and instantly began shouting that
not receiving it was racism."
He had always espoused treat-
ing all people equally, regardless
of religion or origin, he explained,
even publishing a book on the sub-
ject and forming an organization
dedicated to "equality between all
citizens, especially minorities, and
their integration into a homog-
enous Israeli society.
"And here this woman was accus-
ing me of racism. I told her to stop
right there. I would not have her
take that route. Not in my office.
There is a queue for mothers with
small children and she must stand
in that queue like all the other
mothers. Not everything you want
but don't get is racism," he said.
"From that moment on began
a process that should be studied
in every communications school,"
Ronis wrote.
"It was not long before I got a
phone call from the public com-
plaints division. After a few hours
a [Facebook] post appeared as well
as an article on [Israeli Facebook
group] Mamazone, an interview
[on Channel 10] and a whole media
circus. Not two days later the post
had over 6,000 shares, each of them
a sharpened arrow in my flesh. Me?
A racist?" he wrote.
All of my work over the course
of my entire life was swept away
instantly, ended momentarily by
someone asked to stand in line like
everyone else," he said. "The shar-
ers continued ... to fire their arrows
at me, not stopping for a moment
to question [themselves].
"I hardly blame them. I, too,
would have been appalled at such
a post and perhaps would have
clicked my tongue and shared [it]
self-righteously, without consider-
ing the consequences," he added.
Ronis said he could not stand the
fact that his good name had been
sullied, and was now "synonymous
with the most terrible designation
imaginable in my case — racism."
He concluded that he was "not
angry" at his accuser but said that
while she may have gotten over her
perceived ordeal, "I am not able to.
Goodbye!"
As for the woman, she wrote on
Sunday: "This morning I woke up
to one of the worst pieces of news
I had ever heard. I am dreadfully
sorry for the loss of life. For years
I have experienced discrimination
in Israel. On the only occasion in
which I told my story a man was
hurt. There is no one more sorry
than me. If I could (go back), I
would have remained silent this
time as well." ❑

a.

`They were
wonderful':

We hear kind words consistently. We're proud that
people feel comfortable enough with us to openly tell
us how much they appreciate what we did for them.
In fact, it's this appreciation that drives us to offer the
very best in comfort, compassion and service.

THEDORFMAN CHAPEL

SERVING WITH DIGNITY, SANCTITY AND COMPASSION

www.thedorfmanchapel.com

30440 Twelve Mile Road
Farmington Hills • MI 48334
248.406.6000
TOLL FREE 1-866-406-6003
licensed Funeral Directors:
Alan Dorfman, Jonathan Dorfman

Obituaries on page 76

©Adfinity

Obituaries

May 28 • 2015

75