Menachem Leibel

Aug 19, 2003 - Menachem Leibel, 24, of Jerusalem 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.

Menachem Leibel was in the habit of praying at the Western Wall every evening, and was on his way home when murdered. A student at the Mir Yeshiva, he was the grandson of Rabbi Yona Leibel, one of the leaders of the Braslav Hassidim.

"He was a man filled with goodness, who was always willing to help everyone," his older brother, Nachman, related. "He was an excellent student with many talents."

"A friend of the family's was very ill and Menachem sat with her every day and nursed her," said another brother. "That's how he was -- always helping everyone. He was planning to get married and then continue studying Torah."

A family friend recalled: "Menachem wasn't afraid to ride on buses. He rode every day. We do not seek vengeance for what happened. It's all from Heaven."

Menachem Leibel was buried at Jerusalem's Har Hamenuhot Cemetery. He is survived by his parents, Rivka and Naftali, and six siblings.