It doesn't happen every day

The title should say Romanian professor, as Liviu Librescu was born and raised in Focsani, Romania, emigrating with his family to Israel in 1978. This news really shocked me and made me think a lot of the things happening in my life over...

Apr. 17, 2007 7:17 Updated Apr. 17, 2007 17:22

Israeli professor killed in US attack

By JPOST.COM STAFF AND AP

As Jews worldwide honored on Monday the memory of those who were murdered in the Holocaust, a 76-year-old survivor sacrificed his life to save his students in Monday's shooting at Virginia Tech College that left 33 dead and over two dozen wounded.

Professor Liviu Librescu, 76, threw himself in front of the shooter when the man 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 had blocked the gunman's way and saved their lives, said Librescu's 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."

And here is what you see when accessing the Virgina Tech University Homepage, Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics:

May he rest in peace...

Watch CNN's coverage - I AM JUST GLAD I CAN BE HERE