Assaf Hershkowitz

May 1, 2001 - Assaf Hershkowitz, 30, of Ofra, was killed when his vehicle was fired upon and overturned at a junction between Ofra and Beit El.

Assaf Hershkowitz was murdered in an ambush early in the morning after his vehicle was fired upon and overturned shortly at the "T" junction between Ofra and Beit El on bypass road number 60 on his way to work for a fencing contractor. Some 25 spent shell casings were found in the vicinity of the shooting. The attack was apparently carried out by two terrorists who fled into Palestinian-held territory. Assaf was shot in the neck and lost control of his van, which ran off the road and overturned.

Assaf was married to Hila, and the father of two children, aged 5 and 3. The couple met at Kibbutz Ma'aleh Gilboa where Hila, originally from London, first visited as part of a Bnei Akiva youth group and stayed on as a volunteer. They married six years ago and moved to Ofra, where they made their home.

Assaf Hershkowitz was the eldest son of Arye Hershkowitz, who was killed in a terrorist shooting attack on January 29.

Hila recalled her late husband's efforts to support and assist his family since his father's death. "He helped out fixing up the house and spending time with his little brother, Dor, acting as the big brother and trying to support the whole family. It pains me so much to think of what Dor must be going through now," she said. His brother Dor, 11, has recited kaddish daily, usually with Assaf, since his father's murder. Dor asked how he could say kaddish for two people, his father and now his brother.

Assaf was laid to rest in Petah Tikva, alongside his father's grave.