Memorial Day (Yom Hazikaron) ceremonies were held in Hebron on May
10th and May 11th in the shadow of the terrible events that took place this year. The
wave of terror that has swept the entire country has taken the lives a number of dear
friends from the greater Hebron – Kiryat Arba region. These included Rabbi Ya’akov
Litman, his son Netanel Litman, Genadi Kaufman, Avraham Asher Hasano, and Eliav
Gelman.
10th and May 11th in the shadow of the terrible events that took place this year. The
wave of terror that has swept the entire country has taken the lives a number of dear
friends from the greater Hebron – Kiryat Arba region. These included Rabbi Ya’akov
Litman, his son Netanel Litman, Genadi Kaufman, Avraham Asher Hasano, and Eliav
Gelman.
Victims of Terror
Rabbi Ya’akov
Litman and his son were killed in a drive-by shooting attack south of
Hebron. The family was on their way home from a pre-wedding celebration for
daughter Sarah-Tehiya Litman. The wedding was rescheduled a week later after the
funerals. In a moving tribute to her father and brother, the mourning daughter and her
family invited “everybody” to their wedding celebration which was held in Jerusalem on
November 26, 2015. Almost 10,000 packed the parking lot of the wedding hall in a show of
support, many bringing wedding gifts for they couple they never met.
Litman and his son were killed in a drive-by shooting attack south of
Hebron. The family was on their way home from a pre-wedding celebration for
daughter Sarah-Tehiya Litman. The wedding was rescheduled a week later after the
funerals. In a moving tribute to her father and brother, the mourning daughter and her
family invited “everybody” to their wedding celebration which was held in Jerusalem on
November 26, 2015. Almost 10,000 packed the parking lot of the wedding hall in a show of
support, many bringing wedding gifts for they couple they never met.
On October 20, 2015, Avraham
Asher Hasano (alternatively spelled Hasno), a father of seven in his 50s from
Kiryat Arba, was killed south of Hebron when his car was pelted with stones causing him
to crash. After exiting his vehicle, he was then intentionally run over. His family
fought to ensure his death was properly ruled a terrorist attack and not an auto
accident as initially reported.
Asher Hasano (alternatively spelled Hasno), a father of seven in his 50s from
Kiryat Arba, was killed south of Hebron when his car was pelted with stones causing him
to crash. After exiting his vehicle, he was then intentionally run over. His family
fought to ensure his death was properly ruled a terrorist attack and not an auto
accident as initially reported.
On December 7, 2015, Genadi
Kaufman was stabbed at a bus stop near the Tomb of Machpela and succumbed to
his wounds three weeks later. A local gardener, Genadi was responsible for landscaping
and beautification of the Tomb of Machpela grounds. Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu addressed his
murder at his weekly cabinet meeting stating, “I say to all those who would uproot us
from the Tomb of the Patriarchs – except for a few years in the previous century, we
have been there for almost 4,000 years, and we will stay there forever. You cannot
defeat us.”
Kaufman was stabbed at a bus stop near the Tomb of Machpela and succumbed to
his wounds three weeks later. A local gardener, Genadi was responsible for landscaping
and beautification of the Tomb of Machpela grounds. Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu addressed his
murder at his weekly cabinet meeting stating, “I say to all those who would uproot us
from the Tomb of the Patriarchs – except for a few years in the previous century, we
have been there for almost 4,000 years, and we will stay there forever. You cannot
defeat us.”
On February 24, 2016, Major (reserve) Eliav
Gelman, was shot during an attempted stabbing attack at the Gush Etzion
junction. THe 30-year-old Gelman grew up in Kiryat Arba and was an IDF paratrooper,
veteran of Operation Protective Edge and a father of two.
Gelman, was shot during an attempted stabbing attack at the Gush Etzion
junction. THe 30-year-old Gelman grew up in Kiryat Arba and was an IDF paratrooper,
veteran of Operation Protective Edge and a father of two.
Memorial Day at Historic
Locations
Locations
In the evening, a memorial ceremony took place at the Tomb of Machpela with
the IDF Hebron Brigade and representatives of the Nahal Battalion. Brigade Commander
Colonel Yariv Ben-Ezra spoke at the assembly.
the IDF Hebron Brigade and representatives of the Nahal Battalion. Brigade Commander
Colonel Yariv Ben-Ezra spoke at the assembly.
