Nineteen-year-old Ori Ansbacher was a young Orthodox Jewish girl who was completing a year of compulsory national service in Israel, working with children in a youth center in Jerusalem. On Thursday, February 7, she had a break in her schedule and decided to take a walk in Ein Yael, a popular, pretty park in western Jerusalem next to the Jerusalem Zoo. The wooded park is often teeming with visitors, but this weekday it was relatively quiet.
Tragically, she was not alone: an Arab terrorist was waiting in the park, intent on murder. Arafat Irfaiya is a 29 year old from the Hebron area who’s been arrested for possession of weapons twice before. Israeli police have identified him as an adherent of the Hamas terror movement. Earlier that day, he left his home armed with a knife, seemingly intent on killing Jews. He took a bus to an area near Jerusalem, then walked the park where Ori was strolling. When he encountered the teenager, he stabbed her repeatedly and performed a despicably violent crime, then fled, leaving her disfigured body in the park for passersby to find.
Israelis were aghast. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the “shocking brutality” of Ori’s murder. The whole country came together to mourn this young woman. Yet her death was barely reported outside of Israel.
Some newspapers’ hesitation might be explained by a gag order the Israeli police placed on the case Thursday night, as they pursued leads in Ori’s murder. Yet they lifted much of the gag order the very next morning, Friday, February 8, when they released Ori’s name and some of the details of her death. On Friday, Ori was laid to rest in her hometown of Tekoa; hundreds of people attended her funeral. Ori’s parents, Rabbi Gai and Na’ah Ansbacher, described Ori as “a holy soul who sought deep meaning and had a sensitivity for each person and living thing. She had an endless desire to repair the world in goodness.” They recalled the many poems that Ori wrote, and which are now all they have left to remember their daughter.
Though Ori’s death and the hunt for her killer were consuming Israel, the world’s media continued to stay away.
Two days after the attack, Israeli troops searched two apartment buildings in the West Bank town of Ramallah, home to Palestinian Authority headquarters. When Israeli soldiers entered the town, a riot ensued, as residents lobbed pipe bombs, Molotov cocktails and chunks of concrete and the Israelis. Eventually, the troops found Irfayia hiding inside the Jamal Abdel-Nasser Mosque, where he was employed. He’d been identified as Ori’s killer by DNA he’d left at the scene. His arrest - and the riot that greeted it - was reported by the official Palestinian Authority news outlet. It blanketed news coverage in Israel. Yet even then, much of the world’s media failed to report on what is one of the most horrifying terror attacks in Israel in recent times.
Hours after Irfayia’s arrest, neither the New York Times, Fox News or Britain’s Guardian newspaper put any news on their websites. No doubt as the story grows it will make its way into some international news reports, but initial reporting in the days after Ori’s murder was limited almost exclusively to Israeli and Jewish news sites.
This is tragic because neglecting news stories that humanize Israeli Jews and show the danger of terrorism that plagues the Jewish state paints a misleading picture of Israel and the challenges it faces. Perhaps if more people around the world heard about this terror attack, they might harbor more nuanced, informed views about Israelis and the challenges the country faces. It’s particularly ironic that Israel is so often in the news, yet when a major terror attack occurred, so many international news outlets were silent.
Ori Ansbacher’s mother called on the public to carry out acts of kindness in order “to add light to the world” in memory of her daughter whose name means “my light” in Hebrew.
“Ori was a child of light, adding so much light in the world. She cured broken hearts wherever she went, be it with her girlfriends, the boys and girls she worked with in her national [volunteer] service, even people she did not know,” Na’ah Ansbacher said.
“I ask from those who are listening to us and for whom our words are entering their hearts, to do one small thing to add light to the world — one act of kindness and maybe we will preserve Ori’s [soul] in the world and maybe we will have some comfort by adding light to the world.”
(30) Jo Ellen Frindik, May 23, 2019 9:37 PM
So sorry! Terrible we should not be told
May God Bless this child! Bless her Family and give them peace!
(29) Thomas Malkowicz, March 19, 2019 7:00 PM
Love Conquers All
Prayers and great Respect for Ori's mothers response and statement to the tragic loss of her daughter Ori... Very few people have the heart condition to respond this way... And indeed we need this spirit of forgiveness and LOVE from all sides of people to spread in order to overcome this darkness... LOVE CONQUERS ALL... ???
(28) Christine, February 20, 2019 7:49 PM
I would like to express my deep regrets for the loss of this beautiful young girl. I am an American christian living in Houston, Tx and sad to say have heard nothing of this horrible tragedy from our news media
(27) Esti stahler, February 19, 2019 1:36 PM
Jews look for the light in the darkness and the world ignores our sufferings !
