Sarah Hamburger

Jan 22, 2002 - Sarah Hamburger, 79, of Jerusalem was one of two women killed when a Palestinian terrorist opened fire with an M-16 assault rifle near a bus stop in downtown Jerusalem.

The terrorist opened fire at shops and pedestrians on downtown Jerusalem's Jaffa Road at the intersection of Harav Kook St. shortly after 16:00. He managed to fire 58 bullets from two magazines before he was gunned down by two policemen on patrol in the area.

Sarah Hamburger, nee Haimanson, a seventh generation Israeli, was born in Jerusalem and grew up in Hebron. There, at the age of 5, she and her family survived the Arab riots of 1929, saved by an Arab neighbor. She has lived in Jerusalem ever since. She was the widow of Rabbi Pinhas Hamburger, one of the founders of the modern city of Jerusalem.

Sarah Hamburger's daughter Rivka relates that her mother was young at heart - a courageous, open, kind-hearted, talented and energetic woman, with a good command of Hebrew, Arabic and Yiddish. She was an enlightened and open woman, and was waiting for the bus to attend a lecture on mysticism when she was fatally shot. She died overnight.

Hamburger was looking forward to the weddings of two of her grandchildren in the summer. Shahar, who was particularly close with his grandmother, was living with her until his wedding. He said, "Grandmother always said: The land is ours, and here we shall live."

Sarah Hamburger was buried in Jerusalem. She is survived by four daughters, 11 grandchildren, and an 8-month old great-granddaughter.