Her Life Story

Gail Solomon-Schmidt

Gail was born on November 13, 1954, in San Lorenzo, California, to Grace Moalem - a third-generation Iraqi Jew in China who arrived as a refugee from Shanghai - and her husband, Morton Solomon.

Gail attended Linda Vista Elementary in San Lorenzo, walking there every day from her nearby home.

When Gail was 10 years old, the family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, following her father’s career as a computer engineer for American Airlines, which operated its main operations center there at the time. Gail attended Salk elementary school and went on to graduate from Memorial High School.

Upon completing high school, Gail made an extraordinary and courageous decision: to "make Aliyah" - to move to Israel and study at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. At only 19 years old, she arrived in Israel shortly after the Yom Kippur War. This was an exceptionally bold move within the small Jewish community of Tulsa, Oklahoma, reflecting the depth of her Jewish identity and her determination to build a new life in the Land of Israel.

At the Hebrew University, Gail studied Special Education. After graduating, she worked at the "Swedish Village" (Kfar HaShwedi) in Jerusalem, an institution dedicated to caring for individuals with mental health challenges. With her characteristic warmth, she would often invite her residents to her home on weekends, ensuring they had a loving family environment to return to.

Gail Solomon-Schmidt
gail and avi
gail and avi-1

Gail & Avi

Family

In the late 1970s, she met the man who would become her life partner and husband - Avichai (Avi) Schmidt, a sound and communications technician who worked for the Israeli TV Broadcasting Authority (Channel 1), entrepreneur, real estate investor, and author of ten books.

The two were married in Jerusalem in 1980 at the Sephardic Synagogue in the Yemin Moshe neighborhood, continuing their celebration at the nearby Mishkenot Sha’ananim restaurant.

Their unique and extraordinary wedding remains etched in the memories of all who attended. It is remembered to this day as a truly special and unforgettable event - an evening filled with joy, love, and profound human warmth.

Together, they built a family and raised three children – two daughters and a son.

A Journey of Memories

Travels & Journeys

Gail’s father was a senior IT executive at American Airlines. As the daughter of an airline employee, she enjoyed a unique privilege - free flights across the globe. She embraced this opportunity to the fullest: first as a curious and adventurous young woman, and later as a devoted wife, mother, and matriarch.

For Gail, traveling was more than just a vacation - it was a way of life. She loved discovering new horizons, immersing herself in different cultures, conversing with people from all corners of the world, and finding beauty wherever she went.

The United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia became like second homes to her - South America was the only continent she did not have the chance to visit.
Her love for travel and discovery became her hallmark and a source of inspiration for her children. They inherited her natural curiosity, her joy for the journey, and her passion for seeing the world with an open heart and open eyes. Today, they continue to travel the world, following in her footsteps.

Gail was also a lifelong reader. She read every single day. Always - without fail - there was a book in her bag, which she would open and read at every possible opportunity.

Gail believed that the world is a book,
and those who do not travel read only one page.

Art, Cooking, and Community Service

Gail loved art of all kinds, but her deepest connection was always to the world of textiles and fabrics. She began sewing at a young age, and during her teenage years, she would design and sew her own clothes. When her children grew older and the family moved to a spacious home, she fulfilled a lifelong dream by establishing a private studio, equipped with high-end sewing machines and professional gear. It was there that she began to fully devote herself to the art of quilting.

She joined the studio of teacher and artist Chava Katzir, who over the years became a close friend, and studied under her guidance for twenty-five years. Throughout this time, Gail evolved into an artist in her own right, with her works featured in prestigious exhibitions both in Israel and abroad. Nearly every year, she traveled to international quilt shows, primarily in the United States and Europe, often accompanied by Chava and other friends from the field. She made a point of visiting elite exhibitions, such as those at the British Museum in London, and became a familiar face in the most renowned fabric and supply shops worldwide - where she would often order unique fabrics manufactured specifically for her creations.

Inside the Be'eri Quilting Studio: Creating comfort, warmth, and resilience through every stitched pattern.

On the morning of October 7, 2023, terrorist organizations from the Gaza Strip launched a large-scale surprise attack on Israel, involving the firing of thousands of rockets and the infiltration of thousands of terrorists into border communities and IDF bases. During this brutal attack, over 1,200 people were massacred, thousands were wounded, and hundreds were abducted to Gaza, amidst crimes against humanity and the total destruction of entire communities.

The disaster left communities in ruins; the homes of thousands of citizens were turned to ash. For the residents of the Gaza envelope and the western Negev, the home - which should be one’s safest and most personal fortress - was violently breached, looted, and set ablaze. People who lost their entire material world and generations of memories found themselves refugees in their own land, carrying the pain of their destroyed homes and a longing for the security they had lost.

