Baruch Cohen

Mar 19, 2001 - Baruch Cohen, 59, of Efrat, was killed by shots fired at his car while driving to work in Jerusalem early in the morning.

Baruch Cohen, father of five sons and a daughter, was driving from his home in the Gush Etzion community of Efrat to Jerusalem, where he was employed as the caretaker and maintenance engineer of an elementary school for over nine years. He was fired on with an automatic weapon by a passing truck and fatally wounded. After being hit by at least 5 bullets, he lost control of the car and collided with an oncoming truck. Cohen's eldest son, Lt.-Col. Amnon Cohen, who is the head of the IDF's Hebron liaison office with Palestinian security forces, identified his father's car at the scene.

Students at the Frenkel Elementary School where he worked were informed of the murder and given the opportunity to draw pictures and write letters that will be given to the Cohen family. School principal Barbara Levin said, "Baruch was really part of the family here." He was closely involved in all school activities, helping both teachers and pupils, taking part, for example, in the preparation of costumes and decorations for the annual school play.

Baruch Cohen was born in Tunisia, one of 12 children. He lived in Beersheba, where he met his wife Esther. They later moved to Efrat, where they have lived for the past 16 years.

He was laid to rest in Jerusalem.