With the name Orit ,the victim of a horrific terrorist murderthe focus is on how jewish parents cope with this beautiful girls death. WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE !!! The rest of the world FAILS TO CONDEMN THE MURDER OF AN INNOCENT YOUNG GIRL !
HYPOCRISY And Lies when it comes to Israel as usual. Jewish blood is cheap.
(26) Joyce Reid, February 15, 2019 1:39 PM
Sadness for loss of an Israeli's Life!
Praying for the family of beautiful Ori at this very sad time... Why do the palestinians have to kill to make a point is beyond me! Why they are not taught to love life which means Family, is shocking! This madness of killing must stop, Life is previous .....the arabs need to know this !! Praying for the Peace of Jerusalem! We love and stand with Israel.
(25) Anonymous, February 15, 2019 11:15 AM
terrorism will strike back to their head in 7 times.(my personal opinion)
this case shows why arabs are not the owner of the Land. terrorism is not war between nation to nation term rather ideology of some radicals attack citizen. if Iran sending money to them still, its name should be erased in the world map. i am not talking about interpretaion of faith sides. talking about Man Justice. radicals of avodah zarah cursed in heaven and earth. now lets see how it goes. even to say, men may kill men as accident unwillingly. but terrorism is too wicked onto Giver of Torah who is giver of Life. end of Discussion. May peace upon Father and Mother May Giver listen to their prayer and Surely strike back as 7 times of amount. so that they understand who is Giver of Life. so that Why we love and respect each other. israel is The only one country where is freedom in that area. that freedom given to israelis even to arab israeli live in israel, do not think about terror. its better to say No arab, no islam, no mosque in Whole Israel Soon!!!!!!! i will pray for this for entire life of mine. if education itself problem, why arabs do not listen torah says? liars of idol worshipers. enough.
(24) Paul, February 14, 2019 6:50 AM
Israel is Complicit with Murderers of its own Jewish Citizens
Israel must apply tough sanctions to terrorists and their famiies,.. their mosques,.to deter murders of of its own Jewish citizens. Did you know, as of now, Israel returns the bodies of slain terrorists to their families,.. who bury them as heroes? and martyrs? So Israel stands complicit with murderers of uts own Jewish citizens! There is much anger amongst Israel's populus,..over this policy,.. but the media dosent cover it! Get tough,.. Israel!!
(23) Ronald welch, February 14, 2019 3:16 AM
So needlessly tragic and so very sad it happened to such a young, God loving Person
(22) Anonymous, February 14, 2019 1:30 AM
What to do
The punishment of terrorists is too lenient to deter future incidents. What would be wrong with the death penalty and cremation so there is nowhere for their families to have any memorials? Capitol punishment would definitely prevent re-offenders as in this case as well as Israel should repossess Arab neighborhoods and restore them back to the original Jewish rightful ownership.What were experiencing a holocaust in a frame by frame experience.We need to to stop these things from happening
Klaudya, July 23, 2019 4:22 AM
Agreed!
(21) Tadeus, February 12, 2019 5:26 PM
Horrible hate crimes must be stopped
Deepest condolences to the family and all Jewish people who lost this beautiful child of Israel! Vilnius, Lithuania
(20) Natan, February 12, 2019 3:46 PM
Execute the enemy murderer
We need to start doing what the Torah requires.
Torah law clearly and explicitly dictates execution of the enemy rapist and murderer in this case. Especially in a state of war (is there anyone still delusional enough to believe we're not at war?).
The enemy will respect strength and it will act as a deterrent. Even if it doesn't, it's still what is required of us by Torah law.
Abel, February 13, 2019 7:14 AM
Execute these kind of murders
I completely agree with you Natan!
anonymous, February 13, 2019 9:12 AM
This was horrible, horrible tragedy
But your words of vengeance are not helpful, in my opinion. Her Mother requested that an increase of Mitzvot, and bringing light, to honor her daughter's memory be upheld. This is true Kiddush HaShem.
As far as deterrence, Israel's policies have left a wake of disproportionate force and loss on the other side. It leads to more loss, not less, on our side. Time for change.
Natan, February 13, 2019 9:31 AM
Execution of this murderer IS a mitzvah
Yes, the mother requested more mitzvot.
Perhaps you're simply not aware of the mitzvot in the Torah that require us to kill this murderer?
