Beit Hadassah

On the 13th of Shvat 5700 (January 31, 1980), 23-year-old Yehoshua Saloma was walking through the Kasbah of Hebron.

Yehoshua Saloma, a student at the Nir Hesder Yeshiva in the young Kiryat Arba, leaves the mythical wooden hut used by the yeshiva and begins a walk towards the exit gate to Hebron.

The destination, the alleys of the Kasbah.

About 4 years earlier, he had immigrated alone from Denmark. He left behind a pair of parents, Sarah and Aaron, putting into practice the enthusiastic Zionist education he had received at their home. After a year of training at Kibbutz Lavi, he joined the Hesder Yeshiva and later enlisted in the IDF, where he served as a lone soldier in the parachute Nahal.

Upon completion of his service, Yehoshua returned to the yeshiva benches, diligently studying day and night and finding great satisfaction in it.

About 15 minutes of walking brings Yehoshua to the main street of the Kasbah. There, among the alleys filled with noisy merchants, fragrant spices and a crowd of people, he plans to buy himself some of the fruits that the Land of Israel is famous for – in honor of the approaching Tu B'Shvat.

Yehoshua, who is slowly advancing amidst the noise, the crowd and the hustle and bustle, had no chance of noticing the terrorist armed with a gun that is closing on him from behind. When he notices him, it is already too late: the terrorist opens fire at point-blank range and mortally wounds Yehoshua, who dies of his wounds.

His fellow yeshiva members erected a memorial in his memory at the site of his fall, but the monument was vandalized by Arabs. Entry to the site is only permitted with permission and escort from the IDF. Photo of the memorial plaque is from the commemoration inside Hadassah house.

Article about the 45th anniversary commemoration at this link (In Hebrew)