Chief Rabbi: ‘No words can describe depth of sadness’ over Israel sisters murder

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has paid tribute to British-Israeli sisters Maya and Rina Dee tweeting: “No words can describe the depth of our shock and sadness at the heart-breaking news of their murder by terrorists.”

He also noted their mother Rebbetzen Lucy, remains in “critical condition” in hospital following Friday’s shooting in the West Bank, and described both her and her husband Rabbi Leo Dee as “my dear colleagues.”

Rabbi Mirvis added:”They were much loved in the Hendon and Radlett communities in the UK as well as in Israel, and well beyond. 

“We pray for a refuah shelema for Rebbetzen Lucy and also for those injured in the terrorist attack yesterday on the promenade in Tel Aviv.”

It emerged that Rabbi Dee heard news of the attack before realising his own family had been involved.

Speaking to the BBC, he described his daughters as “beautiful and wonderful” and said he hadn’t been able to sleep since their deaths.

“Every time, I had nightmares and woke up,” he said, “but the reality was worse than the nightmare, so I went back to sleep. That’s how it went.”

The family live in the West Bank settlement Efrat, its mayor has said.

The sisters’ funeral will be held on Sunday.

In a statement following the shooting the Board of Deputies said:”We are deeply shocked and saddened at the murder by Palestinian terrorists of Maia and Rina Dee, the daughters of Rabbi Leo and Lucy Dee formerly of Radlett United Synagogue. 

“We wish Lucy Refuah Shlemah and long life to the family as they cope with this devastating news.”

Former Bushey United Synagogue rabbi Meir Salasnik  also said:”In the relatively short time that Rabbi Leo Dee and his wife, Lucy, were in the United Synagogue rabbinate, both in Hendon and Radlett, they were hard-working and popular.
 
“Their joining the rabbinate after a business career was very much a commitment to the Jewish future, and their return to Israel was a commitment to the Israeli future. 

We feel very much for them at this exceptionally tragic time and pray for the recovery of Lucy, Leah bat Tziporah.”