Yosef Twito

June 20, 2002 - Yosef Twito, 31, of Itamar was murdered while coming to the aid of the Shabo family when a terrorist entered their home in Itamar, south of Nablus, and opened fire.

Shortly after 9 on Thursday night, the terrorist infiltrated the settlement, shooting in all directions before bursting into the Shabo home. The terrorist first shot the mother, Rachel, in the back. Then he shot Avishai, Zvika, and Neria, 16. On hearing the gunshots, Yosef Twito, in charge of the security team, raced to the Shabo house to help, but was gunned down by the terrorist inside.

Twito was the son of Professor Elazar Twito of Elkana. He came to Yeshivat Ateret Cohanim straight out of high school in order to study Torah close to the Temple Mount. Later, Yossi did his army service and further yeshiva studies in the Karnei Shomron Hesder Yeshiva, and then settled in Itamar. He and his wife were the first family to live on the hilltop that is now the site of Itamar's yeshiva.

Yossi served as administrative head of Itamar for many years, was active in absorption of new families, in security, in marketing Itamar's organic agricultural produce and eggs, and in education. He taught first-grade in the elementary school yeshiva, worked with troubled youth, and was deeply involved in the educational institutions of the community. Ahuva Shilo, spokesperson of the council, said that Yosef succeeded in reaching the hearts of many of the youths and helped them.

Yosef Twito was buried in Itamar. He is survived by his wife, Rachel, and their five children - Yardena (8), Elinor-Simcha (6), Nahal-Elazar (4.5) Bat-Nadiv (2.5) and Sar-Shalom (4 months).