Jerusalem, Israel – Aug. 9, 2021 – Twenty years have passed since the Sbarro massacre blasts were heard for miles around from the center of Jerusalem, Israel. A suicide-bomber blew himself up a popular pizzeria on a hot summer vacation day with a bomb packed with nails, screws, and bolts to ensure maximum damage and injury. Most accounts mention that fifteen civilians were murdered, including seven children and a pregnant woman. In addition, one-hundred thirty were wounded, and one woman remains hospitalized in a permanent vegetative state.
At the time of the terror attack, 12-year-old Michal Belzberg was preparing for her Bat Mitzvah in Jerusalem. On hearing the news of the murdered and the injured, she asked her parents, Marc and Chantal Belzberg, to cancel her party and donate the money to help the survivors and their families. Additionally, she asked her friends and relatives to donate funds in place of gifts.
From Michal’s initiative, OneFamily has grown to an organization supporting thousands of families who were involved in terror attacks. On the 20th anniversary of the Sbarro bombing, OneFamily hosted an outdoor evening event facing the Jerusalem Old City walls to commemorate the massacre and honor and remember those who were killed, the bereaved families, and the injured.
Chaya Schijveschuurder, now 28 years old, is married to Meir, and the mother of a beautiful blond toddler named Rafael Matan, who were both present as she spoke. Many are familiar with the family name, as it was mentioned often in the media. “The whole family drove to Jerusalem to enjoy a nice day together, which suddenly turned into a tragedy when a suicide bomber entered the Sbarro Restaurant and exploded, instantly killing my parents, three of my siblings along with ten other people that were sitting in the restaurant. My oldest brother wasn’t present at the scene, and my sister Leah and I survived the explosion. I remember the first moments after the attack, it was mostly chaos all around me,” Chaya related.
“I don’t recall feeling physical pain, more so the feeling of utter helplessness and uncertainty being transported to the hospital in critical condition. The following day after the funeral, I was told that my parents and three of my siblings had been murdered – meaning life without my parents. I didn’t know what to expect of the future, I didn’t know where I should go and how I could possibly move on with my life. During my hospital stay, Marc came to visit me. I can’t recall much of the visit itself, I just know that it resulted in the creation of “OneFamily” and a deep bond with our family. During my teenage years, the fund was similar to a youth movement, “OneFamily” is where I felt a sense of belonging” added Chaya.
Chana Nachenberg is the woman who was injured, and her daughter Sarah Shalev was also one of the speakers. “My name is Sarah Shalev, I am 22 years old and from Modi’in. My husband’s name is Eran, I have a daughter, Talia, and my parents are Chana and David Nachenberg,” she introduced herself as she began.
“I remember there was a huge fire in the middle of the restaurant. As I sat in the ambulance, I saw my mother lying in the back with all the medical staff surrounding her. My mother arrived at the hospital without a pulse. On arrival, a team of doctors was able to return it, but since then she has been in a vegetative state.
“Over the years I have experienced difficulties in all aspects of my life. Mentally, I have faced and still face trauma from fireworks, explosions, and bonfires.
Growing up, I went through so many meaningful experiences and moments that my mother could not be there for.
Before any significant event in my life, I felt the lack of my mother. At Bat Mitzvah celebrations, when my friends’ mothers would speak, it was too painful and I would have to leave the room. The thought that my mother would not stand by my side on my wedding day bothered me to the point of leaving wedding halls because I could not stand under other peoples’ canopies…
“When I was in sixth grade I decided I was no longer prepared to go visit my mother in the hospital. It was only at the end of ninth grade, three years later, that I felt the need to see her.
“My future husband joined me and supported me during that not so simple visit. I felt as though seeing her after so much time took down a barrier for me, and since then I have developed a need to share the experiences I have had since the attack.
“Today, my daughter Talia is approaching the age I was at the time of the terrorist attack – which raises fears, anxieties, and especially a feeling of sadness about my mother not being active in my life. However, I hope that unlike me, she gets to grow up with a loving mother who is always there for her at every moment of her life,” concluded Sarah.
The father of Shoshana Greenbaum, Eliyahu Dovid Hayman, was the only speaker to present in English. He mentioned that his daughter, a gifted teacher, was pregnant, and that people often mentioned the loss of her only child. However, Hayman finds some comfort in the stream of comments from her former students and their parents. Shoshana’s former students consider themselves as her surviving children.
“As parents, Steven, z”l, and I knew how fortunate we were to have Morah Hayman/Mrs. Greenbaum, hy”d, teach our daughters, Bryna and Tamar. The Morah taught lovingly, raising each child’s self-image, and showing them how they, our Torah and our land, elevate our purpose and identity as proud Jews, whose prayers and Torah learning elevate us and bring us ever closer to Hashem and to our Geulah Shleimah, Redemption,” Naomi Billauer remembers fondly.
Bereaved parent Arnold Roth, who has campaigned since 2017 to bring to have bombing mastermind Ahlam Tamimi who brought the human bomb to Sbarro, extradited from Jordan and brought to justice in the US, was also a speaker. Michael Schumacher spoke on behalf of the wounded.
The OneFamily Choir performed allowing for an emotional break between the speakers. The men’s choir is one of many programs offered to support bereaved relatives. The melodies were interspersed between the powerful speeches delivered by survivors of the tragedy.
In addition near the end of the long program of remembrances, the highlight of the evening was the brilliant address by HaRav Yisrael Meir Lau. His delivery was excellent as always, and his moving recollections impressed all in the audience.
Rav Lau and MK Idit Slman who also spoke remained to greet and listen to all the bereaved family members who approached them after the program. Rav Lau gave brachot to those who asked before he left for his other commitments.
Michal Belzberg is to be married soon. Bereaved families have carried on, with some days better than others.
“Hand in hand, we are together. We are with you…Shabbat. Challah for comfort. Challah for family,” said Chantal Belzberg before wishing everyone erev tov and besorot tovot, and told everyone to take a challah for Shabbat.
The names of the murdered victims:
– Giora Balash, 60, of Brazil
– Zvika Golombek, 26, of Carmiel
– Shoshana Yehudit Greenbaum, 31, of the U.S.
– Tehila Maoz, 18, of Jerusalem
– Frieda Mendelsohn, 62, of Jerusalem
– Michal Raziel, 16, of Jerusalem
– Malka Roth, 15, of Jerusalem
– Mordechai Schijveschuurder, 43, of Neria
– Tzira Schijveschuurder, 41, of Neria
– Ra’aya Schijveschuurder, 14, of Neria
– Avraham Yitzhak Schijveschuurder, 4, of Neria
– Hemda Schijveschuurder, 2, of Neria
– Lily Shimashvili, 33, of Jerusalem
– Tamara Shimashvili, 8, of Jerusalem
– Yocheved Shoshan, 10, of Jerusalem
May their memory be a blessing, and provide comfort for the family members, injured, and survivors.