The next morning on Memorial Day, hundreds gathered in Hebron including local
residents, students, family members and Israel Defense Force representatives. The
ceremony was held in the ancient cemetery of
Hebron, burial site of many famous rabbis and Jewish sages such as the
Reisheet Hochma and the Sde Hemed. A military section to the cemetery has since been
placed next to the plot for the martyrs of the 1929 massacre.
residents, students, family members and Israel Defense Force representatives. The
ceremony was held in the ancient cemetery of
Hebron, burial site of many famous rabbis and Jewish sages such as the
Reisheet Hochma and the Sde Hemed. A military section to the cemetery has since been
placed next to the plot for the martyrs of the 1929 massacre.
Those buried in the cemetery include:
21-year-old Staff Sergeant Elazar
Lebovitch who was caught in a drive-by shooting in
2000.
Lebovitch who was caught in a drive-by shooting in
2000.
Eli HaZe’ev, of the “The
Six” who were gunned down in front of the Beit Hadassah building in 1980. A
building called Beit HaShisha was dedicated in their memory.
Six” who were gunned down in front of the Beit Hadassah building in 1980. A
building called Beit HaShisha was dedicated in their memory.
Nahum Hoss and Yehuda Fartush were killed in a terrorist ambush on a bus in
1995. The Ministry of Construction and Housing built two houses in 1989 called
Beit Nahum and Yehuda in their memory.
1995. The Ministry of Construction and Housing built two houses in 1989 called
Beit Nahum and Yehuda in their memory.
Other Hebron area terrorist victims buried at the ancient cemetery include
Mordechai Lapid and his son Shalom who were killed in 1993, Asher Palmer and his
infant son Yonatan who were killed in 2011, and Yossi
Shok, killed in 2005.
Mordechai Lapid and his son Shalom who were killed in 1993, Asher Palmer and his
infant son Yonatan who were killed in 2011, and Yossi
Shok, killed in 2005.
A Word of Inspiration from the Jewish Community of
Hebron
Hebron
Those that thought terror would weaken the resolve of the people of Israel to
remain in their ancestral homeland have been proven wrong. On the contrary, the people
of Israel have united and strengthened. For the residents of Kiryat Arba and Hebron,
terrorism is not new. The riots
of 1929, in which 67 unarmed civilians were killed, still resonates. The
pioneers that returned to the city and turned it into a vibrant community that attracts
hundreds of thousands of tourists have proven that in the end terrorism will not win and
can in fact be defeated.
remain in their ancestral homeland have been proven wrong. On the contrary, the people
of Israel have united and strengthened. For the residents of Kiryat Arba and Hebron,
terrorism is not new. The riots
of 1929, in which 67 unarmed civilians were killed, still resonates. The
pioneers that returned to the city and turned it into a vibrant community that attracts
hundreds of thousands of tourists have proven that in the end terrorism will not win and
can in fact be defeated.
The presence of both a permanent community and a military presence ensure
that Hebron will be more than just a museum and visitors can come year round. Hebron
serves as a beacon for repatriation of Israel and a buffer for terrorist that attempts
to infiltrate into the rest of the country.
that Hebron will be more than just a museum and visitors can come year round. Hebron
serves as a beacon for repatriation of Israel and a buffer for terrorist that attempts
to infiltrate into the rest of the country.
Of course, the test of terrorism today is different from that of previous
generations. Back then, Hebron was ruled by foreigners, such as the British and before
them, the Turkish Ottoman Empire.
generations. Back then, Hebron was ruled by foreigners, such as the British and before
them, the Turkish Ottoman Empire.
Before, it was their soldiers who were entrusted to guard the Jewish
community. Today, by the grace of God, we live in an Israeli city secured by
soldiers of the army of Israel.
community. Today, by the grace of God, we live in an Israeli city secured by
soldiers of the army of Israel.
Therefore it is natural that on Memorial Day, both soldiers and civilians
mourn together. Our bereaved families share the memory of their bravery and sacrifice,
their brotherhood and unity met in the fire of battle and the struggle for the
homeland.
mourn together. Our bereaved families share the memory of their bravery and sacrifice,
their brotherhood and unity met in the fire of battle and the struggle for the
homeland.
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United States contact info:
http://www.hebronfund.org
1760 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
718-677-6886
info@hebronfund.org
In Israel contact the offices of the Jewish Community of Hebron at:
http://en.hebron.org.il/
02-996-5333
office@hebron.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hebronofficial
here:
United States contact info:
http://www.hebronfund.org
1760 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
718-677-6886
info@hebronfund.org
In Israel contact the offices of the Jewish Community of Hebron at:
http://en.hebron.org.il/
02-996-5333
office@hebron.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hebronofficial
