Ya'acov Rahmani

Oct 26, 2005 -- Ya'acov Rahmani, 68, of Hadera was one of six people who were murdered and 55 wounded, six of them seriously, when a suicide bomber detonated himself at Hadera's open-air market shortly before 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, October 26.

Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred in front of a felafel stand at the entance to the seaside town's market. Hadera has been a frequent target of attacks during the past five years of violence.

The other victims killed in the bombing were Michael Kaufman, Pirhiya Machlouf, Sabiha Nissim, and Jamil Qa'adan. A sixth victim, Genia Poleis, died of her wounds 11 days later.

Ya'acov Rahmani came to the market on Wednesday as a favor to a friend, whose stall he volunteered to take over while his friend went to a memorial service. "My father went to take over for him, and fate found him and tore him apart," said Rahmani's daughter, Sari.

"He was full of the joy of life," she related, "he was an optimistic person." A pensioner following a career at the Hadera Paper Mills, Rahmani enjoyed hiking and playing with his grandchildren.

Ya'acov Rahmani was buried in the New Hadera Cemetery. He is survived by two daughters, Sari and Smadar, a son, Danny, and eight grandchildren.