After 14 Years, Survivors Return to the Attack Site and Recite "Nishmat Kol Chai"

Thursday, Tu Bishvat 5761, 4:45 PM. Beit Yisrael Street corner of Rokach Street, Beit Yisrael neighborhood in Jerusalem.

Next to the small vegetable store, a suicide bomber driving a car loaded with 15 kg of explosives attempts to enter the massive food distribution organized by the charity 'Yad Ezra V'Shulamit' on Rokach Street, but he is repelled by a volunteer from the organization, Rabbi Shimon Vasadi, may Hashem remember him for good. Seconds later, two powerful explosions shake the bustling area. The unbelievable result: no one is injured, by the immense grace of heaven.

"We were studying in the kollel and heard a terrible explosion," recalls Rabbi Shlomo Cohen, head of the 'Otzer HaChaim' kollel located behind, in an interview with "Yom L'Yom" at the scene, on his way to the kollel. "We know that Hashem performs miracles at every moment. Sometimes a person sees hidden miracles and does not pay attention to them. But here it was an open miracle. It was a very loud explosion. We heard it well. Have 14 years already passed since then?! May Hashem protect us. May there be good tidings."

"I Felt the Shockwave on My Back"

The Karnis family lived right opposite the scene of the terror. A large sign reading 'A Psalm of Thanksgiving, shout joyfully to Hashem, all the earth,' stands eternally at the front of the house. The head of the family, R' Israel, was not home at the time, having gone out with his two young children to buy something at the nearby 'Shilitz' bakery (which was then located at the corner of Rephaport and Beit Yisrael Streets). "I asked the seller for a specific cake, but he doubted it was in stock. I insisted he check anyway, and he did for two minutes. I did not manage to take a step out of the bakery when suddenly there was a loud, deafening explosion. I felt the shockwave on my back. Recently my son told me he saw the damn terrorist, may his name be blotted out, himself coming out of the booby-trapped car with his own eyes. Obviously, had I not been delayed in the bakery, I would have been at the explosion site myself."

(Photo: Yonatan Sindel, Flash 90)

"As expected, the area was in chaos," describes R' Israel of the moments. "Hundreds of neighbors gathered around the area, which was closed to traffic by the police. Dozens of police officers patrolled the area with grim faces. I rushed home to check the safety of my family, but the house's surroundings were blocked for people and vehicles. By exploring alternative pathways, I managed to enter my home and ensure the safety of my family."

Celebrations Through the Night

What went through your mind in the moments after? I imagine shock echoed for hours.

Time, it seems, has not dulled the thoughts and feelings of R' Karnis. "Definitely. There was tremendous shock among everyone," he recounts. "But I remember that in those minutes a thought crossed my mind: Look, dozens of police officers gather because of one malicious attacker. There is no doubt it shows us the seriousness of the security threat before us — especially in that era of frequent attacks. Yet we cannot secure against so many Arabs living in Jerusalem's neighborhoods. Thus, every moment without attacks is simply a miracle, and we must thank and praise the Creator for it."

As night fell, the curious gathering was transformed into a different kind: hundreds of residents who flocked to the scene from all over Jerusalem burst into spirited dances of gratitude that continued into the night. The generous among them distributed sweets to everyone. "The joy was great and immense," neighbors describe to us, "it was a night of gratitude."

An Unexpected Puncture That Saved

Rabbi Aryeh Lurie, chairman of the charity 'Yad Ezra V'Shulamit,' and then a resident of Rokach Street, stood in the center of the street next to rows of food baskets, talking with his father, Rabbi Ezra, of blessed memory. Their quiet talk was disrupted by the bomb car explosion. "The explosion was horrifying. Truly horrifying. Even now, while talking to you, the sound of that explosion rings in my ears. I immediately ran home to check on my children, who had already returned from school. I won't hide from you: great worry gripped me in those initial moments."

