Sarah Blaustein

May 29, 2001 - Sarah Blaustein, 53, of Efrat, was killed in a drive-by shooting on the Jerusalem-Gush Etzion (tunnel) road, just north of Neve Daniel.

Blaustein, a new immigrant from New York, was traveling by car to Jerusalem with six others, including Esther Alvan, 20, who was also killed, when Palestinian gunmen opened fire on the car. Blaustein's husband, Norman, and her son, Samuel Berg, who was visiting them, were both wounded in the attack.

Sarah and Norman Blaustein immigrated to Israel in August 2000 with their daughter, Atara, 14, realizing a lifelong dream. Sarah left behind three grown children and grandchildren. Atara was not in the car at the time of the attack.

In New York, Sarah had managed the Ateret Cohanim Yeshiva's office for five years. In Efrat, Sarah busied herself with volunteer work, and had attended numerous funerals of victims of the Palestinian violence in recent months.

The US State Department spokesman condemned the latest shootings, noting that an American citizen who recently immigrated to Israel had been killed. "We condemn all such incidents and call upon Palestinian Authority officials to do what they can to end these attacks," said Phil Reeker.

Sarah Blaustein was buried at Kibbutz Kfar Etzion.