To Rona Ramon:

I was shocked when I heard about the explosion. During the time they have been on space I visualized them in my mind on earth smiling and hugging their families. However, it didn't happen, it was only my imagination.
The Israeli people and you have lost a hero. I am convinced that your sorrow and sadness will never end. You have to be strong and move on with your life. There is nothing you can do to bring him back, just keep thinking that he is our national pride. I hope that time will make you feel better.

Sincerely,
Oshrat.

Dear Ramon family
I was shocked when I heard about the disaster that happened to the all-Israeli nation and your family particularly.
I think Elan should be mentioned in history books as a brave person that contributed a lot to the nation.
I think that the ideology that he was educated on, is the same famous ideology of the first settlers that developed and defended the Israeli State.
I believe that Elan was and will continue to be a symbol for pride and courage to the entire nation.
I feel that you must know that the people in Israel are grieving with you on Elan's death and included me.
I hope you will not know more sadness.

Yours,
Yair Rada

Dear Rona Ramon
I was very excited to see your husband Ilan Ramon on the spaceshuttle on the January, 16.
He made me feel so proud that I am a Jew.
I was very excited to see someone from the Israeli air force on the Colombia spaceshuttle.
Rona ,I want to tell you how much I am sorry to hear these bad news. At first I couldn't believe the news.
I was shocked. Now, after a few days I realized how important your husband's mission was.
your husband Ilan Ramon became a symbol,a symbol To me for all Jews in the world.
Moreover, Ilan Ramon is a brave man,a hero,and a great pilot in the Israeli air force.
Rona, I know how hard is to lose someone that you love.
I want to tell you to be strong and we(the students from Israel)will pray for your husband.
He will be remembered as one of the heros in history.

Yours:
David Bidgalin,
Beit Shean.
12\02\02

Dear Rona Ramon,

Yesterday, I saw the funeral of your husband on TV, Ilan Ramon.
This reminds me of a lot of exciting things that happened a week ago.
That accident put the entire world to shock. I was very sad because your husband was a very important man for Israel .He brought us a lot of honor because he was the first Israeli astronaut that went to space.
I really wanted to go to the funeral but I could not because I had a very important test in my school.
I take part in your sadness.

Yours,
Kobe Castro

TO THE RAMON FAMILY

MY NAME SARIT COHEN I LIVE IN BET SHEAN .
ON SATURDAY NIGHT WHEN I TURNED ON T.V AND LISTENED TO THE ACCIDENT THAT HAPPENED TO THE COLOMBIA SPACESHIP WITH ELAN INSIDE . I WAS IN SHOCK. I WANT TO TAKE PART IN YOUR SORROW BECAUSE EILAN WAS HERO. HE RISKED HIMSELF FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
I WAS SO PROUD OF HIM AND THE ENTIRE COUNTRY FELT IDENTIFICATION WITH HIM.
I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT YOU NEED TO BE PROUD OF HIM BECAUSE THIS MAN DID OR TRIED TO DO THINGS THAT IMPROVED THE LIFE OF OTHER PEOPLE.
I WISH FOR YOU YOU SUCCESS TO COPE WITH THIS TRAGEDY AND I IN ADDITION I WANTTO WISH YOU WILL NEVER KNOW MORE SURROW.

SARIT COHEN

Like you, we have been waiting for the moment that the spaceshuttle will land.But unfortunately the terrible tragedy has happened.
I want to tell you that your loss is a national loss.
We all feel your pain and sorrow.
I hope you will find condolenses in the fact that he was a brave man, a hero who brought us all pride and honor.

Be strong!

I'm so sorry about the tragic death of your brave astronauts in the disaster which happened to you last Saturday.
Here, in Israel, tragic accidents and bombings happen too often, but this accident is much more tragic because the shuttle was only 15 minutes from Earth and suddenly all of the happiness became sorrow and sadness.
Be strong.
Avinoam Isaak
Israel

To the parents of Ilan Ramon

I heard about the tragedy that happened to you. I, with all the State of Israel, am very sad and very sorry for you. Ilan represented me and all of the State. Ilan gave me a feeling of national pride. I hope that he rests in peace. May you be comforted among all the mourners of Jerusalem.