Rabbi Baruch Lurie, the son, was then a mere child of about 10 years. The attack caught him on Chaim Ozer Street in parallel. "I heard a loud boom. I ran home but found it locked. With no choice, I went to a nearby matzah bakery for ten minutes until the danger passed. Subsequently, I returned home. My father was there. We understood an attack had occurred."

The target of the terrorist, it becomes clear, was the massive distribution site of the charity 'Yad Ezra V'Shulamit.' "About 1,000 people would come every Thursday to take food baskets, and the bomber, who probably knew about it in advance, intended to drive the car bomb into the crowd and cause a mass killing, heaven forbid. But in that week, without any obvious reason, the street was closed with an iron gate to prevent cars from entering."

"There were hundreds of people at the distribution," he recounts, "and by the grace of Hashem, no one was harmed, and no damage occurred. A great miracle took place there."

(Photo: Yonatan Sindel, Flash 90)

A long chain of miracles accompanied the car bombing. Rabbi Aryeh Lurie explains: "A children's transport van turning from Yosef Caro Street got a puncture in its tire and stopped. Consequently, many cars behind it also stopped, unable to move. The usually bustling street was halted for a long time. With the help of Hashem, the lives of their owners were saved. What's more, a truck carrying gas balloons passed the scene of the explosion seconds before. We cannot even imagine what a major disaster would have occurred had it encountered the burning car bomb. Additionally: the owner of the vegetable store adjacent to the explosion site, a devout Jew, went to pray *Mincha*, but unlike usual, this time his wife refrained from taking his place because she had to turn off the gas. Undoubtedly, her life, and that of numerous customers usually crowding the shop, were saved. An endless number of miracles unfolded in this attack," concludes Rabbi Lurie.

Rabbi David Zeit, a passerby, shares his personal miracle story: he arrived with his car near the attack, but at that moment decided to turn to the beginning of the street. Upon reaching Yosef Caro Street, dozens of meters from the spot, the explosion was heard.

"No doubt," says Rabbi Zeit, "that with the help of Hashem, because of the site, which is first and foremost a place of Torah study for diligent students of Torah, this open miracle occurred. Additionally, I am sure the merit of the broad charity activities conducted here stood for us since it is already written in holy books that when the Jewish people perform acts of kindness, it removes accusations and divine wrath in the heavens, and on the contrary — Hashem shows kindness and mercy to His people and performs wonders and miracles for them. Recently, in the center of Tel Aviv, we saw what destruction one terrorist can cause, may Hashem have mercy.

"The neighbors never grumbled about the intense charity activities held underneath them: forklifts and trucks noisily unloading and loading goods; the street turned into a hub of charity, and sometimes the lack of cleanliness might cloud the neighbors' comfort; however, they never muttered a word of complaint. On the contrary: they felt an integral part of the charitable deeds and saw it as a great privilege. This certainly worked to their merit."

Rabbi Elias, a neighborhood resident, passes by us indifferently on the street. Rabbi David Zeit greets him heartily. "You must remember what happened here 14 years ago," he addresses him in a tuneful voice. Rabbi Elias nods and promptly recounts: "I was studying at that time in the 'Otzer HaChaim' kollel behind us, and the window was open. Suddenly we saw a high mushroom of smoke. Everyone ran to check what had happened outside, but I chose to remain on my study bench, especially in light of the heavy suspicion of an additional bomb. A few minutes later, another massive explosion occurred."

Even after the chilling explosions, at the 'Otzer HaChaim' kollel under the auspices of Rosh Yeshiva Porat Yosef, Rabbi Moshe Tzedaka shlit'a, the fire of Torah continued to burn. "We continued to study. We saw no need to observe what was outside," Rabbi Elias explains.

