Ora Silberberg, 75, lives near the Park Hotel in Netanya. Ten years ago, she heard the loud explosion from her home, followed by the wail of the ambulance sirens, which told her a terrible attack had occurred. This week, she has returned to the Park Hotel. I want to spend Seder night here again, she tells Alon, the reception clerk. Gladly, Ora, he answers. Ora explains that shes really not afraid, adding, I have spent the Seder here in recent years and I always enjoy it very much. I come with a friend, the food is excellent and the atmosphere festive, and I dont feel any fear. I come from my home on Passover Eve, sit down, the table is set beautifully, we read the Haggadah. Its very nice. Q: Still, why here? After all, you heard the explosion from your home. You experienced the attack from up close. A: Dont remind me of that. Who remembers it any more anyway? I come to the place that is the most convenient for me and dont think about, What if a terrorist comes. There are several guards on Passover. Leave it alone. This is my place for Seder night. A week from now, the guests, dressed in their holiday clothing, will gather at the tables in the Park Hotels large dining room, where they will celebrate on Passover eve. Ten years after the terrible explosion, in which a suicide terrorist destroyed the place in one of the largest attacks in the countrys history, the dining room will be full. There will be Israelis who come every year because of what happened, and also tourists from France, Russia, Germany, the U.S. and the Netherlands. There will also be Jews who came to the beach in Netanya and want to experience Passover properly. Ten years after what was described as the Seder night massacre, in which 30 people were killed and 160 wounded, the Park Hotel is back on its feet. It took a great deal of spiritual strength, a lot of Zionism and a real battle to survive, soaked in blood and financial loss. The Cohen family of Netanya, which owns the hotel, decided to win this war no matter what. Corinne, 54, whose husband, Amiram, the hotel manager, was killed in the attack, was at the time the hotels buyer. Her parents were the owners. Since the disaster, she took over the family business, became the manager and swore to herself never to give up. In recent years, the hotel has suffered financial setbacks and quite a few disappointments from many Israelis who avoided it because they did not want to relive the terrible trauma. But then things calmed down, the trauma began to subside and the hotel was rebuilt. It has become profitable and lively once more. Even during Passover. Gathering it all anew The Cohens came here from France in 1972. The jewelry and diamond business owned by the familys father, Claude, now 80, prospered, and in 1989 the family bought the Park Hotel, which at that time was on the seashore near Netanyas promenade. Corinne Cohen, known in Hebrew as Rina, was 16 and in high school when she fell in love with Amiram Hamami. There was something about his Israeliness, his warmth and joy in living that charmed me. It was my first love, she says. They married and had six children. Amiram became the managing partner of the hotel with Arik, Corinnes brother. Ten years ago, all that changed in a single moment. Arik recalls that Amiram was the manager on duty that terrible night. We took turns every year. That was Amirams year on duty, and I was on my way to the hotel, Arik recalled this week. The dining room was full. About 250 people, older people, tourists and singles who wanted to be with others on the holiday eve. They had already settled in on the first floor of the hotel, near the lobby. It was very important for Ami to welcome every guest personally. He remembered many of the guests became they came back for another seder night. He wished them a happy holiday, a good evening, and even seated each one in their place. One of the guests, an older woman from Norway, wanted to change places. Ami took her to another table and, at that moment came the terrible explosion, Corinne says. Hamami was killed instantly. So were 18 other people. In the days after the attack, 11 more people died of their injuries. The tragedy and loss reached several families. After the bombing, the hotel was a terrible sight to behold. Israel, at the time, was embroiled in the Second Intifada, and the attack at the hotel was the terrible, blood-soaked peak of a horrific month for the entire state. No fewer than 135 Israelis were murdered that month, and after the attack at the Park Hotel, which was the 53rd suicide attack of the Second Intifada, Israel embarked on Operation Defensive Shield in Judea and Samaria. Corinne remembers that she was on her way to the hotel. Her children were miraculously spared because they were in the lobby. Itai, now 31, Gilad, 30, Yotam, 26, Yair, 23, Michael, 19, and Netanel, 17, witnessed the incident and all suffered terrible trauma. Netanel was also lightly wounded by shrapnel. Remembering that awful day, Corinne grows agitated. In one bitter moment, she lost the love of her life. Those were terrible times. I had six children at the time, the oldest was 21 years old and the youngest was 7. I come from a religious family and I believe that I got the strength to stand on my feet from God. I told myself from the first moment: Maybe my life has been