In life, we know two types of people: the ones that put you down and the ones that put you up. Efrahim Meniuk is part of the last group.

Endowed with an extraordinary character, it was an example of loyalty and persistence. I met Efrahim in 2017 when he came to me to offer me a deal. Tireless, he had a unique business vision and an incredible ability to connect people, the famous networking. From business, a strong friendship arose.

Despite the large age difference between us, I felt very comfortable dealing with personal matters and asking for advice. Likewise, I felt the same about Efrahim. It was funny that, being an objective person in meetings, I usually finish the topics to be addressed quickly. However, Efrahim always had a story to tell and it was amazing that he knew everyone. What should be something brief was for a life lesson, that is, a constant learning. I wish I had more meetings with him just to be there and learn more from him.

When I was invited by Efrahim to help in the restructuring of Brazil-Israel Chamber of Commerce in Rio de Janeiro, I accepted this mission out of the gratitude to him. Gratitude for being a phenomenal person with me and, despite the short time of coexistence, he has always been by my side. I like to highlight a striking quality of Efrahim: his loyalty. He made no effort to help those he liked and did not care to be controversial to defend what he thought was right. I felt it many times as we talked.

The least I can do as gratitude to everything Efrahim has done for me is to make the Chamber – his “apple of the eye” – a relevant institution and an environment conducive to new business as he has always wanted.

I will finish with one last story: We had arranged a meeting with a person that Efrahim wanted to introduce me to on Wednesday, March 15. At that time, the first cases of COVID-19 began to appear in Brazil and people began to stay at home. The first thing I did was call Efrahim to cancel the meeting and order – this way, in an authoritarian tone, because he was stubborn – that he stayed at home and did not leave under any circumstances. He replied “noted doctor, I got it”! We talked often and I always asked if the promise of not leaving home was kept. With my busy routine, I did not talk to him for a few days, but I was already articulating topics that he had asked me for the Chamber. Until a close friend sent me a message saying that Efrahim was in the hospital. When I received the message, despair took over me and I began to include Efrahim in all my daily prayers, in addition to sending messages frequently to the doctor who accompanied him. When I heard of his passing, I broke down. Not because he had not taken the necessary precautions, he did exactly what should be done. Sometimes things have no explanation. I regret cancelling that meeting on Wednesday, because I could have been there and learned more from him. But I’m sure he will always be by our side protecting and guiding us.

Efrahim, you left an invaluable legacy and people loyal to you, because you have planted character and had everyone’s admiration.