Survivor of Brutal Ramat Gan Terror Attack Shares Emotional Recovery Journey
Gdalyahu Ben Shimon, former deputy mayor of Bnei Brak and current chairman of the Religious Council in Ramat Gan, gave a rare and moving interview on the 'Kikar FM' podcast with Eli Guthelf, recounting his survival of a brutal terror stabbing attack in Ramat Gan. The attack occurred four months ago during a tense period of security alerts amid conflict with Iran. After hearing sirens, Ben Shimon left his office to a nearby parking lot and on his return passed a man reading the Quran on a bench. Moments later, the attacker stabbed him multiple times in the back just before he reached the council office doors.
Despite severe injuries to his liver, lung, and spine, Ben Shimon fought back by dropping to the ground to protect his face and hands and kicking the assailant until a passing motorcyclist scared the attacker away. He was rushed to Ichilov Hospital, where top surgeons, summoned by Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, fought to save his life. Ben Shimon was sedated and ventilated for nearly a week, during which the public prayed for his recovery. Upon awakening, he faced a grim reality of physical trauma and emotional pain, initially believing he was dying and imparting final words of unity and care to his son.
Ben Shimon described the shock of reading eulogies about himself on social media while still hospitalized, realizing the public had brought him back to life. He reflected on his past hardships, including losing his father at 15, the death of an infant daughter, and a serious car accident a decade ago. He emphasized managing crises rather than being controlled by them, recounting how he forced himself to regain independence step by step.
Addressing mental health openly, Ben Shimon revealed he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, haunted by the attacker’s voice and fearful of sudden touches. He stressed the need for psychological healing alongside physical recovery and vowed not to let trauma defeat him. His turning point came when he finally watched the viral security footage of the attack, viewing himself not as a victim but as a victorious fighter.
In a powerful symbolic act on Israel’s Memorial Day, Ben Shimon returned to the exact spot of the stabbing in Ramat Gan’s Rambam Square to recite Psalms before thousands, declaring his survival a miracle and sending a message to the imprisoned attacker. His story offers a profound lesson in resilience, faith, and the choice to embrace life despite unimaginable adversity.
