Last week’s dedication ceremony in Jerusalem was attended by Lucy’s widower, Rabbi Leo Dee, his daughter, Keren; his parents, Barbara and Anthony, his sister, Sarah Callman, as well as other relatives.
Senior Magen David Adom officials, volunteers and representatives of the Israeli Friends of MDA group were also there.
Rabbi Dee, who previously served as a rabbi at Hendon and Radlett Synagogues, said: “Tisha B’Av is the saddest day of the year, but it is also the day when the Messiah is said to be born, teaching us that from our greatest suffering comes our greatest salvation,” adding: “The donor and MDA have created an incredible path to redemption, and we thank them from the depths of our hearts.”
Rabbi Leo Dee and his daughter, Keren, with one of the ambulances donated in honor of Rina, Maia and Lucy Dee, March 2025 (Photo: Eliran Avital)[Missing Credit]
One of the ambulances, bearing the names of Rina and Maia Dee, will be stationed in Efrat, where the family lives. The two other ambulances are set to be deployed to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, MDA said.
MDA Director Eli Bin expressed his organisation’s “deepest gratitude to the anonymous donor, who, through the Israeli Friends of MDA, made the donation of these three ambulances possible in memory of the Dee family members, who were brutally murdered by terrorists.
“These ambulances will join our teams working day and night to save lives, and with great hope, they will also help bring new life into the world. May their memory be a blessing,” said Bin.
Daniel Burger, chief executive of MDA UK said: “Seeing these life-saving vehicles on the road is a powerful tribute arising from tragedy. A big thank you goes to Israeli Friends of MDA. This initiative turns loss into a lasting impact, saving lives across Israel. Thanks also goes to the Dee family for supporting these dedications. May it bring their family comfort.”
On Sunday, a memorial ceremony was held at Bnei Akiva Orot Yehuda Yeshiva in Efrat, where Lucy taught. The ceremony was interrupted due to air-raid sirens amid a missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi terrorists.
Israel Hayom newspaper reported that in the bomb shelter, students and Rabbi Dee sang: “For not only one enemy has risen up against us to destroy us, but in every generation, they rise up to destroy us. But the Holy One, Blessed be He, delivers us from their hands,” which is part of the traditional Passover liturgy.
The date of the second anniversary of the attack falls on April 14 in the secular calendar, corresponding with the second day of Pesach.
