Comptroller Englman to the Minister of Education: Learning Lessons from the Suicide of the Girl from Akko who had been Ostracized

State Comptroller and Ombudsman Matanyahu Englman made a condolence visit (9.2.25) to Tzameret Weinblum Ovadia – a single mother whose only daughter – Adva z"l, a 13-year-old schoolgirl from Akko, took her own life last week after being ostracized for many years. Another mother from the Krayot whose daughter had also been ostracized but who succeeded in saving her at the last minute before taking her own life, also participated in the condolence visit.
After the visit, the Comptroller sent a letter to the Minister of Education Yoav Kisch on the subject of "Handling emergency cases among schoolchildren – the suicide of the schoolgirl Adva Weinblum z"l from Akko" where he related the need to form an investigative team to examine the case and present its conclusions and recommendations for preventing similar cases in the future. Furthermore, representatives from the Office of the Ombudsman who were present at the visit will be in contact with the two mothers in order to assist them in filing a complaint against the parties who did not do enough to deal with the ostracism experienced by Adva z"l.
According to the Comptroller, "We wish to strengthen Tzameret, the mother of Adva z"l. A dear mother who was fortunate to have such a special soul. Her cry touches all the schoolchildren of Israel. We shall accompany and cry the cry of the children who are being ostracized. The matter of ostracism against children must be at the top of the Ministry of Education's agenda. It is important for there to be protection against vulnerability in schools. The schools are required to identify such schoolchildren and assist them in good time. Already in 2022, the Office of the State Comptroller published a special report on the matter of the protection of minors in cyberspace, dealing with the government ministries' activity for preventing harm to children and youth and treating them. It is incumbent upon the Minister of Education and the education system to rectify the defects and prevent ostracism and a recurrence of similar cases". 

Tzameret added that "We are standing in exactly the same place where Adva z"l fell from the sixth floor. I am unable to say the words "committed suicide". She has returned her soul to the Creator. About evil and the things that happen – the schools know how to sweep things under the carpet. I will cry my daughter's cry. When she was in 5th and 6th grade, Adva would join the small children's after school club. I asked her: "Why do you go down to the children's after school club?" She answered me: "Mum, because I would identify a child having a problem and I will take him because I am more mature. This will be as if I had saved him. If I save at least one child, he will not grow up to misery like me. He will not grow up to suffer when they torment him at school". Let us all come together so that there will be no more ostracism at school. Isn't it enough that our children die in wars? So now they will return their soul to the Creator because the school does not pay any attention to them when other students torment them?"