Israel is mourning this week for two of its perfectly innocent young people in their 20’s, both of whom were stabbed by terrorists in two separate incidents on Monday.
Dahlia Lemkus, a 26 year old child therapist, was killed while waiting for a bus in Gush Etzion. Another terrorist attack took place that day at a Tel Aviv train station, killing Almog Shiloni, age 20. As they were laid to rest on Tuesday, the pain in Israel was palpable. The murders come on the heels of various similar attacks in the Jerusalem area, in which “loner” terrorists attacked pedestrians with cars, knives, and hand pistols.
Whereas most violence over the last ten years had been limited to the areas surrounding Gaza and the North during the 2006 war with Hezbollah, these attacks are a flashback to the days of the intifada, the Arab uprising, when Israelis lived in constant fear of terrorist attacks on buses, malls and every day destinations. Government officials have said that the recent upsurge in attacks do not indicate a popular uprising. But there is no question that Israelis living in Jerusalem are living with a greater unease.
The Israeli public has gotten to know the two victims and their families very quickly. Dahlia was known for baking delicious cakes for parties and for helping brides with their make up on their wedding days. Dahlia’s father drives Tekoa’s ambulance as a volunteer, and Dahlia would babysit any children on the occasion that their parents had to rush to the hospital.
“Dahlia did a lot of charity work. A lot. She made beautiful art with oil painting and acrylic,” Liora Bedein, a close friend of Dahlia’s, told Aish.com. “She was a beautiful person. Everyone who knew her knows she just loved to give and do good. She was very special.”
The mother of one of Dahlia’s patients echoed that sentiment. “She was a truly amazing young woman. She made so much progress with the kids,” Avital Trebelsky told Aish.com. “She loved the children as if they were her own.” Dahlia made the 2-hour trip from Tekoa to Sderot on a weekly basis to work with Avital’s 4-year-old daughter with special needs.
Almog Shiloni was a twin. He had been with his girlfriend for two and a half years, and according to his brother, planned to marry her. He was talking to her on the phone when he was stabbed by an Arab terrorist.
Israel’s tight-knit nature breeds a certain identification with the victims. Many Israelis remember standing at that train stop in their army uniform, just like Almog. Those shared experiences make Almog and Dahlia more than a statistic. The Jewish nation is mourning alongside the families. For every murder there is a ripple effect, hurting all of those associated with the victim and the attack.
Statistics, as are often presented in the international media, do not capture that. Statistics cannot put a reader in the shoes of the man who gave the hitchhiking Dahlia the last ride of her life. He dropped her off at the bus stop only a few minutes before the attack. One can only wonder how he feels.
Statistics do not capture the effect on the families of the injured man who attempted to rescue Dahlia. They do not capture the story of the guard who shot Dahlia’s attacker just a minute too late.
The media does not capture the feeling of the community of Tekoa, which is going through this for a second time. Twelve years ago, 14-year-old Koby Mandell was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists. He was strikingly similar to Dahlia. They were the same age. Both were children of English speaking immigrants. Both were from Tekoa. Their families know each other. One can only imagine the horror of a community living through that again.
The mood in Gush Etzion, where Tekoa is located, was captured at a Monday night vigil. One resident told Aish.com, “There is crying. There are no chants of ‘death to the terrorist’ or anything like that. It’s sadness.”
Indeed, the recent attacks, all committed with cars and knives, have revealed a certain chink in the armor of Israeli security. It seems that if anyone can be attacked with everyday items, the crisis will be difficult to solve.
It is worth noting, however, that there was heroism displayed on Monday as well. Both attacks were stopped by bystanders, albeit too late. The Tel Aviv attacker was punched in the face by a 50 year old man, while the Gush Etzion attacker was wrestled by one man, and then shot and wounded by a volunteer security guard. While nobody is in the mood to celebrate the heroes who prevented further damage, they are indicative of the strength of a society that looks out for its own.
(16) Avner, January 20, 2016 12:20 AM
Forget Facebook, your cell, look around, carry a weapon.
I see so many people in the streets or public transportation busy with their phone, unconcerned. Keep this toy for home. Look around as if you were on the battlefield. Danger can come from anywhere, anytime. If necessary, shoot. You decide where, if you want to wound or annihilate but remember: it's legitimatize defense. There is no room for feeling guilty of doing so.
(15) Anonymous, November 18, 2014 11:18 AM
May their legacy of chesed & mitzvot give strength to their families and allwho knew them. May their murders be avenged upon all who enabled these crimes.
