Yaffa Shemtov

Sept 19, 2002 - Yaffa Shemtov, 49, of Tel Aviv was one of six people killed when a suicide terrorist detonated a bomb in Dan bus No. 4 on Allenby Street, opposite the Great Synagogue in Tel-Aviv. Hamas claimed responsbility for the attack.

The explosion was set off by the suicide bomber shortly before 13:00 PM in the front section of the bus. The bus had been en route from the central bus station to northern Tel Aviv. The bomber apparently boarded the bus at a stop opposite the synagogue and then detonated the device, killing six and wounding about 70. The blast scorched the bus and blew out its windows.

Yaffa Shemtov worked for 20 years as a nursery school teacher for the Tel Aviv municipality. Close friends said that she loved children and usually worked until 4 P.M. at Gan Hashahar nursery school, not far from the bombing, but had taken the day off on Thursday and was killed in the explosion. Yaffa, who had been divorced for many years, was born and raised in Tel-Aviv's Hatikva neighborhood, where her mother still lives.

Yaffa Shemtov was buried in the Yarkon Cemetery outside Tel-Aviv. She is survived by her mother, seven brothers and sisters, her daughter and three grandchildren.