The family of a victim of terror fears Israelis will forget their loved one who died to give life to the Jewish State in 1969.
“Very few people are aware of this terror attack that took place in Jerusalem forty-six years ago, on Feb. 2, 1969,” Michael Jankelowitz wrote in an email marking the anniversary of the bombing at Jerusalem’s Supersol Agron – the supermarket on Agron Street in the capital.
Two Hebrew University students were killed that day: Eddie Joffe, formerly of Capetown, South Africa and Leon Kanner.
“Together with the Joffe family we are requesting the Jerusalem Municipalty and Supersol [together] place a plaque by the pavement near the entrance to Supersol on Agron Street in Jerusalem to mark the murder” of the two men, so their memories will be perpetuated.
On the lovely road that winds down to the Dead Sea from Be’er Sheva and Arad, one can see numerous memorials to those who have died in traffic accidents. They dot the landscape on each side of the narrow highway with various types of sculptures, each bearing a plaque with the name of the departed and the date he or she died.
This should not seem so difficult and one has to wonder why after nearly half a century that it has not yet come to pass. And yet, upon reflection, it is also true that generally within a short time after any terror attack, the scene is spotlessly cleaned and as if born anew; no trace of the tragedy remains.
Perhaps this is the way of Israel not to allow our enemies any way in which to gloat over our losses; our grief remains our own, private and within our hearts forever. If one cannot find evidence of terror, then can one say a scar on the nation exists? No victory to the terrorist…
Rest in peace, victims of terror. We remember you forever.