Tom Hershko

March 5, 2003 - Tom Hershko, 15, of Haifa, was one of 17 people killed in a suicide bombing of an Egged bus on Moriah Boulevard in the Carmel section of Haifa.

The bus was traveling on the city's main Moriah Boulevard near the Carmel Center, on the way to Haifa University, when the blast turned the bus into a charred wreck and scattered bodies along the road. The suicide bomber, who had boarded the bus, had the bomb strapped to his body, laden with metal shrapnel in order to maximize the number of injuries. A total of 17 people were killed and 53 injured.

Tom had spent the day with his father, Mordechai Hershko, after accompanying him on a job interview as director of an organization that runs workshops on avoiding violence, when the terrorist struck. Family members related that financial difficulties had recently forced his father to sell his car, which was why the two were riding the bus. They sat side by side and were killed together.

"They were the best of friends," Tom's mother, Ruth, said. "I'm sure they are looking out for one another now from above."

A graphics student at the Hannah Szenes ORT School, Tom was the only child of his parents, who had been divorced for 8 years. He lived with his mother, but maintained close contact with his father. "They studied karate together and enjoyed spending hours in each other's company," said Ruth. "He was a splendid father." Tom had almost got his black belt, but had injured his finger and put off the test.

Ruth related how Tom had happily phoned from the bus to tell her he and his father were bringing her a surprise. "He'll take this surprise with him to the grave," she said, but noted that she had also planned to greet Tom with a surprise. "He loved to surf the Internet, and yesterday I had him connected to the fast Internet cable service. Now nobody will use it."

Mordechai and Tom Hershko were buried in Haifa. Tom is survived by his mother, Ruth, who asked that a space be saved in the cemetery next to them, so that one day she can be buried at their side.