There are literally dozens of explicit verses regarding this mitzvah and the mitzvot that require us to protect ourselves from the enemy to PREVENT them from murdering us.
MESA, February 15, 2019 4:59 PM
I agree that this monster deserves to rot, but the death penalty won't work. It won't act as a deterrent. These monsters are ready to die and they're not afraid. They've been brainwashed to think that they'll be martyrs for Allah and they'll go to heaven and get their 70 virgins.
If Eretz Yisrael is going to start using the death penalty, it should be on the leaders who incite these terrible things. They're a bunch of cowards who send the "little guys" to do their dirty work.
Meantime, I'm not a soldier or a police officer. I'm a civilian. The best things I can do are to do mitzvot in Ori's memory. THAT is the best revenge.
Raymond, February 16, 2019 12:03 AM
Death Penalty a Must
Actually, the death penalty works so well, that it is absolutely guaranteed to stop the islamoNazi terrorist from ever murdering another Jew again. And yes, it most definitely acts as a deterrent, especially against the actual islamoNazi who would be executed. Doing mitzvot is fine, especially the mitzvah of putting murderers to death, which just so happens to be mandated according to Torah law.
MESA, February 18, 2019 3:33 PM
About the only thing the death penalty will do is to prevent this one "little guy" from murdering anyone else. But it's exactly what he wants anyway- he said himself that he did this precisely to be a martyr for Allah. And it won't act as a deterrent for any other "little guy" terrorists- they'll just want to be martyrs for Allah also and hurt and kill Jews to do that. The only way the death penalty would be a deterrent would be if Eretz Yisrael were to go after the leaders who incite these things. They're the real cowards who send these "little guys" to do their dirty work.
Raymond, November 26, 2019 12:25 AM
Perfect Justice
But of course it would be a deterrent to execute the islamoNazi scumbag who murdered that poor Jewish girl, as it would automatically put a stop to him ever murdering anybody ever again. That is aside from the fact that executing him would constitute perfect justice.
(19) Anonymous, February 12, 2019 9:39 AM
where is the 'new Mandela' to bring all peoples together without politics
In memory of this beautiful girl, may we see some of her poetry
My partner and I writers of Poetry and Philosophy and would like to share her words
(18) Mary McCurley, February 12, 2019 5:17 AM
Eternal LITE
This report hits a person deep my heart breaks for Ori’s parents. I live in the US our news media has become a source of sour news reports. But still hard to comprehend why this story was not a story that was front page and carried until this killer was arrested. So sorry for family and friends that lost someone so dear.
(17) Raymond, February 12, 2019 5:01 AM
Sad Reality of Life
A sad reality of life is that what happened to that innocent young Jewish woman is inevitable, simply because the world does everything to encourage it. The mainstream media's Leftist tilt makes them hostile to our Jewish State of Israel. The United Nations condemns Israel so frequently, that it often seems that that is the entire purpose of that worthless organization. The world, led by Europe, sends billions of dollars to our islamoNazi enemies in Gaza, which of course is then used to fund islamoNazi terrorism against our Jewish people. The religion of Allah has been antisemitic to its core since its founder, Mohammed, ordered his followers to murder every Jew they encounter. The world is so deeply antisemitic, that it can be accurately stated that what the islamoNazis are doing to our people, represents the will of much of the world's population. And let us not forget that that total loser who murdered that poor girl, will live comfortably for the rest of his life, due to being financially rewarded by his fellow islamoNazis. Indeed, some street somewhere in Gaza, will probably be named after him to honor the cruel deed that he carried out. For the truth is that the Holocaust did not end antisemitism, but only compelled the world to come up with clever excuses to continue murdering our Jewish people.
(16) Ruth Sanford, February 11, 2019 10:59 PM
I am deeply moved by the beauty of this young woman.
Reading about Ori moves me further on my path of converting to Judaism. Her life will never be forgotten. I will think of her everyday.
(15) Susan Bennett, February 11, 2019 3:59 PM
Social Media is Censoring as Well
Facebook suspended me for a week because I shared information about the barbarian who perpetrated this atrocity against a beautiful young girl. Sharia is the new norm in the mainstream media and social media.
Raymond, February 12, 2019 5:04 AM
Typical Left-Wing Censorship
It has been my frequent and continued experience on that website that they censor anybody who dares to challenge their Leftist ideas, and yet fully allow antisemitic comments to flourish on there. Whenever they put me in FaceBook jail, all it teaches me is what utterly intolerant bullies those Leftists are.
