In the early morning hours of October 15, Gabriella Silber Baker z"l, at the young tender age of 36, after a short bout of Pneumonia, departed this world in an unexpected tragedy. She leaves behind her two beautiful sons Levi (3 years old) and Matan (15 months old), her loving husband Mark, her wonderful parents Diane and Alan and family. We are all in shock and heart-broken, especially for these two boys who have lost so much at such a tender little age.
Gabi was a very vivacious fun-loving person. She would find any reason to smile, and when she did, she inspired those around her to smile too. Raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, Gabi made aliyah at the age of 15. While she only stayed in Israel for 3.5 years, during that time, she made many close friends and became an active part of the extended community in Ra’anana.
Gabi spent 18 years back in South Africa, where she became an accomplished hair stylist, met her soulmate Mark Baker, became an active member of the Fourways Chabad and built her young family. In 2015, Gabi and Mark buried their firstborn son, Raphael z"l, who succumbed to his heart disease after only 13 weeks of life. This devastation forever changed Gabi and Mark. Several years later, Hashem blessed Gabi and Mark with Levi, followed by Matan. Gabi was so thankful that her family was now complete with her two mitzvahs, but yearned to return home to Israel, where the Silber family could finally be re-united after so long.
At this time, Gabi and Mark decided to fulfill this dream, sold their home and all their possessions, and left for Israel to give a better life to their boys. Whilst their arms were empty, their hearts were full and they knew that their decision was the right one.
It was only 6 weeks before Gabi's passing that the Bakers arrived to the welcoming arms of their family. Diane and Alan had waited impatiently for this day to come and prepared their home for Gabi’s arrival, not at all intimidated by having 10 people, including 4 generations under one apartment roof. Quarters are tight, nonetheless this was a dream come true for all of them.
Within 10 days of her arrival, Gabi found work at a hair salon in Raanana (Eyal Shemesh). Knowing her family was reliant on her income, she wasted no time. Mark immediately began the process of acquiring his work visa, which is long and bureaucratic, as he is unable to work without it. Gabi and Mark had rented an apartment with a December move in date, Levi and Matan had started daycare, things were all finally falling into place. Gabi and Mark were focused on getting up on their own feet, determined to be successful in their new country.
No one imagined what would come next.
On the Shabbat after Yom Kippur, Gabi started feeling unwell. It was unfathomable then to think that she would only live to celebrate the first night of Sukkot with her family, one of her favorite holidays. No one imagined this would be the last holiday meal she would share with them. The shock and grief is so fresh and just so raw. No child should grow up without a mommy…!
Mark is committed to fulfilling Gabi's dream for her children to grow up in Israel, but it’s not going to be easy. He needs all the help he can get to make his and Gabi’s dream a reality. He is now in an expensive bureaucratic battle in order to be eligible to get work, one which is not likely to be resolved quickly. He then has to get established in his own right, whilst still managing to raise two young boys who lost their mommy way too early.
We miss Gabi terribly already but the smiles on her two sweet boys’ faces remind us that she will be with us always.
Please, if at all possible, do a mitzvah and contribute to helping these boys and their grieving father.
-On behalf of Yishai Silber, brother of Gabi Z’L
