Marla Bennett, 24, from San Diego, California, was killed on July 31, 2002, in a suicide bombing at the Hebrew University cafeteria on Mount Scopus in Jerusalem. A dedicated student, Marla was completing a master’s degree in Jewish Education while studying classical Jewish texts at Machon Pardes. She had come to Israel nearly two years earlier out of a deep love for the country and a desire to understand Judaism more fully.
Marla earned her B.A. in Political Science from Berkeley University in 2000 and was in the second year of her master’s program. She was at Hebrew University to take a final exam in Hebrew when the attack occurred.
Aware of the risks of living in Jerusalem, Marla expressed in a hometown newspaper her determination to be part of Israel’s story despite the dangers. Friends remembered her as a vibrant, life-enhancing presence, committed to both her studies and a peaceful resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. She was planning to marry her boyfriend, Michael, and was preparing to return to the U.S. to meet his family.
Marla Bennett is survived by her parents, Linda and Michael, and a sister. She was buried in San Diego.
** 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/ ***