May their legacies of chesed and mitzvot give strength to their families and to all who knew and cared for them. May their murders be avenged!
(14) Ruven Golan, November 15, 2014 12:18 PM
Ein Aravim ein piguim
Any person that does not swear allegiance to Israel should not be allowed to live in the country.
(13) Anonymous, November 14, 2014 2:08 PM
Time for immediate retalliation
It's easy for me to say this from the other side of the world. Stop coddling the terroists and their backers. Appeasement does not get peace, but emboldens them to do more harm. The wounded terroist should have been publicly castrated and thrown in a body bag to bleed to death. Who cares about his suffering. Don't wait for the world court of opinion to take action as every time the UN votes, it's always against Israel. Our idiot of a president here in the US doesn't care about what happens to Israel and Netanyahu should disregard what this clown has to say about the situation. God willing, he and his cronies will be history soon and we can once again be the true ally Israel deserves.
(12) A.Mohabeer, November 14, 2014 6:29 AM
It is a great tragedy
A great loss for the community. She was a beautiful girl indeed! She looked like aThat Hindu girl. She was like one of us. I am very sad that she was brutally killed. She is in heaven and the murderer in in hell.
(11) J-Rene', November 13, 2014 6:33 PM
Actions of "Peace"?
Intolerable acts of war have been tolerated for far too long by the Jewish State (and others). These atrocities against humanity, are always so painful to read, whether of many fallen, or one slain. And O, what contrast the lives of the victims usually present, compared to the malice-driven perpetrators: bitter souls walking forth from evil darkness of unbridled hate, lovers of violence, and worshipers of death. Often presented, a comparison between day and night! Human decency motivated to benefit neighbor, vs. barbaric inhumanity filled with lust to main, and destroy fellow man. "Peace process"? What peace is processed? War is heard over airwaves of Israel's ancestral home (visit MEMRI-TV or Palestinian Media Watch, if you can stomach cuddly bees breathing-out slaughter, or forked-tongued leaders, uttering premeditated murder). War has been produced, and felt, from massed terror to lone homicidal fiends. "Peace", a deceitful whisper for the ears of the mostly gullible Western press. False messages of "peace", that belie the real massage of war: clearly sent high overland (for the world to see), delivered deep underground (hidden and secretly), and now, personally handed over at pavement level--expressions of VIOLENCE, actions of WAR (terror tunnels and rockets, cars and knives). Different actors may be involved, but all infused with the same demoniacal spirit. And against Israel, evidently manifest, by the same virulently hostile people.
(10) Patrick J Maher, November 13, 2014 5:00 PM
Israel Mourns
Almog and Dahlia will be greatly missed.I pray that some how something positive will become of this brutal tragedy
(9) Anonymous, November 13, 2014 4:33 PM
four comments and not one...
there are four comments ahead of me and not one person said,
"we have to say more tehilim (psalms)." " we have to daven more" "we have to ask Hashem to protect our people and our soldiers" "Let's see how we can do more chesed" (help out other jews)
what's with you guys? Hashem wants to hear our voice.
Stop blaming it on the occupation, stop the blaming and start davening. Change your behavior. Stop getting angry.
Stop being mean. Every little mitzva helps all of us.
Regina, November 15, 2014 11:44 PM
Reframe
So, let's say that you are right - how about phrasing it more POSITIVELY? ENCOURAGEMENT goes a lot further in my book. We CAN say that part of the solution is to reach out - CRY OUT - and ask Hashem for help, protection for our people by praying. We can take on a mitzvah and encourage others to do the same. I say let's work to build bridges between Jews across the spectrum - the solution is UNITY, HARMONY, AHAVAT YISROEL. Am Yisroel Chai!
(8) Anonymous, November 13, 2014 4:21 PM
Your coverage is appreciated, as sad as it is, so that we Jews worldwide know what our "landsmen" are facing in their daily lives. We are half way around the world, but we feel the pain & loss when we see such ugliness, hatred, and anti-Semitic tragedies. We feel powerless/useless, except to offer our prayers to all Israeli Families. May Hashem give them strength, blessings, and Shalom soon.
(7) hilly, November 13, 2014 3:32 PM
blame
let us put the ultimate blame for continuation of all this where it belongs. on the UN, Europeans, & American faux-liberal. i.e. Democrats. An American Jews who still supports those groups is a quasi-meshumed. They holster the enemy. hence------
(6) dennis_wright, November 13, 2014 3:09 PM
praying for Israel daily
Very sorry for the loss! May God grant peace to Israel!
