BriefHistory

Miriam Koifman was born on the 7th of April 1938 in Lipkany village in Beserabia, which is now part of Moldova, a territory which historically was being transferred hence and forth between Russia and Rumania. Miram was born to Benjamin and Yafa (Shaine) koifman who endured the horrors of the holocaust, kipping their daughter safe through labor camps, shortage of food and typhoid plague.

Miriam made alia with her parents and newly born brother Eliezer, in 1946 on the "Medinat Hayehudim" illegal ship. The British navy intercepted the ship after a horrific journey at sea that made Miriam forever wary of sailing. After a straggle the family was deported to a refugee camp in Cyprus.

Shortly after, the British occupation Palestine was ended and Miriam and family came to Israel and were settled in Kiryat Israel (now Givat Shmuel). Miriam was a exemplary daughter and matriculated from Tichon Hadash High school before her time.

After graduation, Miriam joined the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) where she met her soon to be husband Moshe Daniel (Bully) Blumkine. She married him in a military service, held in Tel Aviv, and supported Bully while he was in his compulsory service, working for a pension fund.

Miriam Blumkine was qualified as a teacher but she chose not to pursue her profession, but to dedicate her life to her family: Bully and three kids that were born to the couple. She held an exemplarily home in the northern suburbia of Tel Aviv.

Miriam and Bully had extremely close partnership and Miriam was instrumental in the success and the brilliant career of her life partner, Bully. She enabled him, and freed him from most the mundane tasks of daily life, so that he could have the professional fulfillment he was seeking.

The couple enjoyed a large circle of friends that was maintained largely by Miriam’s generosity, hospitality and warmth. This circle of friends was like a supporting rail when her beloved husband Bully passed away in 2002.

After Bully’s death, Miriam being so close to him, had extremely hard time to recuperate, but slowly she managed to build a routine without him, and started to lead her circle of friends again, in some ways even exploring new territories that weren’t explored when Bully was alongside her.

In 2008, at the age of 70, Miriam Blumkine was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer that spread to her liver. She endured chemotherapy bravely for 10 months and fought the terrible malignancy stubbornly to the very end, as she always did. She failed her final struggle, only 6 years and a day after the passing away of her husband Bully, leaving three kids and a brother who miss her dearly.

Miriam is resting in Kibutz Einat alongside her beloved husband and partner for life, Bully.

May she rest in peace.