Agency from the English Speaking world), madrichim, friends ending with sister Kayda. For those who did not personally know 'Gid' before, they all felt they did an hour later.
The service was organised and run by Ariane Boeken-Rubin, who heads the European, British, South African and Australian Desk in the Education Department. Arian was a key person in ccompanying the family from the start, organizing the Education Department to fund some of the family's costs, organizing all the documentation, and helping steer them through the bureaucracy. Arian managed to get the Aliyah Department to get an ishur aliyah within a day. She looked for housing for Gideon's mother Laura.
Louise Geva and Naomi Heim represented the South African Zionist Federation (Telfed) and social worker Louise has been also involved in supporting the family.
At the end, people just lingered around chatting to the family, chatting to each
other, hugging, crying just finding it hard to accept that someone so "vital" and
"challenging" , "so full of potential" was snatched away.
Hoffman expressed that one of his most proudest moments in the
Jewish Agency, was helping to arrange with the Israeli government within
24 hours, Gideon becoming an Israeli citizen, enabling him "to receive this
country's best medicine." This momentous act together with all the roles
played by so many people in South Africa and in Israel meant that if it was
a battle fought and in the end lost, something else was won - people rallied
to this cause.
The Prodgers family, who were truly amazing in how they had to cope over
ten agonizing months can take away from this tragedy the embrace of so
many people whose lives they and 'Gid' touched.
Gideon's father Rod with plaque of his son.
April 9th 2008
The following note was issued by the South African Zionist Federation (Western Province Zionist Council) in S.A.
It is our sad duty to inform you of the passing of Gideon ben Leah Prodgers
after a brave fight against leukemia. Gideon took ill while in Israel on Habonim
Dror’s one year madrichim training course and was granted full oleh status by
the State of Israel, thus enabling him to receive the best possible medical assistance. despite, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a bone marrow transplant Gideon succumbed to the illness, passing away on Shabbat, 5 April, 28 Adar 11.
Gideon, who matriculated at Herzlia in 2006, was a popular member of Habonim Dror who displayed leadership skills, drive and commitment as a madrich. The positive way in which he handled his illness was an example in determination and courage to all who met him, including the many members of our youth movements who rallied round him while attending leadership courses. The community will be the poorer for the passing of this brave and charismatic young man.
The Western Province Zionist Council, Habonim Dror, the SA Jewish Board of Deputies Cape Council) and the United Herzlia Schools join with the community in wishing his family a 'long life'. May the Almighty comfort them among the other mourners for Zion and Jerusalem.
The funeral will take place on Thursday 10 April 2008 at 13H00 at Pinelands No 2.