Miriam Renan, 1948 Jerusalem Bombing Survivor and State Pioneer, Dies at 106
Miriam Renan, one of Israel's oldest citizens and a survivor of the 1948 Jerusalem bombing, has died at 106. Renan served as a secretary to Moshe Sharett before statehood and later dedicated decades to Israeli cinema and community work.
Miriam Renan, one of Israel's oldest citizens and a survivor of the 1948 car bombing at the National Institutions Building in Jerusalem, has passed away at the age of 106. Born on February 11, 1920, Renan served as a secretary to Moshe Sharett during the critical period preceding the establishment of the state.
In her youth, Renan worked in the office of Moshe Sharett, then Sharetok, who headed the Political Department of the Jewish Agency. Sharett, who later became Israel's second prime minister, managed the diplomatic relations of the Jewish Yishuv with the international community as the British Mandate drew to a close.
On March 11, 1948, Renan's life changed forever. Anton Daoud, an operative working as a driver for the U.S. Consulate, managed to bypass guards at the entrance of the National Institutions Building in Jerusalem and park a car laden with explosives. The powerful blast caused severe structural damage to the complex, which housed the Political Department offices.
Twelve people were killed and 44 others injured in the attack. Among the fatalities was Keren Hayesod director Leib Jaffe, while key intelligence and diplomatic figures such as Eliyahu Sasson and Reuven Shiloah were among the wounded. Ora Herzog, mother of current Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who was 24 years old at the time, was also injured in the bombing.
Renan, who was pregnant, sustained severe injuries from the collapsing building structure and lost her unborn child. She survived the trauma and, two years later in 1950, gave birth to her eldest daughter. Later in life, Renan transitioned to the film industry, working as a producer for the Israel Film Service. In 1964, she produced the short film "Lachish" and later volunteered for five years at the Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archive.
Residing in Motza Illit, Renan remained actively engaged in community life. On her 105th birthday last year, Mateh Yehuda Regional Council head Avishai Cohen visited her to present a token of appreciation for her decades of civic contribution.
