Tair Bat Avital

Ashkelon Attack Victim Asks Public to Pray For Baby in Surgery
by Hana Levi Julian
14 Iyar 5768, May 19, '08
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/ News.aspx/ 126211

(IsraelNN.com) One minute 24-year-old Avital Afjin was sitting with her baby daughter in the Kupat Holim Clalit medical clinic in Ashkelon's busy Chutzot Mall. The next moment, the world was a nightmare.

"I opened my eyes and saw only darkness," related the young mother as she described the aftermath of last week's Grad missile attack. Avital described how she managed to pull two-year-old Tair from the rubble of the clinic, covered in blood and looking "half human."

Both Avital and Tair suffered serious head wounds in the attack. They were air-lifted from Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon to Tel HaShomer Hospital in Tel Aviv, where doctors battled to save Tair's life.

The doctor who was on-call at the time was also severely wounded, suffering facial injuries. She remains at Barzilai Hospital, along with a fourth critically injured person, who suffered severe stomach wounds.

Nearly 100 people were hurt when the Iranian-made missile slammed into the top floor of the mall where the clinic was located, and then crashed through the floor below. Most people suffered severe trauma reactions and light wounds in the attack.

'Pray for My Daughter's Health' Avital expressed gratitude after surviving the near-fatal attack, saying, "One must always say 'Thank you'… The Holy One, Blessed is He, saved me from death and gave my daughter and I our lives as a gift."

The toddler is now in serious but stable condition and faces a series of operations in which doctors hope to be able to save both her legs and remove the shrapnel that still remains in her head.

Avital has asked the public to pray for her daughter's health, particularly on Monday when she will undergo an especially critical operation. Her Hebrew name is Tair bat Avital.

Hat tip: Chaya

The word "tair" is in the Passover song/prayer, "Karev Yom."  I'm not sure what the actual word "tair" means. From the lyrics below, I am guessing it means "light."

The lyrics in tranliterated Hebrew:

Karev yom, karev yom
Asher hu lo yom velo laila.
Karev yom, karev yom
Asher hu lo yom velo laila.

Ram hoda, hoda, hoda
Ki lekha hayom af lekha halaila.
Ram hoda, hoda, hoda
Ki lekha hayom af lekha halaila.

Shomrim hafked, hafked leirkha
Kol hayom vekhol halaila.
Shomrim hafked, hafked leirkha
Kol hayom vekhol halaila.

Tair, tair, tair, tair
Tair keor yom kheshkhat laila.
Tair, tair, tair, tair
Tair keor yom kheshkhat laila.

Karev yom, karev yom
Asher hu lo yom velo laila.
Karev yom, karev yom
Asher hu lo yom velo laila.

Karev yom asher hu lo yom velo laila
Karev yom asher hu lo yom vehu lo laila.

 

The lyrics in English:

The day is approaching that is neither day nor night
Most High, let it be known that Yours is the day and Yours is the night
Place guards over Your City all day and all night
Lighten the darkness of the night with the light of day
The day is approaching that is neither day nor night

Comments

[soccerdad]

My guess is that it's pronounced more ta-ir and it "will give light" from the root "Or" (meaning light.)

[Gail]

Yes, in the video it is pronounced ta-ir.

I made an addition to the post as you were writing your comment - guessing that the meaning of "ta-ir" was light. And I see that is your thought too. Maybe someone else will come along and confirm it.

[soccerdad]

I meant to comment that "ta-ir" is also in the daily prayers in the morning blessing for Shma.

[Leora]

אור חדש על ציון תאיר
"A new light will shine on Zion"
Using SoccerDad's comment, I looked up that phrase, which is in the blessings before the daily Shma. It doesn't seem to be from pasuk, so I would need to find someone who as a Beur HaTefillah (explanation of prayers)book to find out more.

The "t" implies future. It will be done. The noun word for light in Hebrew is 'or'. The 'ee' sound makes it a verb: 'eer'. Will shine.

[Gail]

It is a beautiful name for a little girl. I haven't read anything about her since posting the article. I hope she is ok. Thanks to both of you, David and Leora, for helping with the translation.