ST. LOUIS — An Illinois camp counselor was one of the hundreds of people killed at a music festival in Israel, after an attack by Hamas.
Now, loved ones are remembering her.
Jubilation and joy. That's what the Jewish organization Camp Ben Frankel is meant to be.
Those same words can also be said about 24-year-old Gili Adar.
In 2017, Adar came to the U.S. as a representative for the Israeli Scouts program. She joined the camp as one of the 40 counselors overseeing 100 campers.
Paul Kodner has been at the camp for 18 years.
In his time there, he met Adar.
"The program brings 15- and 16-year-old Israelis to America to bring Israel to our Jewish students and Jewish campers. She told me she wanted to know what Judaism looked like across the entire world. To not only share hers, but to also get theirs," Kodner said.
The camp's director, Aaron Hadley, re-joined the organization the very same year Adar came.
"She led activities. She came volunteering with one other girl named Naomi. She and Naomi taught dances and songs that became institutions for our camp that we still do every summer to this day," Hadley shared.
Her friend Adina Levy wrote in a tribute saying, "They taught us the dance to the song Silsulim by Static and Ben El. We have done that song and dance at camp every year since. This year, I'll make sure to say her name with it to think of her with every step with silly choreography."
As a camp counselor, she was known as 'Guppy' and many knew her for her bright light.
"She was there with messages of peace and happiness and was a real ray of light," Hadley added.
Kodner said she loved music and loved connecting with people.
"Camp has this magical way of bringing people together. We got to know her on such a deep level and we've been in touch ever since. Every time I've gone to Israel, she's one of the people that I message. I guess I won't do that anymore," Kodner said. "One of the most beautiful things about her was that wherever she went, she didn't just meet people. She built connections with people."
While grieving the loss, they acknowledge how much she's given them.
"She fully believed that life was too valuable and it was worth living," Kodner noted.
They believe nothing can dim her light.
Her impact will continue to shine.
"She was a source of joy and humor, she was clever, and she cared," Hadley said. "She was someone who wanted to make the world a better place by volunteering and working with kids. That's about as noble as it comes in my book."
If you'd like to offer help, this fund is raising money to support the families who were victims.