Amir Peretz at Ilana Cohen’s funeral: “The Israeli public owes you more than they know”
Former Histadrut Nurses leader Ilana Cohen was buried today (Monday) at Esther Gardens Cemetery in Rishon Lezion. The funeral was attended by about 200 family members, committee members, union leaders and Histadrut employees, as well as officials who accompanied her through the four decades she worked for workers, as committee chair, member of the Knesset and chair of the Histadrut Nurses, a position from which she resigned last year.
The former chairman of the Histadrut, Amir Peretzacknowledged Cohen: “We had a very special relationship. We worked together for over 15 years, in the Histadrut and in the Knesset. You were number 2 in the workers’ faction that we founded, and you entered the Knesset by storm. Years of struggles, dreams, successes. Friendships forged through working together. The Israeli public owes you more than they know. Whenever you fought for the nurses, you emphasized that the fight for one better, more humane healthcare system.
“Having a partner like you was a gift from heaven. Even in the most difficult moments, when the public was angry. You stood at the front, in a quiet voice you knew how to explain to the public that the fight was for them and their children. And the public loved you, the resistance subsided, and in the end the government and the treasury also had to comply with the demands.”
“You had your own style. Your sayings. Simple but wise stories. You always said that nothing was given to you. Everything was a product of struggle and growth. When you were just a few weeks old, your father was executed. You would proudly declare, “I am an inner child.” In the difficult moments. When you lost your son to a serious illness, you stood by Ilana, I loved you very much.
Director General of the Ministry of Health: “Feel her presence, her justice and her care for others”
Director General of the Ministry of Health, Moshe Bar is a good sign: “It was important to me to come and talk about Ilana because she was first and foremost your family, but the health system was her extended family. She was also close to my heart personally. A true lioness. Her name has become synonymous with justice, leadership and determination. A warrior that no prime minister, minister or tax official could stop. When Ilana walked into the room, you felt her presence, the justice and the care for others. And behind that, the biggest heart there is. She saw people in.” Even as she struggled with standards and numbers, she thought about the nurses on duty, about the patients. She always defined what she needed to bring and didn’t budge an inch.
The Moshe Bar bodes well at Ilana Cohen’s funeral. “Even as she fought for standards and numbers, she thought about the nurses on duty, about the patients” (Photo: Assaf Tzvi)
“In all gatherings and meetings, even in the midst of disputes, we knew that Ilana was acting purely out of mission. It was impossible not to appreciate her.
The head nurse at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Shushi Goldberg: “Ilana was a pillar of the profession. She had a rare leadership quality that came from optimism and life experience. Throughout her life, she stood out for her presence and determination. She changed reality and made the nursing profession meaningful and valued, paving the way for a whole and vast sector with countless achievements. She leads an employee organization with professionalism, humor and determination. She knew how to build bridges of trust but also stand like a solid rock against Saara. She were my personal mentor and friend. On behalf of the entire healthcare system, I greet you.
Chairman of the Nurses Association: “They knew how to draw the roadmap and at the end say I love you to everyone from Amush.”
Chairman of the nursing association, Shaul Skiff: “It is very difficult to stand here and say that you are gone. The light of the nurses. Their hope. Our path will not be the same without you. You were my teacher for 25 years. In difficult moments, in happy moments. The brothers and sisters and with all of Israel, we have lost a leader. The Israeli health system owes you a lot, and the same goes for the patients and nurses in public medicine who were so important to you. It is thanks to you.”
“You had wisdom and sensitivity. You knew how to draw the roadmap, where to go, and in the end – to tell everyone from Amush that I love you. It is incomprehensible to me how it is possible to be so angry in one moment and love in the next. You left a huge legacy. You left me an organization that is your will. I promise to continue your path. Thousands of hearts of broken brothers and sisters in the State of Israel. We will continue your path and your legacy. The of Nurse.” Home, thanks to her it exists, we will name it after her, Beit Ilana.
Ilana Cohen’s funeral (Photo: Assaf Zvi)
The son, Shai Cohen: “A mother who climbed over fences and sat hungry, but also hugged and caressed”
Shay CohenIlana’s son: “My mother had two families – a private family and the family of nurses. She raised both of them. She climbed fences and sat down hungry, but she also hugged and caressed. Giving, devotion. It’s hard not to be appreciated enough, mom, the last words you heard, mom.
the mostCohen’s daughter-in-law: “It was hard to imagine that you would no longer be here. You were to us like an enveloping and warm Mother Earth. A true leader and above all a mother, grandmother, wife, sister. A family woman full of pride and love. Smart and generous. There was never a gap between what you believed in and the way you lived your life. You always said: “Give when the hand is warm.” Such was your giving.
You came to Israel as Soham. With your sister without resources and support. Here were Ilana and Lily. You met Yossi in your youth and became a close couple. You were a boarding school girl. It was part of your identity. You were a girl who survived and survived and grew into a sensitive woman with an inner compass.
Chairman of Klalit Health Services Workers: “I lost a teacher, a friend and a sister”
Chairman of the Klalit Health Services Employees Organization, Prosper his father-in-law: “I met Ilana 41 years ago. An amazing woman. First of all, a teacher who knew how to do things honestly. Without pretensions or twists. Direct and no matter who was in front of her. Her truth was pure. She fought for the health care system, not only for the workers she represented, but also for the citizens of Israel.
His son-in-law told about Ilana’s husband, Yossi Cohenwho helped her behind the scenes in every negotiation: “Yossi, you were the computer for all the agreements. She would say: ‘I have a fast and accurate computer, his name is Yossi.’ When the Treasury tried to play with the numbers, she returned Yossi’s calculations. And Yossi was right.
Wreaths on Ilana Cohen’s grave (Photo: Assaf Zvi)
CEO of the Nurses Association, Adv Uri Fleishman: “For many years I was close to Ilana. Thousands of hours. I learned to speak from her. It is difficult to speak about her in the past tense or with sadness. She was a symbol of vitality and life. At two in the morning we talked in negotiations about life itself. About the grandchildren. She suddenly burst into dance. Ilana dictated life to us in her life. The way she lived is the model for life.”
“Today the angel Raphael sheds a tear, because today one of the most important forces of this country, the great pioneers of this campaign, will no longer be here to help him bring an ointment to Ilana, and she did it without saying too much. In the 1980s, when the leadership was all men, Ilana stood so alone, with the clothes, the hair and the recipes, but also with the whole.
“She didn’t talk about revolutions. She always focused on the weak. Even in Corona, the 3200 standards in the healthcare system were a product of Ilana Cohen’s struggle. Ilana will lead the struggles of the workers of the angels of heaven, and I’m sure the CEO there will send her to talk to God. Then she will pull out something savory or nutty, make it for two. And together they will look down and think about how to do it better.”
“The DNA of all of us was built in your image and inspiration. To do better, for more people and regardless of religion, race and gender.”
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