News Article

Yaakov Don, 49, murdered in shooting attack in Gush Etzion

An educator from Alon Shvut

Nov 19, 2015 - Yaakov Don, 49, of Alon Shvut was one of three people killed when a Palestinian terrorist opened fire with a submachine gun at cars in a traffic jam at the Alon Shvut junction, south of Jerusalem.

Every Thursday afternoon Yaakov Don would drive to Ma’aleh Adumim to study with his two sons, Aviad and Maor, who attend yeshiva there.  It was the highlight of his week. He was killed shortly after leaving his home.

Yaakov Don was born in Kiryat Ono to parents who survived the Holocaust, and like his father, a professor of economics at Bar-Ilan University, he was a lifelong professional educator. He taught at the Derech Haavot High School in Efrat, was in charge of its social activities and worked with the Education Ministry on its school computerization program. Colleagues described him as the kind of teacher who loved his work and his students, taking great pride in their achievements. He and his wife Sara spent several years in Toronto, Canada as teaching emissaries.

Yaakov was completing a doctorate in educational technology at the University of Haifa. The family was already planning what presents they would give him - a coffee maker and the Book of Esther - for a joint event celebrating both his 50th birthday and the completion of his doctorate.

Yaakov Don was buried in the Kfar Etzion cemetery. He is survived by his wife Sara, and their four children: Aviad (21), Maor (19), Yedidya (17) and Raheli (13).