(5) DAVID FRANKEL, November 13, 2014 2:55 PM
THE ONLY BLAME IS OUR SELF HOW DO YOU EXPECT THE FOX TO ACT WHEN YOU PUT HIM IN THE CHICKEN GAUGE?BEFORE YOU WINE ABOUT THE MURDER OF YOUNG PEOPLE BY THOSE TERRORESIT LETS US LOOK AT OURE OWN POLICEYDO YOU REALY EXOECT A TERRORIST TO CHANGE HIS IDEAES BY GIVING HIM A JOB? IF YOU THINK SO THEN YOURE THE FOOLS NOT THE TERRORIST
(4) erin, November 13, 2014 12:41 AM
we will never get to hold them- this is wrong.
n.c.
(3) brura, November 12, 2014 11:55 PM
such brutalality on our young people, innocence destroyed
The fact that this kind of horror is ongoing is too tragic for the appropriate words. I don't know what to say except add their names to the long list of the deceased on the particular dates and may they rest in peace. Their lives were cut short by such unwarranted violence is simply ruthless. Klal Yisrael is mourning their deaths. I know that I am. Everyday their is so much to intake and deal with and the constant fear that any one of us could be next no matter where in this world we live. But, especially horrific the sadness that comes naturally with these types of deaths. My heart and soul mourns along with their families, friends, teachers... beloved ones. Shalom Aleichem Shalom.
(2) jacob, November 12, 2014 4:18 PM
tears in my eyes
so incredibly sad. two young, beautiful people with their whole life ahead of them... murdered....they will never marry, they will never the joy and challenges of raising a family, we will never know what talents & achievements they might display later on.... these terrorists have not just murdered a precious, unique life.... their cowardly deeds have affected parents, siblings, families and entire communities. It breaks my heart.
(1) Jon, November 12, 2014 3:33 PM
Let's Be Realistic
Peace with the palestinians is nor has ever been possible. How do you make peace with a group that doesn't recognize your right to exist. At this point Israel needs to make the necessary decisions to insure the safety of its citizenry including revoking the citizenry of palestinians and permanently blocking their access from Gaza, Judea/Samaria. All humanitarian aid, electricity, water, etc needs to stop and they need to survive on their own/utilize their billions of dollars spent on terrorism against Israel to take care of themselves. I personally wouldn't mind seeing the razing of the 'dome of the rock' and 'al aqsa' mosque, let them build something in Sinai and make that their 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th holiest site. It's enough Israeli's dieing because 'we' keep hoping if we give enough and pray enough the palestinians will stop being evil. Enough is enough. End the occupation and settlement of Israel by palestinians and start transferring them out.
Michael Garfinkel, November 13, 2014 3:53 PM
Agree with "Jon"
Unfortunately, the political will is not there to proceed along these lines, and so many more innocents will be murdered.
However, it will come to that; the Muslims generally are incapable of changing their resentful, murderous attitudes.
In the end, they will precipitate the circumstances that require their expulsion.
The Egyptians have already begun this process; they recognize the inevitable and are acting accordingly.
Canuck, November 13, 2014 4:06 PM
As the French expression says, TOUCHÉ !!
Unfortunately Israel's upper-class, left-wing, elitist, politically-correct bleeding hearts will never allow this to happen. But you are on the right track.
Gee Miller, November 13, 2014 6:03 PM
That's a fact...
In the history of the world a we know it, many populations have moved to other locations, from war, disease, ecomomic reasons...how believable is it to see the State of Israel encompassing the entire area of West Bank and Gaza? With the Palis (most of whom were born there the last 50 years ) it's never gonna be safe to be an Israeli unless they are removed and allowed to "Allah Hu Snackbar" in Jordan or Egypt or Syria...they will enjoy slaughtering the Muslims there as much as thy seem to enjoy killing Israelis.
Every country that has taken them in has had to fight and kill them to get them to leave after coup attempts...Kuwait was just grabbing someone else's home after it was stolen by still another Islamic despot, Saddam...they are HORRIBLE neighbors and oh how joyful to see not a single morose Pali wandering around looking for trouble with an Israeli..
Let us hope Haschem has a plan for Pali redistribution, maybe Pres Obongo can put his redistribution ideas to work in a GOOD cause! LOL
I am an old man, and never has there been in my lifetime a period free of Islamic atrocity and mayhem...Maalot, Lod, Munich, Toulouse...sadly I have those names as landmarks of Jewish life in Israel .burned into my memory
Enough.