(14) Minka Leeser, February 11, 2019 3:26 PM
May G-d be with you
To her parents-
I send my love and support to you over the untimely death of your beloved daughter. I will do as you ask and work to show more acts of kindness to others as G-d inspires me to do this often. My her light continue to shine in your lives!
(13) George James, February 11, 2019 3:25 PM
Ban religion
Charles Darwin proved the Bible's wrong.Stop believing in fairytales!If everyone would stop believing in religion everyone could live in peace.
Dvirah, February 11, 2019 5:35 PM
Not So
The Nazis based their Jew-hatred on modern theories of Eugenics - no religion involved. Others cite political and/or economic reasons to attack Jews. I'm afraid it's not so simple.
john Jones, February 11, 2019 5:56 PM
What besides opinions do you present? Assume you know 60 %of all there is to know. God might be there in that 40% of what you don't know.
Anonymous, February 11, 2019 5:58 PM
Forgot to add, Darwin was not an atheist and he never "proved" anything, even what came to be called his "theory of evolution
Anonymous, February 12, 2019 10:52 AM
Seriously? The biggest mass murderers of the 20th century have all been atheists. Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, mao, pol pot.....and many others. Nothing to do w religion.
(12) MESA, February 11, 2019 3:06 PM
I loved what Ori's mother asked and I plan to try. Every mitzvah we do is the best revenge. May Ori be a Melitz Yosher for all of us.
(11) Shala, February 11, 2019 2:48 PM
Horrific murder
This is tragic I am so saddened by this news. But rape, murder, mass shootings, KKK attacks on people, serial killings, etc. happen here in the US every few seconds. We had four women shot and killed by a mass shooter last week and it didn’t even make national news. Sadly it wasn’t because she is a Jew that US news outlets didn’t pick up the story, It was because that is a typical day here in the USA.
Yisroel, February 11, 2019 7:07 PM
I beg to differ.
Believe me, if the facts were reversed, that is, if a Jewish man had killed a young Arab girl, the media would have been resonating day and night with “ew perpetrates hate kllling.”
Like the Kavanaugh-Fairfax debacles, the media has an agenda. They report on those things that advance that agenda. They squash this things that would hurt their agenda.
(10) Yitzchok Gruber, February 11, 2019 1:47 AM
Horrific Murder
Dr. Alt Miller,
I sent my comments on your article to Brett Stephens, an Opinion writer for the New York Times. My take-away to your article follows:
No, the New York Times does not need to report this as news. Most Times readers would have little interest in a news story, even one of such horrifying consequence. It is your job as an Opinion writer to report these issues.
Additionally, you should recommend that both the New York Times management and it’s Editorial Board need to do the following:
1. Be truthful themselves about Israel, and be fair in rewarding “Editors Picks” to the Opinion Section “Chatterati”. Regardless of the topic, the editors tend to be one-sided.
2. Limit the number of submissions of the “Chatterati” to one response to the Opinion writer, and one response to a comment by a chatter participant. (I once wrote my comments in Microsoft Word, and submitted them six times- all were published)
3. Set moderation standards to only exclude clearly offensive language.
Through this article, we must remind ourselves that the Palestinians will never be ready to take a place on the world stage.
The liberal (Reform and Conservative) American Jewish community needs to start facing reality, and support, to the greatest extent possible, a uniform Israeli and traditional (Orthodox) viewpoint in dealing with the Palestinians.
Liberal Jews, especially those under 40, need to disabuse themselves of their belief that the BDS movement was written to correct injustices against Palestinians- nothing is further from the truth.
In order to gain that support, Israel, the Offices of the Chief Rabbis, and the Likud government, need to devise a more inclusive approach toward the liberal American Jewish community
(9) Anne Lawther, February 11, 2019 1:46 AM
Grief over horrible murder. Hope it becomes publicized.
I am very sad to read about the horrible crime that took the life of Lori Ansbacher and mutilated her body. The story of this terrible crime needs to be made public so people can see the disrespect and crimes against the Jews by terrorists.
Yehudit, February 11, 2019 8:01 PM
Reported in Israel newspapers on 02/08/19
This horrible murder WAS reported in two Israel newspapers, Yisrael HaYom (Israel Today) and The Times of Israel, both on Feb. 8. I read it online myself. so I know it was there. I don't read enough Hebrew to follow the newspapers in Hebrew, so I read it in English. I don't know if it was reported here in the USA.
(8) Derek Posniak, February 10, 2019 9:22 PM
Rest assured that if any harm comes to Ori's killer, the outraged world media will kick into action.
