Chief Superintendent Baruch Mizrahi Hy”d, a husband and father of five, is the man who was murdered near Hevron on Monday by terrorists right before Passover began.

Mizrahi was driving to Kiryat Arba for a seder meal with his pregnant wife and three of his children when a terrorist opened fire on the family car, killing him and leaving his wife moderately to severely wounded. 

The superintendent was born in 1967 in Tel Aviv, was raised in Bat Yam on the coast, and had lived for the past 15 years in Modi’in with his family.

In his last position, which he held for the last three years, Mizrahi served as head of the Technology Division in the Sigint Unit, part of the Intelligence Brigade in the Investigations and Intelligence Branch.

Mizrahi served in the IDF for 25 years, including many years as a professional soldier, in which he filled many operational and technology oriented roles. The last position he held there was as Lieutenant Colonel in Intelligence Unit 8200.

In June, 2011, Mizrahi was inducted into the Israel police as a chief superintendent.

The Israel police said that Mizrahi played a significant part in the design of the Sigint Unit, and in building the police force’s human resources system in the field of operational technology.

“He had two great loves – his family and the state of Israel”

“In modesty and in secrecy he donated a great service to the struggle of the Israel police against serious organized crime and cyber crime in its various forms,” remarked the police.

Mizrahi’s commander, the Sigint Unit chief, said “this is a loss first and foremost to his family, and a great loss personally and professionally to members of the unit and the brigade, to the state of Israel.”

The Sigint chief described Mizrahi as “a man who, beyond being a professional of the first degree, was a true friend, volunteered in every mission with self-sacrifice and faith, was attentive to his orders, colleagues and commanders, and his presence was very moving.”

“Baruch z”l devoted his entire life to two great loves – his family and the state of Israel,” concluded Mizrahi’s commander.

Israel police released a statement, saying “captains and officers of the Israel police, the Investigations and Intelligence Branch, the Intelligence Brigade and the Sigint Unit bow their heads in sorrow, joining the sorrow of the family, and wish for a speedy recovery for his wife.”

Many officials have condemned the murder; Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu pointed the finger at the Palestinian Authority (PA), saying the murder “is the result of the incitement for which the Palestinian Authority (PA) is responsible.”