3 Jews Killed, Hy”d, Several Wounded, in Terror Attack at Yerushalayim Bus Station

By Matis Glenn

Three people, including a prominent Dayan and the Menaheles of a Bais Yaakov, were killed and at least 15 were wounded when Arab terrorists opened fire at the bus station located at the entrance to Yerushalayim Thursday morning, police said.

The attack occured at around 7:40 a.m., when the terrorists, brothers from East Yerushalayim with ties to Hamas and prior arrests, shot at Jewish people before being neutralized by two off-duty IDF soldiers and a civilian.

Harav Elimelech Wasserman, Hy”d, a prominent Rav in the Belzer community, was killed, along with Mrs. Chana Ifargan, Hy”d, of Yerushalayim, 67, who was the Menaheles of Bais Yaakov Bnos Hadasah in Beit Shemesh. The third murder victim was 24-year-old Mrs. Libiya Dickman, Hy”d, of Har Nof.

Rav Wasserman was on his way to the Israeli Rabbinate’s Beis Din in Ashdod, where he served as a Dayan for several decades. He was 73.

The wounded victims were brought to Haddasah Ein Kerem and Shaarei Zedek hospitals. Two of the victims are in critical condition, three are in serious condition, four are moderate, and seven are in mild condition.

One of the injured was another Dayan in the Ashdod Beis Din, Harav Avidan Moshe Shfainer. His name for tefillos is Avidan Moshe ben Minna Rivka.

According to the Shin Bet, the two terrorists who carried out the shooting attack are Hamas affiliates, brothers Murad and Ibrahim Namer, residents of East Yerushalayim. The two served prison sentences for involvement in terrorist activities.

Hamas praised the murders, and warned Israel of terrorism in “every city, village, street and alley.”

Police discovered large amounts of ammunition in the terrorists’ vehicle.

“Together with the members of the Chief Rabbinate Council and the entire people of Israel, this morning we received with grief the difficult news of the murder of a Dayan of the Beis Din in Ashdod, Hagaon Harav Elimelech Wasserman,” Israeli Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Harav David Lau said. “Rav Wasserman is one of the senior Dayanim in the Rabbinical Court in Ashdod. He devoted his life to the Beis Din with enormous dedication. I send my condolences to his esteemed family, and together with the entire people of Israel we will pray for a full recovery for all those injured in the terrorist attack.”

According to Arutz Sheva, one of the soldiers who neutralized the terrorists was Ro’i Eisenbach, who had recently returned from IDF operations in Gaza. He injured his hand while fighting the terrorists.

“The quick reaction of two fighters and a civilian who eliminated the terrorists prevented an even more serious attack,” Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said. “I salute them. All Hamas terrorists are marked for death – in Yerushalayim, Gaza, Yehudah and Shomron – everywhere.”