(7) Me, February 10, 2019 8:12 PM
Ask new moslem congress members and ortez opiniin
First confirm if possible likely awarding of killers family by palestinians then publicly ask new moslem house reps and ortez their opinions. Maybe also sarsour and mallory as this was a violated woman!
(6) Jeanette Augustine, February 10, 2019 7:12 PM
Senseless murder
My heart goes to the family and friends of this precious Child of GOD. We will see justice maybe not in this life but GOD will see to it. Alleluia..Amen. Thank you for all you are doing. Stand Strong.
Jeanette Augustine
(5) Baruch, February 10, 2019 6:30 PM
My soul weeps
If we do not cry when our daughter, sister is taken away than we have forgotten what it means to be Jews. Equally, forgetting our promise to defend Eretz Israel, equally shows we have forgotten what it means to be Jews I have a daughter and feel every blow of pain these Terrorists regularily inflict on our people's. The conflict has nothing to do with land and never has. What was done onto that innocent girl was plainly savagery indicative of these people's no other Arab nation wants. I made a commitment in my life for my family and I that enough was enough. If only our homeland and the weaker minded who've allowed themselves be divided felt the same I love you all.
(4) Nalinaksha Mutsuddi, February 10, 2019 3:07 PM
Applauding Ori's mother
What a great soul Ori's mother is. Instead of getting livid at the murder of her beautiful young daughter she called on the public to carry out the act of kindness in order to add light to the world in memory of her daughter. Suc h persons are rare in the world. Thanks for reporting the story
(3) Michael Garfinkel, February 10, 2019 3:03 PM
Fight fire with fire.
The Jews have been burying their murdered children endlessly, and there's no end in sight. It is essential to apply the death penalty to terrorists, and to show these "terrorists" what terror really is.
MESA, February 11, 2019 3:04 PM
I agree that Ori's murder was horrific and that the monster who did should rot, but I don't think the death penalty will work. The monsters who do these things are doing it precisely to be martyrs for Allah. They think that if they kill more Jews they will go to heaven and get their 70 virgins. They're not afraid to die. If Eretz Yisrael gives them the death penalty, they'll just be getting what they want.
I think Eretz Yisrael needs to go after the leaders who incite these things. They're the real cowards who send these "little guys" to do the dirty work.
Meantime, let's keep doing mitzvot in memory of Ori and our other Kedoshim. THAT is the ultimate revenge.
Anonymous, February 11, 2019 7:17 PM
In some cases that may be true. However, the PA is doing a great deal to encourage these murderers...
Why the nazi like textbooks that incite kindergartens to kill jews were not removed and burned years ago is a travesty.
Why Netanyahu continues to allow money to go through to hamas and the ZPA, which is making YEARLY payments to murderers and their families of over $120 million dollars is another travesty.
But bottom line, Islamic jihad in the extreme is just a form of Nazi supremacy cloaked in religion rather than ethnic superiority.
There is a death penalty for Nazis. The rule should be expanded to Islamic based (“nationalistic “) murders.
They have no animus to a particular Jew. They want to kill because they want to get rid of all Jews!
(2) Stella Schwartz, February 10, 2019 2:31 PM
so sorry
My deepest condolences to the family! I had not heard anything of this.
(1) Anonymous, February 10, 2019 11:56 AM
Naive hope
The author writes "Perhaps if more people around the world heard about this terror attack, they might harbor more nuanced, informed views about Israelis and the challenges the country faces.". I don't agree. In newspapers, on college campuses, in "woke/intersectional" circles, from movies and videos on Netflix and Amazon Prime, and now in the halls of Congress, the event will be analyzed as "If only the Israelis stopped oppressing the Palestinians, stopped building settlements and completely pulled out of the West Bank, none of this would happen." Israel continues to lose sparse, remaining ground, in the court of public opinion. R.I.P. sister.
Michael Garfinkel, February 10, 2019 3:07 PM
The Media is unmoved.
These was coverage of this young girl's murder - which was mentioned as an afterthought.
The lede was the burial of two young Gazans who were killed while storming the border.
Anonymous, February 11, 2019 1:10 PM
i agree with you..
I am so saddened by the horrific murder and mutilation of this vibrant, beautiful, good-hearted young woman.. My deepest sympathy to her family and friends..
It has been/is and will always be....in style...to blame, malign, not care about, ignore the atrocities against the Jewish people..
History has/does validate that ....
So.....we...as good people, whether we are Jews or non-Jews...must try to spread the word about what happens to Jews in the world......
That is what we must do...