Shoshana Ben-Yishai

Nov 4, 2001 - Shoshana Ben-Yishai, 16, of Betar Illit was killed when a Palestinian terrorist opened fire with a sub-machine gun shortly before 16:00 at a No. 25 Egged bus at the French Hill junction in northern Jerusalem.

A Palestinian gunman armed with an M-16 rifle opened fire on Egged bus No. 25 traveling from the Neve Ya'akov neighborhood in northern Jerusalem towards the center of the city. He emptied a full magazine before being killed by a border policeman and policewoman who were on routine duty across the street. Shoshana Ben-Yishai and Menashe Regev were fatally shot; 45 others were injured. Both Hamas and Islmaic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Shoshana, an 11th grader, was on her way home from the Beit Shulamit School in Jerusalem's Neveh Ya'akov, where she boarded the bus. She was evacuated by ambulance to Sha'arei Zedek Hospital where her mother works as a nurse. Her mother, who was at home at the time of the incident, called the hospital to ask if they had any information about her daughter. When it became clear that Shoshana had been killed, the hospital notified the parents who came to identify the body.

Shoshana, the oldest of six children of Yitzhak and Miriam Ben-Yishai, was born in Long Island, New York, and immigrated to Israel with her parents when she was five. They settled in Kfar Adumim and later moved to the religious community of Betar Illit.

Na'ama Toren, her teacher at the Beit Shulamit school in Jerusalem's Neveh Ya'acov neighborhood, described her as a role model for the class. Haya Goldstein, a good friend of Shoshana's said, "She was a happy girl, very sympathetic. It was important for her to help other people." Mazal Romi, another friend, said, "She was a modest and quiet girl, who dedicated many hours to her studies, and was an optimistic person."

Her father said that after mourning his daughter's death he will travel to the United States, there he will explain about the terror inflicted upon Israeli citizens.

Shoshana Ben-Yishai was buried in Jerusalem. She leaves behind her parents and five siblings.