By, Rosa Doherty
2 min read
ByRosa Doherty, Rosa Doherty
Tributes have been paid to a 20-year-old teaching assistant whose battle for survival was supported by communities around the world.
Liora Rosenberg died last Saturday night after more than a week on life support. She had contracted pneumonia and suffered a bleed to the brain.
Hundreds sent messages of support to Ms Rosenberg's family through a Facebook group set up to encourage supporters to perform a mitzvah in her name.
Writing on the group, Ms Rosenberg's mother, Lauren, said: "So sorry. It is with a heavy heart and tears in my eyes that I write this.
"Thank you for your amazing supportive energy as a group, your unity and your prayers have been a big comfort to our family.
"Our beautiful daughter finished her work in this world and Liora's neshama is now shining down on us."
More than 14,500 people had joined the group and followed news of Ms Rosenberg's condition since April 21.
A special JustGiving page in her name also raised more than £27,000 for the Hatzola ambulance service.
During her illness, members of the Facebook group provided contact details for private doctors and alternative medical practitioners, while others offered to organise transport to and from the hospital for family members and organised communal prayers.
Other group members donated blood for the first time, while one said she had donated her hair to a charity. Another woman created a spreadsheet to assist those who wanted to co-ordinate their prayers.
Ms Rosenberg's parents, who are members of Hendon United Synagogue, had maintained a vigil by her bedside at the Royal London Hospital.
Speaking before her funeral on Wednesday, the shul's Rabbi Mordechai Ginsbury said: "We are doing whatever we possibly can to support Liora's family in any and every way at this tragic time.
"So many good and caring people just want to help and show their support and it has been remarkable to see how the community has pulled together on social media and in the real world.
"This has been a great source of strength, encouragement and comfort to Liora's parents Lauren and Stuart and their family as they have had to deal with such a deeply painful set of circumstances."
Family friend Lauren Weinberg wrote on Facebook: "Liora's job in this world is now complete and she is shining her continued light, energy and inspiration down on us."
Last Friday and Saturday, shul-goers in Hendon were given updates by Rabbi Ginsbury, who led special prayer services. The community said tehillim together to pray for Ms Rosenberg's recovery.
A family friend said a religiously observant senior lawyer had been assisting the family as her parents fought to have her medical treatment continue.
A series of meetings had taken place last week as the family pleaded with doctors not to take her off life support.
It is understood a court hearing took place on Friday to discuss how long her treatment should continue. The friend said the level of halachic oversight in Ms Rosenberg's case had been "unprecedented" in this country.
