my amazing grandma was the purest soul i've met. she taught me so much and never failed to impress me with her knowledge. i miss her smile, laugh, and mind. eating breakfast with her, playing the game words with her, watching history channel with her just put the biggest smiled on my face. i've never met anyone more kindhearted and driven. she cared for family and friends with her whole heart, and i learned to do the same. i couldn't have asked for a better grandma, my favorite person in the world, and my go to for anything, i miss you, i always will. i saw how my mom valued you and how you were best friends, i learned that a mother is the best person to have around, and i'm so glad i got to learn that from you and my mom. i can proudly carry on your beautiful genes, the freckles, the eyes, the eyebrows, and most importantly your heart, always with me. i love you and miss you safti.

Elegant! That is the word that to me, best describes Dr. Harel. I worked with her for over 20 years, at Middlesex Plastic Surgery. Her presence always, with a jacket, a beautiful scarf and lovely jewelry. She treated her patients, whether children, middle aged or elderly with the utmost compassion and skill. She spoke softly, but wielded a large stick! We shared her honey cake at Rosh Hashannah and of course, Soufignant from Lederman's bakery at Chanukah. She loved my kugel at our office parties. I cherish the challah cover she brought to me from Israel - I use it for Shabbat and all Holidays - She liked seeing the photo of it on my holiday table! I saw her at Newbirdge at the beginning of the year and although somewhat frail, she was so much the same, still with a brightly colored scarf and a necklace! We planned to have lunch in the spring, but G-D had other plans. I will remember her always and felt it a privilege to know her. Her memory is surely a blessing.

It is very hard to condense in a few sentences the impact of a dear friend in ones life.
I first met Miriam at the Hebrew University in 1963 and our friendship lasted until she passed away.
Among the many talents I prized were her devotion to Medicine, Science and Culture. She was always ready to do whatever was needed to be done with confidence and poise. She served in the Army, studied Medicine and specialized in Plastic Surgery.
She read, wrote and translated copiously, delighted in music, elated by fine arts and theater, excited by cooking, gardening, spoiling her cats and birds and gratified by the arts and crafts in which she became an expert. She had a resilient, multi-disciplinary frame of mind, with family and friends at the center of her concerns; with whom she favored content rather than form; stressing moral self sufficiency, attachment to the values of Judaism and those of the Enlightened People. Her quest for perfection in her daily as well as in her inner life was urgent and compelling and she neglected trivial pursuits readily.
We shared with her a life of emotional and Intellectual support, feelings of closeness, belonging and trustworthiness.
We were all enriched by her presence among us, by her kindness, her brilliance, her friendliness and her love.
She was a remarkable woman and she will rest in peace in our hearts and in our memories forever.
שיהיה זיכרונה לברכה
Hanoch/Henry

It's impossible to look back to my childhood and not see Miriam, or all the Harels, or 24 Jane Road. She was a second mother. I can still see myself sitting in the kitchen eating a cake or loaf she just made, listening to her and my mom exchange banter, with Miriam invariably at the sink, arranging until everything was just so, even the trash in the little meshulash. As a kid that's what you know. As I got older I appreciated what a skilled physician, and accomplished professional she was. How amazing her life story and that of her parents were. But what I personally knew, and will never forget, is a woman whose kindness and patience had no limit. May her memory be forever blessed - hope you and Ima are laughing together again.

I call her in my heart. I miss picking up the phone.

My beloved Miriam was a special woman. It was the luckiest day of my life, the day that I met her, more than 50 years ago. There are no words to describe her tremendous qualities.
Thank you Miriam for the 50 years of happiness you gave me. You will be in my heart until my turn comes.
Asher
 

Miriam was a best friend to my mother and close friend of my father's for many years. We grew up hearing stories of the long friendship that developed between mom and Miriam, and in many ways, saw her as an extension of our own family and my mom's upbringing in Israel. She has been a regular supporter of our family's celebrations and losses, our challenges and simchot for as long as I can remember. The Harel family was an integral part of my youth, our family gatherings and fond and distinct memories. There was no singular and momentous occasion that I don't remember Miriam being present for. She is etched in my heart and mind forever, and is a symbol of my sweet childhood and life long memories.  I am happy to have known her, and am sure that she will be missed by many for many years to come. My love to the entire family during this time. Love to all, Cora Ross (Junowicz)

On behalf of Rami Schlair:


          מרים
      חברתנו , מרים, רגישה, נבונה, אינטליגנטית, ונאמנה. זכור לי היטב אירוע
   שנחרט בזכרוני בו הראתה איזה אדם היתה.
      בקשה להצטרף אלי לטיול להודו. שמחתי שתהיה לי ״חברה לחדר״ , ונחזק
   את ידידותנו.
      בניו - דלהי חכתה לנו קבוצת אנשים איתם היינו אמורים לבלות 3 שבועות
   ארוכים , יחד.
      ביניהם פגשנו אשה נעימה, איתה התידדנו. אשה זו התמידה לקנות בשווקים
    הפתוחים מיני ״מעדנים״, למרות אזהרות המדריכים ש שדאגו לבריאותנו.
        יום אחד חלתה, שכבה בירכתי הרכב, הקיאה ובכתה. עצרנו בעיר הקרובה.
    הקבוצה החלה ללכת בעקבות המדריך. ידידתנו החולה נשארה מאחור.‏   
      מרים נעצרה , נגשה אליה , הורידה מעליה את תרמילה הכבד ונשאה אותו על        כתפיה שלה. הן התקדמו לאיטן . החולה, חלשה , נשענת על מרים לכל אורך הדרך,
    שתיהן מתנהלות בריחוק מה מקבוצת המטיילים. הן נעצרו. לפתע , פרצה
    האשה שוב בבכי מר, קולני, רעדה . היא ליטפה את ידה של מרים. במילים קטועות,
    רוטטת, ובמבט רך בעיניה בטאה את תודתה.
      עלינו כולנו למכונית. האשה הצטנפה שוב בירכתיים. הפעם מאוששת . חייכה אל
     מרים בחום , לא אמרה דבר.עצמה עיניה , נרדמה.
                  המשכנו בדרכנו להכיר את הודו, העולם המופלא.


