Spokane Jews React To Bomb Attack With Shock

News of the latest terrorist bombing in Israel sent shock waves through Spokane’s Jewish community Monday.

Frantic for the latest news, Allan Berman searched a faxed list of the dead for his nephew’s name.

“Thank goodness it wasn’t on,” said Berman, administrator for Spokane’s synagogue, Temple Beth Shalom.

The Islamic group Hamas sent a suicide bomber to Tel Aviv’s busiest shopping center. Monday’s blast in a crowded crosswalk killed at least 14 people and wounded more than 100.

Many Spokane Jews fear the spate of bombings has ruined prospects for peace in the Middle East.

“This is terrible,” Berman said. “We have a chance in my lifetime for real peace. A few crazed people are ruining it for everybody.”

The attack caught people such as Taylor Bressler off-guard.

“There was a feeling of false hope,” Bressler said. “Just when it starts to work, this happens.”

Dennis Twigg found out about the latest bombing while listening to public radio while driving to work.

“I just got sick to my stomach,” he said.

Monday’s bombing was the fourth attack in nine days targeted at Israel’s major cities.

“It’s like what happened in Oklahoma,” Twigg said. “What America experienced, Israel has experienced the pain and anguish threefold.”

As Jews worldwide mourned, there also was cause for celebration.

Spokane children dressed up in costumes Monday night to celebrate Purim, a holiday marking Jewish deliverance from a massacre in ancient Persia.

“It’s sad to see children growing up with this hatred,” said Suzanne Rubens as Berman cradled her 5-month-old baby, Molly. “It’s hard to explain to them why.”

Others still cling to visions of a lasting peace.

“You have to have hope for peace,” Twigg said. “Even though we’re Americans, we still want to keep Israel alive.”

At the end of the Purim celebration, there was a prayer for the bombing victims - and for peace.

, DataTimes