Yours,
Amitai Geuli,
Israel

Dear American People,
I'm sorry about the accident in space in which Ilan Ramon and six other astronauts died.
I hope that all Isael's country and all of the world will be with you in this difficult time.
Be strong.

Elishama Rein
Karnei Shomron, Israel

February 3rd, 2003
Dear Ramon family,

We, students at the "Blich" high school- 9th grade, would like to say that we are very sorry for your loss, and our loss.
Not very often do we get to see such a marvelous man. Not only was he the first astronaut of Israel, he was also a big hero for everyone of us.
Our excitement to see the launching was tremendous, and hearing that he took with him Blich's flag touched our hearts.
We were absolutely stunned and amazed to see the shuttle crash down, we felt like our hearts were crushing down with him.
We wish you our best love and regards and hope to see you here, knowing that Ilan is a hero and that no one would ever forget him.

Yours,
Blich's 9th grade students
(tet 10)

Dear Families

I am an Israeli citizen that wants to sympathize with you on your loss. Also, I want to say to all the families of the astronauts that I am very proud of what they have done to advance space research, even though this cost them their lives. And in my name in the name of Israeli citizens, we are so sorry for your loss. And we send our condolences to all the families and American and Israeli astronauts. My special condolences to Ilan Ramon's family. I am very sorry about your loss and I want to say to you that all the Israeli citizens are very proud of Ilan Ramon and we always will remember him as a national hero.

Rashad Hamoud and Nati Gold
High School for Environmental Studies
Midreshet Ben-Gurion

Dear Ramon family,
I am very sorry about your loss. This disaster has shocked everyone. We never thought this would happen. It was unexpected, especially with such a successful experiment. I am very proud of Ilan. He is a hero and he will always be remembered that way.
He took with him into space the Bible and drawings of a little boy who was in the Holocaust and wished to be in space.
I am very sorry about this tragedy. May you never know more sorrow.
Yours sincerely,
Adi Chen
The High School for Environmental Studies
Midreshet Ben-Gurion

To the Ramon family

My name is Omri and I'm really sad about the tragedy. In the beginning had a bad feeling about the landing of the spaceshttle. Be strong and keep up your spirits.

Omri
High School for Environmental Studies
Midreshet Ben-Gurion

To the Ramon Family,

We are two girls from Beit-Shean and we watched on TV what happened to the space shuttle. We are very sad for the death of Ilan the pilot. We hope for you to be strong.
Sharing our condolences.

Aviv and Rachel, 6th grade
From Gilboah School, Beit-Shean

To the Ramon Family
We watched T.V yesterday and we are sorry to hear about the tragic death of Ilan Ramon. It was a bad day for us. We know that Ilan was an Israeli hero.
We mourn with you. For us Ilan is a special pride and we will not forget him forever.

Racheli and Fabin, Beit Shean

To the Ramon Family,

We, Shimran, Dudu and Dor share your grief on the tragic death of Ilan Ramon. We are sure that the whole world now mourns this Israeli hero.

Ilan Ramon, an Israeli hero. I am sorryabout Ilan's death.
We are all sad because he was a brave man.

Raisa Kortser
Gilboha School
Class 6/1
Beit- Shean

Ilan Ramon is an Israeli HERO.

He blasted in space when he researched other planets.
I heard about the tragic accident and I want to say: "Ilan Ramon is the Israeli first ASTRNAUT-a HERO for all of us.
I am very sorry about what happened to him.

I AND the ISRAEL COUNTRY SHARE YOUR GRIEF.

To the Ramon Family

We are very sad and sorry for Ilan's death.

Yarin Naim,
Beit Shean, Gilboa school

February 2nd, 2003
To the bereaved families of the Columbia Space Shuttle crew members,

Dear families,

As students of Ort Motzkin High School in Israel, we closely followed whatever happened to Columbia, from the moment of launch to the last tragic minutes.
First of all we would like to offer our deepest condolences to the Ramon family and to the families of the other six astronauts who were on board the shuttle.
It is a terrible tragedy, as we never expected it to happen, especially not with such a successful experiment, the best ever to be performed...
We know it is very hard for all of you to deal with this situation, therefore we would like to offer any help we may be asked to give, and moral support.
It is a huge loss for mankind, and we will always remember the brave astronauts who lost their lives for the sake of science and humanity.
We feel so sad and sorry for this tragedy which has rocked our lives and will be remembered forever.
If we could say the right words to make you feel better, we would do so, but we just don't know what to say...
We are so sorry and we hope that it will be easy for all of us to move on with your/our lives and keep hoping for better days.
Stay strong!!!
Americans and Israelis are brothers forever...

