1000 mourners pay tribute to youth
MORE than 1000 people packed an overflowing Emanuel Synagogue on Tuesday night to remember 19-year-old Ashley Levi, who passed away
this week.
The Sydney Grammar School graduate injured his neck when he fell from a high level during an organised Hineni federal camp activity in January last year.
After an 18-month fight in intensive care and the spinal ward at the Prince of Wales Hospital, he died on Monday.
After the accident, Ashley could only move from the neck up and was unable to talk. However, in recent months, he had been on day trips out of the hospital, frequenting the movies, theatre, friends’ homes and even the casino. His doctors declared it a miracle, when, due to his courage and determination, he managed to breathe on his own.
However, at the end of last week, complications ravaged his body again, and he was left unable to breathe on his own, unable to communicate and unable to eat.
In a statement released on Monday, his family said: “Ash fought like a Trojan for the last 18 months and never once gave up hope of a full and happy life. He went to a peaceful place this morning, with his family by his side.”
Tuesday night’s service at Emanuel Synagogue was overflowing with more than 300 people left standing outside.
Speaking at the minyan, Ashley’s cousin Ben said: “For those not there at the Chevra Kadisha today, you missed a send-off like no other. Three stretch hummers filled with Ash’s massive family, red balloons and T-shirts. Really, today, was no different than any other day in Ash’s life. Loud, red, big and a lot of people. It had Ashley Levi written all over it.”
Hineni held a ceremony in Melbourne at the same time as the minyan, while a group of Australians gathered at the Kotel in Jerusalem to remember their friend.
More than 200 people paid personal tributes on Ashley’s Facebook page, among them his friend Sam Gonski, who summed up many people’s sentiments: “You are in the hearts of everyone around the world and will never ever be forgotten.”
Ashley is survived by his parents, Mark and Vicky, his brother Tom and sister Kimberley.
AJN STAFF
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