Sima Franko

Sept 9, 2001 - Sima Franko, 24, of Beit She'an, a kindergarten teacher, was killed in a shooting attack 300 meters south of the Adam Junction in the Jordan Valley.

Sima Franko had been picked up Sunday morning from her home in Beit She'an for the ride to her new job as a kindergarten at Kibbutz Gilgal. She traveled to work each morning, together with other teachers from the Jordan Valley, in a van driven by Ya'akov Hatzav. Just a few kilometers from the Kibbutz, a car overtook the van, spraying it with bullets. Both Sima and Hatzav were killed instantly; three other teachers were injured in the attack.

A fourth-year student at the Gordon Teachers College, Sima had begun her job, caring for children aged 3 to 5, just two weeks ago. "She was a good girl, and always loved children," her sister told reporters. When she failed to arrive at the kindergarten Sunday morning, the children asked in disappointment, "Where is Sima?"

Sima's parents, Ya'akov and Fanny, had sold their house in order to pay for her teaching studies. She was planning next year to marry Itzik, her boyfriend of five years.

Sima Franko was buried in Beit She'an. Hundreds of the town residents attended the funeral. She is survived by her parents, a brother and three sisters.