Posted on 04/17/2007 7:03:09 AM PDT by meg88
Israeli professor murdered as he saved students at Vriginia Tech shootings Source: Jerusalem Post
As Jews worldwide honored on Monday the memory of those who were murdered in the Holocaust, a 75-year-old survivor sacrificed his life to save his students in Monday’s shooting at Virginia Tech college that left 32 dead and over two dozen wounded.
Professor Liviu Librescu, 76, threw himself in front of the shooter, who had attempted to enter his classroom. The Israeli mechanics and engineering lecturer was shot to death, "but all the students lived - because of him," Virginia Tech student Asael Arad - also an Israeli - told Army Radio.
Several of Librescu’s other students sent e-mails to his wife, Marlena, telling of how he blocked the gunman’s way and saved their lives, said the son, Joe.
"My father blocked the doorway with his body and asked the students to flee," Joe Librescu said in a telephone interview from his home outside of Tel Aviv. "Students started opening windows and jumping out."
Liviu Librescu, was respected in his field, his son said.
"His work was his life in a sense," said Joe. "That was a good place for him to practice his research."
The couple immigrated to Israel from Romania in 1978 and then moved to Virginia in 1986 for his sabbatical, but had stayed since then, Joe told Army Radio.
Obviously, the good professor understood the consequences of trying to keep a low profile and waiting for the "authorities" to come to your rescue. I hope they will name a building after him at minimum. His story sounds as if he could very well be the flight 93 of this whole sorry affair.
Staggering bravery...immense. The man has been a beacon for the young...showing them by his actions the meaning of living a moral life.
Moved.....
according to his resume, the professor did a good amount to research in Korea. and ironically, killed by a Korean.
God hold this hero...
you know, “hero” is a term that’s used pretty loosely these days...but this man definitely deserves the title.
God Bless him.
"Greater love hath no man that this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
Even my goosebumps have goosebumps. That there are men like this among us is God’s Blessing. Yes, God bless this man!
This kind of bravery was not unusual in my Father’s generation (WWII generation). I hope that kind of bravery has passed to other generations.
May his angel’s wings be as big an beautiful as his sacrifice. God bless him!
I am picturing a 75-year old professor, a survivor of the camps, holding that door shut while his students jumped out the window.
And I can’t stop crying.
I agree. This man's heroic action should be the most-often-repeated part of the whole story. Every commentator should be asking the university administration how many students might have been saved if the shooter had known that professors--and even possibly students--at this college might have been armed.
It's overwhelming.
“Also can’t help but think (and this in no way is meant to diminish this man’s sacrifice) how things might have been different had this courageous man been armed.”
It would have ended right then.
This great man truly humbled himself and gave his life, that others may live.
He has shown God’s Light, that others may follow.
May God bless and keep him and his family.
What a hero! That man is in Heaven at this very moment.
God bless this beautiful man, a true hero.
My sympathy to his family on a great loss to them.
Amen
I was talking with an engineering professor at UVA last night...one of her students' parents called her trying to track down their son. They are in India, and heard the news that a gunman had attacked and killed engineering students at a Virginia university and were frantic.
This story is horrific. Thank God for men like Liviu Librescu, who take their position of responsiblity for their students seriously enough to sacrifice their own lives to save innocents.
Selfless hero ping.
Concur. The world needs more people like him and less “self-esteem” addcited nitwits.
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