        כזאת היתה מרים זיכרונה לברכה. רמי ואני נזכור אותה בהערכה לעד.
         איה
 

לפני שמונה שנים בלבד, שרנו כולנו יחד את השיר הבא, לרגל יום הולדתה ה-70 של חברתנו היקרה.
השיר מבטא את אהבתנו למרים ואת הערצתנו לאישיותה המקסימה, לחכמתה, לטוב ליבה ולכשרונותיה הרבים, וגם מזכיר לנו את הימים הנפלאים בהם זכינו להנות מחברתה.
מרים, כמה שאת חסרה לנו...

Superwoman
לפי השיר "בת ששים" של הגבעטרון

בואו ונשיר למרים, ליום הולדת השבעים,
נזמר אותו ביחד, כל החברים.
בת שבעים, אבל עדיין היא יפה וצעירה,
רעמת שערותיה הן מקור קנאה.
בת שבעים לפי הלוח, אך בשאר המובנים,
אין לה תחרות אפילו בין הצעירים,

כי אין כמוה אשת חיל, אין כמו מרים בבנות.
אין מספר לעיסוקיה - אין מספר לכשרונות.
היא משוררת גם ציירת גם טייסת גם רופאה
אין כמוה 'סופר- וומן' אין כמוה עוד אישה.

היא תופרת, מרפדת ,וכורכת גם ספרים,
מתרגמת וכותבת דפים על דפים.
איזו סבתא! איזו אמא! וגם חברה טובה,
שתומכת ועוזרת וגם מקשיבה.
היא אופה ומבשלת, מארחת למופת,
שולחנה ראוי להופיע בכתבי העת.

אצבע ירוקה למרים, הגינה בשלל צבעים,
לא שוכחת ודואגת גם לצפורים.
כי אין כמוה אשת חיל, אין כמו מרים בעולם
ועיקר מעלותיה שהיא אחלה בן אדם,
לכן לכבוד יום ההולדת, חברים וחברות,
נאחל בריאות למרים והרבה הרבה שמחות,
עוד הרבה שנים של נחת, והרבה הרבה שמחות.

יהי זכרה ברוך

שלוה וחיים

miiriam was a very dear friend of mine and my husband we will miss her

The Book of Proverbs chapter 31 tells us about "Eshet Chail". Miriam was "Eshet Chail".

She was a caring mother, wife, grandmother, a physician, a gardner , and a poet.

Her loyalty to her friends and her sense of humor made her special to all of us.

She will be missed.

Ilana and Eli Livni

 .מרים היתה אישה מדהימה ,מאוד מוכשרת ,חכמה וצנועה
תמיד התחשבה באחרים ושמה את כולם לפני עצמה
היא אהבה את הטבע ,היא הכירה את כל סוגי הפרחים ואהבה לצאת לטיולים
היא דאגה לכולם לחברים ובני משפחתה
מאוד חיובית בגישתה לחיים ראתה את הטוב בכל דבר
היא תחסר לנו

Though it was expected, getting the notice felt like a big and deep blow in the timeline of 58 years of friendship. Miriam and I met under special circumstances and we developed a very dear friendship in spite of our immense difference in background, in personality, in drive and even in appearance. We combated it all. I loved her.

It is believed that a person has three deaths. The first when his death is announced, the second one happens at the burial site; the third and the final death comes when her name is no longer utered on the lips of a loving person. 

Miriam had a loving family and adopted family and many friends. Her name will be carried in our hearts and on our lips for many years to come.
                                                                                                                                                יהי זכרונה לברכה

Myrna and Kenny Gabbay

We were privileged to have enjoyed some wonderful years of friendship with Miriam . She will remain in our memory as a special and fine person of exceptional quality. 

As she was blessed in this life may her spirit be blessed forever.

Miriam Kaiser Harel passed away peacefully on October 7th with family at bedside. She was 78 years old.

Dr. Harel was a Veteran of the Israel Defense Forces, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, the loving matriarch of her family, and the unofficial therapist and caregiver for numerous family members and friends alike.

She was born and raised in Israel, emigrated with her husband and infant son to New York, then settled with her family in Newton, MA in 1979.

She was fluent in four languages. She loved reading, animals, music, and her friends.

She came to her final resting place at her daughter Tamar’s home in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was surrounded at bedside by her husband Asher Harel, daughter Tamar Meir, son Noam Harel, son-in-law Erez Meir, and her grandchildren Alon and Ella Meir.

In her loving memory, please consider making a donation to:

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Weizmann Institute