From the Facebook page of Richard Lakin, who succumbed on Oct. 27 to wounds sustained in a Jerusalem terrorist attack two weeks earlier.

JERUSALEM – Richard Lakin, an American-Israeli who was critically wounded in a terrorist shooting on October 13, died of his wounds on Tuesday, October 27, after spending two weeks in critical condition.

Lakin, 76, was shot in the head and stabbed in the chest by two Palestinian terrorists on an Egged bus in the Armon HaNatsiv neighborhood in Jerusalem. He was hospitalized in Hadassah Ein Kerem and underwent a number of surgeries, but he eventually succumbed to his wounds. Two others were murdered in the deadly attack.

Keren Lakin, Richard’s widow, spoke to TPS (Tazpit Press Services) prior to her husband’s passing, and urged the Israeli and Jewish people not to seek revenge or embrace feelings of hate.

Keren described Richard as a man who had been dedicated to advancing freedom and peace his entire life. He was active in the U.S. civil rights movement before making aliyah to Israel 32 years ago, and once in Israel, he worked tirelessly to advance Israeli-Palestinian relations.

Keren recounted how an Arab doctor had come to visit her in Hadassah Medical Center, reminding her that not all Arabs and Palestinians are involved in the current wave of violence.

“Our family wants to get the word out that this was tragic and brutal,” Keren said, “but our feelings are what Richard’s [were]. We must individually, as a Jewish people and as a country look for options — and hate is not one of them. … We have to look for options so we can live here peacefully,” she said.

“[Assassinated Israeli prime minister Yitzhak] Rabin said to build a new Middle East together. This hasn’t happened yet, but we can’t lose hope,” concluded Lakin.