St.-Sgt. Noam Leibowitz

Dec 25, 2003 - St.-Sgt. Noam Leibowitz, 22, of Elkana was one of four people killed in a suicide bombing at a bus stop at the Geha Junction, east of Tel Aviv, near Petah Tikva.

The suicide bombing took place during the busy evening rush hour. The bomber, carrying a medium-sized bomb, approached the bus stop at the Geha Junction at about 6:30 P.M. and blew himself up, killing two people immediately and mortally wounding a third, who died en route to the hospital. A fourth person, who was seriously injured, died in the hospital a few hours later. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for the attack.

Noam Leibowitz had missed the suicide bombing at the bus stop in Tzrifin on September 9, because he was delayed at his army base. This time, he was at the bus stop on time, headed home, and was killed.

Noam's parents immigrated to Israel from Sweden. They later returned to their home country as emissaries of the Bnei Akiva movement, where Noam was born. The family moved to Elkana in Samaria about five years ago.

Noam studied at the Sha'alvim Yeshiva and completed a B.A. in Logistics at Bar-Ilan University before entering the army, serving in the Signal Corps. He intended to continue his academic studies after the army.

Noam was known for his caring nature and was very helpful to his neighbors. He taught his 90-year-old neighbor how to use a computer and to surf the web. He was also a volunteer Kav LaChayim - Chai Lifeline - an organization devoted to providing moral and financial support to children suffering from cancer and other serious illnesses such as cerebral palsy, as well as those requiring organ transplants.

St.-Sgt. Noam Leibowitz was buried in Elkana. He is survived by his parents, Yehuda and Leah, three sisters and a brother - Michal, Gila, Yael and Elyashiv.