For the Dead

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday April 02, 2002 08:58 by .

Violence in the Middle East

A Palestinian terrorist, a member of Hamas Iz a Din al-Kassam Brigades,
walked into the dining room of the Park Hotel in Netanya, where 250 guests
were just beginning the Passover festivities, and detonated an explosive,
killing twenty two people and injuring more than 140. Here are the names of
the people who lost their lives:

Shula Abramovitz, 63, from Holon, was born in Poland, and immigrated to
Israel as a teenager. She worked in the accounting department of a textile
plant in Holon, where she met her husband Mordechai. She is survived by her
husband and two daughters. Shula was buried in the Yarkon cemetery in
Tel-Aviv.

David Anichovitch, 70, from Netanya, was born in Poland and fought in World
War II. In the 1950's he emigrated from Russia and married Frieda and
eventually settled in Netanya. David was buried in Netanya and is survived
by his wife and son.

Sgt.-Maj. Avraham Beckerman, 25, from Ashdod, served as a flight mechanic at
the helicopter squadron in the Tel-Nof Air Force base, and hoped to become
an officer.
He was buried in Ashdod and is survived by his girlfriend Gili Vider, mother
and brother.

St.-Sgt. Sivan Vider, 20, from Bekaot in the Jordan Valley, graduated from
the Ben Shemen boarding high school, where she majored in product design.
She served in the Israel Defense Forces as a course instructor and was
supposed to complete her army service next month. She was buried in Bekaot
and leaves behind her parents and two siblings.

Shimon Ben-Aroya, 42, from Netanya worked over 20 years for the Sanitation
Department in the Netanya Municipality. His work manager remembered him as a
person he could depend on. "He was an outstanding worker, industrious,
intelligent, and very special. He loved to work and barely missed a day of
work," he added. He was buried in Netanya and is survived by his wife and
three children.

Andre and Idit Fried, from Netanya, immigrated to Israel from Hungary in the
late 1970s. Andre, 47, was a dentist with two clinics in Netanya. Idit, 47,
was a nurse in the Laniado Hospital. During the last few years, the couple
celebrated the Passover Seder at the Park Hotel. Andre and Idit were buried
side by side in Netanya. They are survived by their daughter Shirli and son
Tom.

George (Meir-Shlomo) Yakobovitch, 76, was born in Hungary and was a
Holocaust survivor. He was a well-known lawyer and notary in the community
of Hungarian immigrants. Twenty years ago, he married Andre Fried's mother
Hannah, whom he had known since childhood in Hungary. George was buried in
the Yarkon cemetery in Tel-Aviv. He is survived by his wife and one daughter
from a previous marriage.

Ernest and Eva Weiss, 80, from Petah Tikva, were survivors of the Holocaust,
and married in 1946 in Romania. In 1964 the couple immigrated to Israel and
settled in Petah Tikva. Ernest, 80, was in the diamond business, Eva, 75,
was a homemaker. The couple celebrated the Seder at the Park Hotel. Ernest
and Eva were buried side by side in Petah Tikva.

Amiram (Ami) Hamami, 44, from Netanya, was the Park Hotel manager and
security officer. Ami reportedly saw the terrorist enter the hotel and
chased him, but was fatally injured by the explosion and died of his wounds
two days later. Family members said Ami was known for his giving nature "He
was always ready to help people in need and often gave away food to poor
people." Ami was buried in Netanya. He is survived by his wife and six
children.

Perla Hermella, 79, from Sweden, was born in Poland. In the early 1930s, her
family moved to Sweden. Perla was active in the Jewish community in
Stockholm, both in Keren Hayesod and the Jewish Agency. Perla celebrated the
Passover holiday in Israel for the last 25 years, even after her husband
passed away six years ago. Just before the Seder, she spoke with her younger
son by phone, saying "I know it is dangerous in Israel but it is precisely
at such times that it is so important to be here." Perla was buried in
Israel. She is survived by her two sons, six grandchildren and one
great-grandchild.

Michael and Dvora Karim, immigrated to Israel from Iran and lived in Bet
Shemesh. They moved to Netanya 20 years ago. Michael, 78, was a former
employee of the Jewish National Fund. He was a devoted community worker and
was active in the Iranian Jewish community. Dvora, 73, was active in WIZO,
and worked with young children in a Na'amat nursery. Michael and Dvora were
buried side by side in Netanya. They are survived by two daughters, three
grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Yehudit Korman, 70, from Ramat Hasharon, attended the Park Hotel's Seder, as
she did for many years before. She and her husband said they would attend
the Seder because "We mustn't give in to them. We must continue and live
without fear." Yehudit's parents immigrated to Israel from Russia in 1931
and were among the founders of Ramat Hasharon. Yehudit, born a year later,
continued to lived in her parent's home her whole life, and her children
were born and raised there. Yehudit was buried in Ramat Hasharon. She is
survived by her husband, two children and five grandchildren.

Marianne Lehmann Zaoui, 77, from Netanya, was born in Germany and was a
Holocaust survivor. During World War II, she fled to France where she hid
under an assumed identity, attending a Catholic school together with her
sister. Marianne taught English for many years in high schools in France.
Marianne and her husband Lucien emigrated from France ten years ago. They
have been celebrating the Passover Seder in a hotel for several years. She
was buried in Netanya and is survived by her husband, three children and
grandchildren.

Lola Levkovitch, 70, from Jerusalem, attended the Park Hotel Seder to make
sure her friend would not spend the holidays alone. She was buried in the
Givat Shaul cemetery in Jerusalem. She is survived by her daughter.

Furuk Na'imi, 62, from Netanya, immigrated with his wife Nusrat to Israel
from Iran 18 years ago. He was buried in Netanya and is survived by his wife
and two children.

Eliahu Nakash, 85, from Tel-Aviv, emigrated from Syria in 1948. He worked
for many years as a fruit and vegetable dealer in Holon. Eliyahu devoted
much of his time to the local synagogue and to his garden. Eliahu was buried
in Netanya. He leaves behind his wife Geula.

Irit Rashel, 45, from Moshav Herev La'et in the Sharon area, was a secretary
in the psychological counseling services of neighboring Kibbutz Givat Haim.
She loved to sing and was member of the Hadera choir. She was buried in
Moshav Herev La'et and leaves behind her husband and two daughters.

Yulia Talmi, 87, from Tel-Aviv, immigrated to Israel from Russia in
1933.Yulia's brother described her as "the stable one in the family, very
independent and level-headed." She was laid to rest in the Kiryat Shaul
cemetery in Tel Aviv.