11th Graders, whose signatures are attached
Ort Motzkin

Dear Ramon family,

We, the 12th grade students at the Bnei Akiva - Yeshiva Tichonit of Beit Shean are very sorry about the tragic death of your beloved husband, father and son, Col. Ilan Ramon z'l. It was our feeling that he sanctified G-d's name by being the first Jewish astronaut and the pride he had as a Jew , showing it to the entire world by bringing the Bible with him into Space. We were all so proud of him.

It is our hope that you gain comfort from our warm feelings towards you now. We pray that you will be strong "May G-d comfort you with the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem and may you know no further sorrow."

Class 12- Beit Shean Yeshiva H.S.

Dear Mrs. Ramon,

I was very sorry to hear about the disaster that has happened to you.
It's a shame that Israel was involved in such a tragedy although Ilan has brought much pride to us Isrealis...
May you'll never know more sorrow.

Dana
Haifa

Dear Mrs. Ramon and the bereaved family
I wish to tell how much I'm sorry for what happened to Ilan Ramon and all of the other astronauts who were on that shuttle. I know many people must have written a lot of letters by now and I feel a have to write to you to. I believe that each and every person in Israel is now grieving for Ilan's lost and I'm among them. I want to tell you what you already know, Ilan is a hero and he will always be remembered that way.

yours sincerely,
Mordi Tamir

DEAREST RAMON FAMILY
I would like to express my condolences about the tragedy of your loss. Your son symbolized for me the begining of a new way to the Israeli people and to the humanity as one.
I admire him because of his willingness to risk his life for the progress of the science here on earth.
I am with you in these hard days and I wish that better days will come.
Dlit Haggai

Dear N.A.S.A memmbers,
i am very sorry about our loss, and i hope we will get over it, i am sure we will.

Oren

To the Ramon family,
I was shocked and amazed when I heard about the huge tragedy.
I heard about it yesterday on the radio and saw it on the T.V.
I'm expressing my condolence, and hope you will get over this tragedy as soon as possible.
We are waiting in Israel.

maayan arad, 10th grade student, Megiddo.

Dear Ramon family!
We were deeply amazed to hear about the huge tragedy of the Colombia Shutle which took place yesterday.
Elan was an israely hero and a great pride for us, he seemed to be living his unique life in order to make Israel a better and safer land, and make it glorified.
We wish to express our condolence and hope to see you back in Israel soon.
be strong and know that the Israeli people are all with you,
Tal Tzur and Ella Miller, 10th grade students, Megido high school.

To the Ramon Family

I would like to express my condolences. Ilan Ramon was a very brave man and we all sat wishing for the shuttle's return, but she didn't return. Me and the entire Israeli comunity are mourning with you and hoping that such disasters won't accure in the future so not even one family will have to suffer the way you did.
I am sorry for your loss - Be strong!

"Yehi Zichro Baruch"

Dearest Ramon family.
My deepest condolences go out to you and your family.
I am sure that none of us will ever be able to understand the sorrow you are feeling.
Nothing that anyone one of us will say will ever make your pain go away but maybe the warm words that are comming from all our hearts will ease the pain.
All I can say is that your beloved is a hero and will continue to be a hero in heaven.
We shall all think about you and carry you in our hearts and thoughts.

All I can wish for you all is that you will be strong and always remember that there are many people who are thinking of you all.

Dear Israeli friends,

I want to extend my sympathy to you over the Columbia accident. That causes all Americans great sadness and I am sure it is the same with you. We do not know each other but I am sure each of us is proud that there are men and women willing to give themselves to these missions. They know the danger but still want to do this. Just know that I am thinking about the families and friends of this astronaut.

Sarah Crim
Science and Resource Teacher
Eco-Connections
Walker County Science and Techology Center
Chickamauga, Ga

To the Ramon Family,

We were shocked and grieved to realise that the shuttle had truly disappeared and would not be returning to earth as planned.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all and we pray you find the strength and the courage to get through the days ahead. Your sadness is ours, yet our wish is to say that Elan gave us a special pride during the last few months and the last two weeks especially.