Amidst this profound national grief, Gail could not remain indifferent. She felt a deep need to act and decided to harness her artistic skills to help those who had lost everything. Thus, an idea was born: to recruit quilters from Israel and the United States to create handmade quilts for the families whose homes were destroyed in Kibbutz Be'eri.
Gail activated her connections within American quilting guilds, and thanks to her initiative and determination, approximately 150 unique quilts were donated and sent to Israel.
For her, this project was a true calling - a way to provide warmth, comfort, and beauty to those left with nothing, reminding them that they were not alone.

The distribution process was filled with chilling and deeply moving moments. When the quilts reached the hands of the displaced residents of Be'eri, who were temporarily staying in hotels, the reactions were overwhelming. For people who had lost every earthly possession - including photo albums and precious personal mementos - the quilt from Gail and her friends across the United States was much more than a piece of textile; it was the first physical object or work of art that was truly "theirs," something that didn't come from a generic donation center.

The survivors were especially moved by the thought that someone from Jerusalem, or from across the ocean, had invested weeks of labor, stitching piece by piece, and choosing colors and patterns specifically for them. Gail witnessed the tearful eyes of the recipients, who shared that amidst the cold and the ruin, the quilt offered them a first sense of home and a human embrace.
She believed with all her heart that a Quilt is a shroud that wraps the soul, and in those difficult days, the works she gathered became a symbol of resilience, solidarity, and unconditional love.

Gail’s initiative received extensive media coverage in both Hebrew and English.

Work inspired by the Bibas children, who were abducted and murdered during the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel.
With her close friend Lyne Bleicher ZL

Cooking, Hosting, and the Joy of the Table

Gail was well-known for her great love of hosting and cooking. For her, the table was not just a place to eat, but a space for human connection and joy. Every Friday night, or during Saturday lunch, her home was an "open house." She hosted family members, close friends, and even "friends of friends" - people she sometimes hadn’t even met before, but the moment they stepped through the door, they became part of the family.

Gail’s generosity was especially evident in her connection with the Hebrew University. Her friend, who was responsible for students arriving from all corners of the globe to study in Jerusalem, always knew who to call. Before Shabbat or holidays, she would call Gail and ask her to host students who were left alone in the city. Gail and Avi always stepped up with an open heart and no questions asked. They opened their home and their hearts to these young strangers, providing them with a sense of belonging and a warm home away from home.

Gail was a true "foodie" at heart; she loved to eat and was always curious and open to trying almost any new dish she encountered during her travels around the world. Her cooking became legendary among all who were lucky enough to taste it, blending bold flavors with a loving touch.

When she cooked, it was never in moderation. It was about abundance  - sometimes even a bit too much. Almost always, after the guests had already said their goodbyes, thankful and satisfied, she would suddenly remember that one salad left in the fridge or a pot forgotten in the oven - as if there always had to be something more left to give.

Festive Shabbat dinner with family and friends

Gail guiding her students through deep literary discussions in Jerusalem, where her class was a sanctuary of heart and mind.

For the State and the Soldiers

Her spirit of volunteering didn't stop in her private kitchen. For years, she volunteered every two weeks to cook for lone soldiers. She would prepare delicacies like chicken with mushrooms in wine and other elaborate dishes, so the soldiers could experience a taste of home. After the cooking was done, she never compromised on order and organization: she would "recruit" Avi for the mission, making sure he wrote the exact menu waiting inside on every single container in his own handwriting.

Education with a Soul

Gail believed with all her heart in the healing and transformative power of education and culture. For her, investing in education was never just about grades; it was an essential tool for shaping the character of young people and opening doors to a better future. She practiced this philosophy first and foremost at home, investing great thought and resources into her children’s education and instilling these core values within the family.

In her later years, Gail chose to take this belief a step further and into the community. She volunteered at a high school in the Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood of Jerusalem, aiming to help students overcome the hurdle of their matriculation exams (Bagrut). Although she was not a trained English teacher, she utilized her masterful command of the language to practice conversational English with the students.

Gail understood that for many teenagers, the biggest obstacle was a lack of self-confidence in speaking. With great patience, kindness, and that "extra soul" (Neshama Yetera) that defined her, she sat with the students, encouraged them to express themselves in English, and provided them with the tools and confidence needed for their oral exams. To the students, Gail was not just a "volunteer" - she was an inspiring figure who truly believed in their ability to succeed.

Gail passed away on the morning of July 8, 2025.
She is survived by her husband and their three children - two daughters and a son.