Cpl. Ahikam Amihai, 20, and Sgt. David Rubin, 21 - May G-d Evenge Their Lives
Dec 28, 2007 - Cpl. Ahikam Amihai, 20, and Sgt. David Rubin, 21, both of Kiryat Arba near Hebron, were murdered by Palestinian terrorists while hiking in the Hebron mountains on Friday, 28 December.
The Islamic Jihad and the Fatah al-Quds Brigades both claimed responsibility for the murders.
Both off-duty soldiers, Cpl. Amihai and Sgt. Rubin were hiking in wadi Telem with a female companion when four Palestinian Arab terrorists opened fire on them from a jeep.
Amihai and Rubin, who both served in elite commando units, were carrying their firearms and were able to return fire, killing one of the terrorists and seriously wounding another before succumbing to their injuries. Their companion managed to hide and was uninjured, and phoned for help.
The families live in neighboring apartment buildings in Kiryat Arba. Both boys studied at the Mekor Haim high school yeshiva in Kfar Etzion and volunteered for elite IDF units.
Ahikam, whose draft was delayed, enlisted about a month ago to the Shaldag commando unit following a year of national service in the Hebrew University's Cave Research Unit in Ofra, in the hills of Benjamin. Benia Sarel, a friend, described Ahikam's love for hiking in Israel: "Ahikam knew every spring, every path."Ahikam was the fifth child of Rabbi Yehuda Amihai and his wife Esther, and a grandson of Rabbi Tzvi Neria, "father of the knitted scullcap generation." Rabbi Yehuda Amihai is head of the Torah and Land Institute, formerly in Kfar Darom in the Gaza Strip.
David served for 16 months in the naval commando unit. Before his induction he studied in the Benjemin region yeshiva of Eli and in a yeshiva in Mitzpe Ramon.David was the eldest son of Rabbi Mishael Rubin, rabbi of Hebron's Shavei Hebron yeshiva.
Both young men were buried in the Mt. Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem.
David Rubin is survived by his parents Mishael and Yosefa, and by seven siblings.
Ahikam Amihai is survived by his parents, Yehuda and Esther, and nine siblings.
