(February 24) - Even after she left Israel to achieve fame and fortune in Europe and the US, Ofra Haza was still "our girl." Her accomplishments boosted the country, as we saw her reach a level of international success that no other Israeli pop singer had achieved.

This success became apparent after the news that she had been hospitalized in serious condition was made public earlier this month. Fans conducted vigils at the hospital and the Hebrew tabloids ran wild with the story, dropping innuendo and spreading rumors about her condition and its causes.

But the overkill may have been a necessary outlet for the pain the nation felt. For Haza was a true rags-to-riches immigrant success story.

Rising from the working class Hatikva quarter in Tel Aviv, one of nine children born to traditional Yemenite immigrants, Haza became one of the country's most loved singers.

Whether appearing at the Eurovision Contest singing "Chai" in 1983 or topping the European club charts with "Im Nin Alu," she projected an image of confidence and joy, one that reflected back on her fans.

When she left to break out of the small Israeli confines in the mid-1980s, some criticized the move as unpatriotic and selfish. But in becoming a goodwill ambassador for Israel through her high profile, she performed immeasurable good for the country.

The fans who stood vigil, agonized over the newspapers every day, and last night bade farewell, weren't saying goodbye to the elegant, worldwide star. They were mourning their girl from Tel Aviv.