David Rubin recounts day he and his 3-year-old son were attacked by Terrorists and Barely Escaped
David Rubin, former mayor of Shiloh, Israel, joins Stand Tall Israel for a deeply personal account of the terrorist attack that changed his life and ultimately inspired him to dedicate himself to helping children traumatized by terrorism. On December 17, 2001, Rubin was driving home from Jerusalem with his three-year-old son when terrorists opened fire on their vehicle along Route 60, a major road through the biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria. What began as an ordinary journey quickly became a fight for survival as bullets struck the car and wounded both father and son.
Rubin describes the terrifying moments when gunfire erupted, leaving him seriously wounded in the leg and his vehicle disabled. With the attackers continuing to fire, he had to find a way to escape while protecting his young child. When the car finally started again, Rubin drove desperately toward the nearest community where he could obtain emergency assistance. Only after reaching safety did he fully comprehend the extent of his son’s injuries. The toddler had been struck by a bullet at the base of his skull, near the neck, and was seriously wounded.
The medical ordeal that followed was harrowing. Both father and son required extensive treatment, including two operations each, followed by difficult recoveries. The bullet that struck Rubin’s son missed his brain stem by approximately one millimeter. That extraordinarily narrow margin separated the child from a potentially fatal injury. Although the physical wounds eventually healed, the consequences of the attack extended far beyond the hospital and into the family’s emotional life.
Rubin explains how the experience transformed his understanding of terrorism and its victims. The physical injuries were visible and could be treated by medical professionals, but the psychological trauma was less immediately apparent. His young son struggled with the emotional consequences of the shooting, illustrating how children can continue suffering long after the immediate danger has passed. Fear, anxiety and the loss of a child’s sense of security can persist even when medical treatment has successfully addressed the physical damage.
The attack also changed Rubin’s sense of purpose. As a father who had experienced terrorism firsthand, he became increasingly aware that many Israeli children were living with similar trauma. Some had lost family members, while others had witnessed violence or endured attacks themselves. Their suffering convinced him that helping children recover emotionally was not simply a medical concern but a vital part of rebuilding families and communities affected by terrorism.
That realization led Rubin to establish the Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund, an organization dedicated to supporting children affected by terror through therapeutic, educational and recreational programs. The fund seeks to provide young victims with opportunities to recover their confidence, rebuild relationships and regain a sense of normalcy. Rubin’s work reflects his conviction that children should not have to carry the psychological consequences of terrorism throughout their lives.
During the interview, Rubin places his personal experience within the broader reality of life in Israel, where terrorist violence has repeatedly disrupted families and communities. His account offers an intimate perspective on the human consequences of attacks that are often discussed primarily through political, military or security considerations. For Rubin, the story is not only about the brutality of the attack but also about the responsibility to help survivors move forward.
Ultimately, Rubin’s testimony is a story of survival, fatherhood, resilience and purpose. An experience that could have left him consumed by anger and grief instead became the catalyst for a sustained effort to help vulnerable children heal. Through the Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund, he has sought to transform personal tragedy into meaningful service, demonstrating that recovery requires more than surviving an attack; it requires restoring hope, dignity and the possibility of a future beyond trauma.
