Edna Cohen

May 7, 2002 - Edna Cohen, 61, of Holon was one of 15 people killed when a suicide bomber detonated a powerful charge in a game club located on the 3rd floor of a building in Rishon Lezion, causing part of the building to collapse. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

At about 11:00 PM, the terrorist entered the unlicensed Sheffield Club with a suitcase of explosives, spiked with shrapnels and nails to cause maximum injury. The patrons were trying their luck at slot machines, card games or snooker. 15 were killed, and 55 wounded in the blast.

Edna Cohen and her husband Avraham were celebrating their 44th wedding anniversary at the Sheffield Club, where they often went with friends. Edna was standing very close to the terrorist and was killed instantly. Avraham was severely wounded.

Edna was born in Holon, where she met and married Avraham. She worked for many years as a seamstress, but had stopped working recently because of ill health.

Her daughter Miri, who lives near Hebron said fear of terrorist attacks kept her mother from visiting her. "In the end she was killed in a terrorist attack near her home," she said.

Edna Cohen was buried in the Yarkon cemetery in Tel-Aviv. She leaves behind her husband, Avraham, four children and 11 grandchildren.