Marianne Lehmann Zaoui

Mar 27, 2002 - Marianne Lehmann Zaoui, 77, of Netanya was one of 28 people killed in a suicide bombing in the Park Hotel in the coastal city of Netanya, in the midst of the Passover holiday seder.

On the eve of Passover, the terrorist walked into the dining room of the hotel, located in the center of Netanya, where 250 guests had just sat down to begin the seder. He detonated an explosive device, killing 22 immediately and injuring 140, six of whom died later. The bomber was identified as a member of the Hamas Iz a Din al-Kassam Brigades, from the West Bank city of Tulkarem, which is just 10 kilometers (six miles) east of Netanya. He was on the list of wanted terrorists Israel had

Marianne Lehmann, a Holocaust survivor, was born in Germany. She fled to France during World War II, where she hid in a village near Lyon under an assumed identity, attending a Catholic school together with her sister.

After the war, Marianne studied in England and taught English for many years in high schools in France. After an unsuccessful early marriage, she married Lucien Zaoui. They lived in Pau, in southern France, where their two children, Deborah and Bernard were born.

Deborah immigrated to Israel, where she married. Lucien decided to settle in Israel 15 years ago and Marianne joined her husband ten years ago. They have been celebrating the Passover seder in a hotel for several years. This year they were to be with their daughter, Deborah Stein and her two children in the Park Hotel. Marianne Lehmann was killed; her husband Lucien and their grandson Daniel, 9, were lightly injured in the attack.

Marianne Lehmann Zaoui was buried in Netanya. She is survived by her husband Lucien, her children Deborah amd Bernard, and grandchildren.