Yael-Yulia Sklianik

YULICHKA — always cheerful, always laughing, arrived in Israel in March 1990 with her parents, grandfather, grandmother, and beloved sister Svitochek. A large, close-knit family came to the country for the bright future of their daughters.

They were small, but quickly adapted to their new surroundings. Hebrew became their native language, and they could be called Israelis after just a few months. Especially Yulichka, who was younger and quickly grasped everything new.

She was impossible to confuse with anyone else; her golden curls and huge blue eyes attracted everyone. It was impossible to pass by such a child without gently stroking her golden head or ruffling her chubby cheeks with dimples.

She was a lively child, eager to experience all the joys of childhood — games, carousels, slides, trees. Tireless and leaving nothing for later.

She remained the same when she transformed into a beautiful young girl. The same heavenly gaze, the same mischievous look, the cheerful laughter of a child — all indicated that "adult" life was still far away. But...

She could have become an excellent wife, a wonderful mother — children loved her, approached her, feeling all her tenderness and warmth. She adored children, played and laughed with them — still the same mischievous child. Her cherished dream was to become a pediatrician; she wanted to heal and help them. But...

Spring. A time of love, hope, and dreams. Everything was as usual in this cheerful, close-knit family. The holidays she loved so much. During the happiest spring holiday, Purim, she dressed as a leopard, and that costume suited her very well. And during Passover, they celebrated the holiday with relatives and friends who had recently arrived in Israel, explaining how the holiday was observed according to the rules. Yulichka tried very hard to do everything correctly; she deeply respected the traditions of the Jewish people, and baking a cake was simply a pleasure for her, especially how she sang songs during Passover.

But the most anticipated event of that spring for her was her birthday. It became doubly joyful. A few days before that day, she reconciled with her friend Shaul.

On May 6, 2001, Yulichka turned 15. There was much joy and many gifts. It seemed that the most wonderful things in life were just beginning. But...

Only three weeks passed. It was Thursday, May 31. Yulichka and her mother went to the hairdresser. She really wanted to look special, to change her hairstyle a bit. After all, tomorrow, June 1, the whole class was to be photographed for a group picture to mark the end of school. Her eyes — how they sparkled with happiness! Even the hairdresser asked, "You look so beautiful today! Is it your birthday?"

When she arrived at school the next day, she surprised everyone. There was not a single person who did not notice the change in her hairstyle. She was very happy to have so many friends, and being in their circle, she was at the center of all events. Everything she touched seemed to succeed effortlessly. She studied well at school, could sit at the computer for hours, drew, danced, roller-skated, swam well, played musical instruments, and even jokingly was called Bat Mazal (lucky one). Now, after what happened, one could say — she wanted to do it all...

That morning at school, she and her friends couldn't stop talking and laughing. Their conversations were about studies, love, and all those things that 15-year-olds can talk about. At noon, classes ended, and Yulichka returned home. It was an ordinary day.

Everything was as usual. On Fridays, all Israeli youth go out to have fun. And Yulichka and Sveta started getting ready to have a good time. Their preparations were girlishly noisy, accompanied by laughter, debates over what to wear, and, of course, seeking advice from Mommy — as they affectionately called her. When she left, after the usual kiss, her mother noticed that she was dressed all in black. No one could have prevented or predicted what would happen. At home, everything was almost as usual, but there was some strange anxiety; Mom Ira was reading a book, and at 23:33 something prompted her to call Yulichka. Yulichka answered immediately and said that she was fine, standing at the entrance to the disco. As it turned out later, that was their last conversation, just 5 minutes before the explosion.

At midnight, Yuli's friend called and said that a few minutes ago there had been an explosion at "Dolphin." Mom immediately started calling her daughters, but the phones were disconnected. At 00:10, the parents rushed to search for their girls. Their first stop was Wolfson Hospital; all roads were blocked, then to Dolphin, where everything was cordoned off as well. The police sent them home and advised them to call the hotlines. They returned home and began calling all the numbers, feeling a slight relief when they managed to reach their eldest daughter, Sveta, who was at that time searching for Yuli near Dolphin.

They could no longer stay at home in complete ignorance of Yulichka's fate. So they went to the hospitals again. She was not on the lists at Wolfson Hospital. The next stop was Ichilov Hospital, and she was not listed there either. But there were photographs of children who had not yet been identified.