We got to know him during the time we needed support the most in the refugee camp. He managed a small second-hand shop, greeting everyone who came and went with a constant smile and positive energy. That tiny shop, small in size but carrying great meaning, became a haven for our group of about 30 people. Whenever we stepped inside, he would stand up and greet us with “Peace be upon you!” He patiently listened to all our troubles and difficulties, always trying to come up with solutions. Through the people who visited his shop, he sent packages filled with pastries for our children in the camp. In those difficult times, the packages from Josef brought a festive spirit to our children.
One day, he said, “I am very grateful to the regime in Turkey! They facilitated the arrival of quality people like you in our country. If there are still people like you in Turkey, send word, and let them all come here.” This statement became a source of morale and motivation for us, who had been displaced from one address to another for months.
He often said that he wished he had a lot of money. When we asked why, he replied, “I want to build villages and buildings with all the facilities for the new refugees coming to the country, so I need money for that.” He was suffering from severe cancer and was constantly in pain. Amidst his own pain, he would feel sorrow for problems all around the world. He would mention our names one by one and tell us that he prayed for us.
When we asked if he needed anything, he would say, “I don’t have money, but I am very rich. I have friends who have come from all around the world to these parts. They are enough for me. Besides, true wealth lies in having a kind heart.”
One day, I visited him and told him that I had been accepted to university and shared the profession I would pursue after university. At that moment, he proudly narrated the details of my university journey to everyone who came to the shop. The walls of his shop were adorned with photographs and letters of refugees who had come to him, who had clung to life with his help. He would show these to newcomers one by one, telling their life stories in detail. Some of them had arrived decades ago and had thrived in life. He somehow maintained contact with all of them, constantly asking if they had any needs. In fact, he was the one in need.
Despite his advanced age, he had never married, but he would refer to the refugees, saying, “I have many children from all around the world.” When it was time for us to leave the camp and bid farewell, he said goodbye to all of us with a heavy heart, much like a father sending off his children. In the following days, he called each of us individually to ask if we had any problems. In short, Josef was a true hero of loyalty. He became a friend and companion to all of us, warming our hearts to our new land of migration.
We could foresee that one day we would receive sad news due to his illnesses, but we couldn’t anticipate the immense sorrow that the news would bring to our hearts. We received the news of his passing on an April morning when the spring was starting to make itself felt. In the warm and peaceful atmosphere of spring, he finally reunited with his beloved Creator.
Josef, our elder brother, lived as a poor man and died as a poor man. But behind him, he left old eyes like ours that would continually pray for him.
