The Israeli Messianic Jewish family whose son was nearly killed by a bomb have come face to face with their alleged attacker.

Teenager Ami Ortiz was wounded by a bomb that Yaakov "Jack" Teitel allegedly planted at the family's home in 2008. Severely wounded in the explosion, Ortiz has made a miraculous recovery since then.

David and Leah Ortiz, the teen's parents, were there in the courtroom when the criminal trial of Teitel opened in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

"I made eye contact with him," the elder Ortiz said. "I wanted to let him know that I'm here and we're alive and he did not succeed and that God had mercy on us. I thought that was important. If he doesn't call upon the name of the Lord and tell the Lord to have mercy on him there's no hope. But we pray that he will seek repentance and that this Saul may become a Paul."

"It was important for me to see him, and show him he has failed and we exist," Mrs. Ortiz said. "Today we are going home, and he will stay in jail. He caused us terrible and horrific damage, but did not succeed in blotting us out."

Teitel has been charged with two murders, five attempted murders, incitement, weapons violations and one count of arson.