Alisa Flatow was born and raised in West Orange, New Jersey. As a high school senior, she joined the March of the Living, a journey that took her through the concentration camps of Europe and continued on to Israel. The experience left a deep impression on her and helped shape her identity as a proud and committed Jew.
After graduating from high school, Alisa enrolled at Brandeis University, where she studied sociology. She was a hardworking and dedicated student, taking on extra classes and summer sessions so she could make room in her schedule for what mattered most to her, Israel. Every summer, she returned to visit, building her connection to the land and its people. In the summer of 1994, she came on a program with Aish HaTorah and later served as a campus representative for the organization.
In her junior year, Alisa took a leave of absence to study at Nishmat, a women’s seminary in Jerusalem. She found an apartment and settled into a new rhythm, spending her days immersed in Torah study and exploring Judaism in a deeper and more personal way. She often wrote home about her experiences, including one moment that stood out to her, the sight of Israeli paratroopers being sworn in at the Western Wall, each given a rifle and a Tanach. That moment, she wrote, captured everything she loved about Israel: strength, faith, and a sense of shared history.
In April 1995, Alisa joined friends for a short trip to Gush Katif before Passover. While riding on a public bus near Kfar HaDarom in the Gaza Strip, a suicide bomber attacked the bus. Alisa was critically injured and died of her wounds the next day, on April 10.
Her family made the decision to donate her organs, a final act of kindness that gave life to others. Alisa is remembered as thoughtful, idealistic, and full of purpose. Her deep love for Israel and the Jewish people continues to inspire those who hear her story.
** The information on this page is part of the 'Yizkor' commemoration project by the Ministry of Defense / the 'La'ad' website by the National Insurance Institute, in memory of the fallen. We strive for accuracy and apologize for any errors. For corrections or comments, please contact us here: https://aaciremembers.org/contact-us/ **
