Sbarro Slaughter Remembered ....

Eleven years ago today, an Hamas Suicide bomber killed 15 Israelis in a Sbarro Pizzeria at the corner of King George Street and Jaffa Road in downtown Jerusalem, Israel, on August 9th, 2001. 15 lunchtime diners ~ women & children ~ were murdered and 130 wounded with a bomb containing nails, nuts and bolts among its powerful explosives.   Carrying the explosives in a bag strapped to his body, the terrorist entered the restaurant just before 2 PM and detonated the bomb. The 5 kg.-10 kg. bomb, which was packed with nails, screws, and bolts, completely gutted the restaurant, which was full of lunchtime diners,  whose only crime was a desire for a slice of pizza on a beautiful Jerusalem afternoon.

One year later on the first Yahrzeit of this attrocity,  sick students at Al-Najah University in Nablus ~ "palestinians" ~ opened an exhibition that included a grisly re-enactment of the bombing at the Sbarro pizzeria in Jerusalem with body parts and pizza slices strewn around the room in which they recalled the "accomplishment" of the murderer.  And yet sympathy lies with the plight of these scum and Israel is called an 'apartheid' nation for taking security measures to protect it's citizenry. 

And ten years after that horror let us remember those slain in the summer sunshine whilst eating lunch that day, 20th Av, 2001.  May their Neshamot receive an Aliyah.

*  Giora Balash, 60, of Brazil

* Zvika Golombek, 26, of Carmiel

* Shoshana Yehudit Greenbaum, 31, of the U.S.

*  Tehila Maoz, 18, of Jerusalem
*  Frieda Mendelsohn, 62, of Jerusalem
*  Michal Raziel, 16, of Jerusalem
*  Malka Roth, 15, of Jerusalem
*  Mordechai Schijveschuurder, 43, of Neria
*  Tzira Schijveschuurder, 41, of Neria
*  Ra'aya Schijveschuurder, 14, of Neria
*  Avraham Yitzhak Schijveschuurder, 4, of Neria
*  Hemda Schijveschuurder, 2, of Neria
*  Lily Shimashvili, 33, of Jerusalem
*  Tamara Shimashvili, 8, of Jerusalem
*  Yocheved Shoshan, 10, of Jerusalem

There is an old Yiddish proverb .... Those who are Remembered do Not Die.  As Jews we have a duty of Zakhor ...  The family that may have been most torn apart by the Sbarro attack was the Schijveschuurder family. Two of the parents and three of the eight children (including an infant from whom all that was recovered was a pacifier) were murdered at Sbarro. A couple of other children were injured.  I've lit a yahrzeit candle & recited yizkor & given tzedaka in their merit.  May the memories of all who died that day be for a blessing .... Judaism (unlike islam) does not glorify nor mystify death, but instead remembers the precious lives of those slaughtered. Shall you Join me?  


I'm including a link to a heart rending blog which includes the words of a teenage survivor and her father     ... One Survivor's Story ....       and the Youtube video below which contains video images of the scene and is quite gruesome. Both are heart rending & tear inducing.