Yehudit Korman

Mar 27, 2002 - Yehudit Korman, 70, of Ramat Hasharon was one of 30 people killed in a suicide bombing in the Park Hotel in the coastal city of Netanya, in the midst of the Passover holiday seder.

On the eve of Passover, the terrorist walked into the dining room of the hotel, located in the center of Netanya, where 250 guests had just sat down to begin the seder. He detonated an explosive device, killing 22 immediately and injuring 140, eight of whom subsequently died. The bomber was identified as a member of the Hamas Iz a Din al-Kassam Brigades, from the West Bank city of Tulkarem, which is just 10 kilometers (six miles) east of Netanya. He was on the list of wanted terrorists Israel had requested be arrested.

Although Yehudit and her husband had celebrated the seder for many years at the Park Hotel, they were not planning to attend this year. However, when the hotel phoned and offered to host them at last year's price, they agreed to "travel to the front". "We mustn't give in to them. We must continue and live without fear," said Yehudit, who was killed in the blast. Her husband Eliezer, who was seriously injured, died on May 5.

Yehudit Korman's parents immigrated to Israel from Russia in 1931 and were among the founders of Ramat Hasharon. Yehudit, born a year later, lived on the site of her parent's home her whole life, and her children were born and raised there.

Yehudit met and married Eliezer Korman after Israel's Independence War and they settled in her home town. The couple recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Yehudit Korman was buried in Ramat Hasharon. She is survived by her son, Yerahmiel, 49, her daughter Menuha, 46, and five grandchildren.