Hanoch Segal

Aug 19, 2003 - Hanoch Segal, 65, of Bnei Brak was one of 23 persons murdered by a suicide bomber on a No. 2 Egged bus in the capital's Shmuel Hanavi neighborhood.

The attack took place at about 9 p.m. as the bus was making its way from the Western Wall to several religious neighborhoods. The Hamas suicide bomber, apparently disguised as a religious Jew, boarded the bus and detonated his bomb shortly afterwards. Seven of those killed were children and over 130 people were wounded.

Hanoch Segal grew up in a poor Tel Aviv family and was four when his father died. Despite his disadvantages, he became an educator and taught children for 40 years. "He was more a father than an educator," related his friend and neighbor, Moshe Landau. "He would first of all teach his pupils values and proper behavior, and made sure they were polite and ready to help others."

Segal's wife, Haya, a teacher, had just arrived in Rome escorting a school trip when she received news of her husband's death and returned home. Segal was murdered on the couple's 44th wedding anniversary.

Hanoch Segal was buried at Jerusalem's Har Hamenuhot Cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Haya, five children, and 25 grandchildren.