Dina Debby Horowitz

7/4/5763

Mar 7, 2003 - Dina Horowitz, 50, and her husband Eli, of Kiryat Arba, were killed when armed terrorists infiltrated Kiryat Arba and murdered them in their home while they were celebrating the Sabbath.
 
The terrorists, dressed as religious Jews, entered the couple's home at 8:45 P.M., in the midst of the family's Shabbat Eve celebration, and opened fire, killing husband and wife. Five others were wounded before the intruders were killed by IDF troops. An explosive belt was found on the body of one of the terrorists.
 
Dina, born Debbie Wolf in Florida, grew up in Silver Springs, Maryland, and was a graduate of the Hebrew Academy and the Yeshiva High School of Greater Washington, DC. She came to Israel at the age of 18 to study, and met and married Eli Horowitz 29 years ago. They settled in Kiryat Arba 19 years ago. Dina taught at the Kiryat Arba Ulpana Girls High School and at Midreshet Harova in Jerusalem's Old City. She also performed and taught piano.
 
Elisheva Harrow, a former student, described her teacher: "I don't know how many of you have been taught by an amazing person before. How many had the privilege of knowing a real, passionate, gentle, loving teacher. In Hebrew, the word 'Morah' means teacher and guide - someone who shows you the way, who gives you love and encouragement, helping you make your own way in this complicated world. Dina was my 'Morah'. She loved all her students so very much, always believed in us and in our abilities. She never gave up on us, always tried to listen and to do her best to help..."
 
Alex Frank, a member of the Kiryat Arba Local Council, said of Dina Horowitz: "My wife, Mariana, became a Jew because of Dina. She guided her on the subject of conversion and they practically adopted us as a family. They were an ideal family. Their approach to Judaism was moderate. They were a couple who tried to bridge the gaps between all the parts of this splintered nation."
 
Dina and Eli Horowitz were buried in Jerusalem. They leave four children - Batsheva, 30, Zvi, 26, Nehama, 22, and Shulamit, 20 - and several grandchildren.