Batya Perlman

In honor of the Holiday of Heroism and Miracles we asked residents to tell us their personal stories. We thank them for their willingness to share, and we hope that their stories will be an inspiration to the entire community.

Batya Perlman was born in 1943 and grew up in the Beit Yisrael neighborhood of Jerusalem. After her marriage to Menachem, she moved to the Jewish Quarter.

While preparing for Simchat Torah in 1988, Batya went down to the family grocery store to get a spice that she needed for cooking. While she was there, one of the workers drew her attention to a crate of bread that seemed heavier than usual. Batya took a closer look and noticed a thread dangling from one of the loaves. She immediately suspected that it was an explosive device.

Batya maintained her composure. She asked one of the workers to call the security forces, and she proceeded to remove the crate from the crowded grocery store to the parking lot. Security arrived and they exploded the bomb. Batya risked her life to save many others. Because of her courage, disaster was averted. 

The years passed, and Batya and her family moved to Efrat. Several years ago she underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor, and she had a stroke which left half of her body paralyzed. Despite her limitations, Batya continues to cook, bake, and to run her home in an exemplary manner. Despite the difficulty, she never gives up.

Batya still lives in Efrat today. She has four children, two of whom live in Efrat, one who lives in Tel Aviv, and one in the Golan Heights.

The full story appears on the Council website,
We would love to hear your story -  please send it to us at MOKEDS@efrat.muni.il.