destroyed, but their lives have not. Corinne says she dreams of her husbands face. Raising six mischievous kids like this, alone at home, without a father, was no easy task. Ami ran a tight ship. With him around, there was a father figure in the house, and he had a significant presence. He played with them a lot, and it was hard for me to fill his shoes. The children refused to go to a psychologist for treatment. I got help anywhere I could. It helped me a lot in dealing with the loss. Suddenly while speaking, Corinne reveals her combative side. Im a soldier of this war, he says. I wont let anybody defeat me. We gathered the workers, and told them that, yes, there would be tough times ahead, but we would get through them. We started renovating right away, rebuilding the dining room, fixing the terrible damage. I was raised as a Zionist from the time that I was an infant, and I was educated on values and success. Just the idea of closing the hotel gave me a bad feeling. A large photograph of Amiram can be found in Corinnes office. There is also a lovely photograph of the promenade and of the sea, which can be seen from the balconies of the hotel rooms. Walking into the entrance of the hotel, you pass a small memorial, which cant be ignored. I worked from morning till night. I became the joint manager together with my brother Arik. I came here in the morning, gave my soul, and left at noon to raise six children. I knew that my children needed a functioning parent. After all, they had already lost their father, Corinne says. The children struggled too. They established the Amiram non-profit organization, which assists needy people, in their fathers memory, and helped them step-by-step with their own recovery. They also chose not to be involved in the hotel. I chose not to give up. I knew all the time that life was stronger than anything, and that better days would come, so I must not give up. An optimistic seder Arik Cohen, Corinnes brother, manages the hotel together alongside her. He says that the hotel began to come back to itself more than four years ago. Corinne, too, began to recover. Four years ago, she gathered her children together. A couple of friends had introduced me to someone new, she says. I spoke with my children. I asked them how they would feel if I began a new relationship. They were very supportive. Amirams parents gave me their blessing too, and we have a very good relationship to this day. Corinne now speaks with excitement. My partner lives with us, and its not easy for me. Sometimes I feel that I am living with two people. With Ami in my feelings, in my imagination, in my heart, and with a wonderful partner, a man who accepted my children, in the real world. As Passover approaches, Corinne is busy finalizing all of the details. I get excited before every event. Its obvious that theres this tension before every Passover. Everything has always gone well, though. The dining room is almost full, she says. Alon Sakora, 44, is the hotels reception manager. After the attack, he made the decision to stay on at the hotel, supporting his family and continuing to work despite having suffered a terrible trauma. Ive been here for 24 years, he says. I started as a reception clerk. I wasnt afraid to stay. On the contrary. I always tell people: Look, it wont happen here again. Theres a guard at the entrance and well be bringing in reinforcements for Passover. In addition to two guards of our own, one at the hotel entrance and one at the entrance to the dining room, theres also a guard from the Netanya municipality and from the police. There are also patrols on the roof. Its very secure here. But despite all this, Alon still isnt calm. Ive become very suspicious. There have been a few incidents where Ive gotten the whole business on their toes when Ive spotted a suitcase that looks abandoned in the lobby. And when Ive heard people with certain accents, Ive stopped them an inspected them thoroughly. It stays with you, always, but today its a different time. Good people Attorney Yehuda Chilibaum is just waiting for the moment that he will be able to enjoy the holiday eve in the hotel. After the attack 10 years ago, he and his family decided to celebrate their seders exclusively at the Park Hotel. I saw the terrible attack and said to my wife: Thats it. Next year, were going there. The first year there was a lot of fear, mostly on the part of my wife and children. I wouldnt give up. My wife wasnt relaxed. She kept going to the guards and saying, Make sure you dont make any mistakes. On the evening itself, it was amazing, he says. Weve come here every year since the attack. We came to support them. We cant give in to terrorism. We cant abandon them when there is a situation like this. Corinne enters the dining room where hundreds of people will be sitting next Friday night. She is visibly excited. It is already noon. Soon she will leave the hotel for her husbands annual memorial ceremony. I feel as if we won, she says. I lost my Ami, many families lost people dear to them, and there was a terrible disaster. But I also got something out of it. I got the best people in Israel, who didnt leave us alone for a moment. Corinne sums it up, What makes me happiest is to see this beautiful dining room full of guests on Passover, reading the Haggadah, here, at my place.