The Neighborhood of Bombings

The nostalgic Beit Yisrael neighborhood suffered greatly during that era from the barbaric hand of the Intifada. It not only once or twice witnessed blood, fire, and pillars of smoke. Residents felt a pervasive fear of 'In the morning you will say, would it be evening, and in the evening, you will say, would it be morning,' 'Outside shall the sword bereave, and terror in the chambers' — in every sense of the words. And this was long before the notorious and horrifying bombing on bus line 2 at the bend between Zaks Street and Shmuel Hanavi.

It suffices to note, that not far from there, at a mere distance of a meter and a half from the aforementioned spot, a suicide bombing occurred that claimed the lives of the Nechmad family children. "From the impact — we flew backward," describe the students of Rabbi Yaakov Shkenazi shlit'a's lesson, which took place nearby. "There were horrifying and hair-raising sights. Evidence of this can still be seen in the soot-covered and scorched lamppost left as it is. It stands as the last remnant of the deadly blast."

Therefore, this miracle's significance is amplified, considering the fact it could have, heaven forbid, like others, claimed many lives, may Hashem have mercy.

Here's a small anecdote: the metal gate that blocked the terrorist from entering Shimon Rokach Street was placed as a testament and memory of the miracle on the street wall. However, some years later, it was removed, likely by an evil Ismaelite, coveting metals.

'Nishmat' in the Heart of the Street

A stranger who happened upon one of these recent afternoons at the corner of Beit Yisrael and Shimon Rokach Streets would surely have opened his eyes in wonder: a group of distinguished-looking individuals gathered in the heart of the bustling and busy Beit Yisrael street, singing aloud the prayer 'Nishmat Kol Chai.'

This happened at the initiative of "Yom L'Yom," marking 14 years since the miraculous car bombs at the place.

We did not seek to make a journalistic mark on this gathering, as if it were another reunion of story heroes traveling back in time. We sought to imprint a Jewish-Torah seal: the public recital of 'Nishmat Kol Chai' to relive the immense miracle and praise its orchestrator.

(Photo: Yonatan Sindel, Flash 90)

Leading the prayer is Rabbi Ariel Lurie, chairman of 'Yad Ezra V'Shulamit,' significantly credited for the miracle. Rabbi Lurie is emotional and excited, pointing with his hands towards the location of the car bomb with fervor. It seems he lives the past as if it were the present: the sounds of explosions still echo in his head, and he is still there, near the rising black smoke clouds of the car bomb. Participants include Rabbi David Zeit, Rabbi Baruch Lurie, Rabbi Shlomo Cohen shlit'a, head of 'Otzer HaChaim' kollel, and neighbors: R' Uzi Rahimov, Rabbi Elias, and more spontaneous neighbors joining.

"Nishmat Kol Chai," the attendees commence in thanksgiving with a pleasant tune and spirit of exaltation "...and from deadly diseases You raised us." The enthusiasm among the attendees is palpable. It is an emotional and stirring moment. Several passersby (perhaps in typical Jerusalemite fashion seeing any group of people as a demonstration) gather across the street, wondering about the commotion and why prayer takes place in the heart of Beit Yisrael Street? Nevertheless, even to them, it seems, the impression is that the miracle still lives and beats within hearts as if it happened today, and the appreciation for it is therefore required anew every day.

A sense of publishing the miracle as a sanctification of Hashem flows through hearts. "Nishmat Kol Chai" — in every sense of the word.

Rabbi Lurie, we stand here in awe, 14 years after the attack, saying the prayer 'Nishmat Kol Chai' and reliving the unbelievable miracle. How do you feel at this moment?

"Chills. That's how I feel. Who better than you knows, that the Beit Yisrael neighborhood has seen, to our sorrow, not a few severe and bitter attacks. It suffered more than any other Jerusalem neighborhood from the barbaric terror. As a rule, the era of attacks was a very difficult time in Jerusalem. I have never remembered such a difficult period in my life. But look at the wonder: Hashem did not and does not forsake His people Israel, blessed be His name forever. We must thank Hashem for all the miracles that happened with us."

Abraham Israel Friedman's email: abyisrael@gmail.com