Elsa Cohen

June 11, 2003 - Elsa Cohen, 70, of Jerusalem was one of 17 people killed in a suicide bombing on bus No. 14A on Jaffa Road in the center of Jerusalem.

At around 17:30, the bomber, dressed as an ultra-Orthodox Jew, boarded Egged bus No. 14A at the Mahane Yehuda market, and a short while later, as the bus drove down Jaffa Road near the Davidka Square, detonated his bomb, wrecking the bus and killing 16 of its passengers. Over 100 people were wounded, including dozens of passersby. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Elsa Cohen was born in Germany and immigrated to Israel at the age of six. The widow of the late chief rabbi of Kiryat Bialik, Rabbi Hananya Cohen, she moved to Jerusalem after he passed away. Family members related that she used to help people and do good deeds. She was on her way to a Bible class when she was killed.

Elsa Cohen was buried in the Tzur Shalom cemetery in Kiryat Bialik. She is survived by her son, Roni, and daughter, Margalit.