So yesterday morning, I was lamenting to my husband that even if we in Israel saw Yasser Arafat's head served-up on a silver platter tomorrow, how could we celebrate the event or even laugh after so much damage, trauma and grief etc., etc., etc.?
But by last night, I was laughing, as the news broke about twins being born to 54-year-old Margaret Kikis. Two years ago, the Kikis' son Beni - a medic in the IDF - was killed in a terror attack. But that family wasted no time in reaffirming their commitment to life.
As the new mom said, "It's not an exchange. It's a completion. It's a continuation."
What a brilliant response to terror! So, it was a little out of character, but I poured myself a glass of white wine and said a private Mazal Tov and L'chaim to the Kikis family.
At 6:30 this morning, I saw the news reports coming off of the Internet about the demise of Ahmed Yassin and company, and I cried for joy. My husband, who had returned from early minyan with one of my sons, burst in the door and asked if it was true. In a highly uncommon response, he pulled a bottle of vodka down from the shelf and made a L'chaim. On the last day of Adar, our joy was increased and we had a second taste of Purim. I can now look forward to the miracles of Nissan.
Is it too early to celebrate? Am I being reckless? Shouldn't I be quaking and waiting for the Arabs' fury to be unleashed? Well, I am apprehensive about what will be, but Sharon's response (as delayed as it was) was obligatory, and a continued and unrelenting military response is required of us. The worst thing we could do at this time would be to listen to the messages coming out of the White House and show "restraint". We have a long overdue job to perform and we must not hesitate.
I noticed that Jack Straw was one of the first European voices to respond. He said Israel was not entitled to carry out "this kind of unlawful killing, which we condemn." Well, my response to British Foreign Secretary Straw can be taken directly from Obadia 1:18. I won't quote it here for fear of being accused of incitement.
We Jews have not kicked off World War III, but the groundwork may have been laid on the White House lawn just over a decade ago.
The only "anti-Semitic response" I'm really concerned about is the one that could come from all the good people of this world who have been waiting for a proper response to terrorism on the part of Israel. They want to know why we've spent so much time listening to the voices in the world who plan our demise, rather than taking care of the snakes that have been allowed to propagate in our backyard.
In addition to a decisive military reaction, prayer on the part of all of us would be a good response. So, may all of the extreme anger and rage that has been generated by Yassin's death fall upon those who mourn for him.
But by last night, I was laughing, as the news broke about twins being born to 54-year-old Margaret Kikis. Two years ago, the Kikis' son Beni - a medic in the IDF - was killed in a terror attack. But that family wasted no time in reaffirming their commitment to life.
As the new mom said, "It's not an exchange. It's a completion. It's a continuation."
What a brilliant response to terror! So, it was a little out of character, but I poured myself a glass of white wine and said a private Mazal Tov and L'chaim to the Kikis family.
At 6:30 this morning, I saw the news reports coming off of the Internet about the demise of Ahmed Yassin and company, and I cried for joy. My husband, who had returned from early minyan with one of my sons, burst in the door and asked if it was true. In a highly uncommon response, he pulled a bottle of vodka down from the shelf and made a L'chaim. On the last day of Adar, our joy was increased and we had a second taste of Purim. I can now look forward to the miracles of Nissan.
Is it too early to celebrate? Am I being reckless? Shouldn't I be quaking and waiting for the Arabs' fury to be unleashed? Well, I am apprehensive about what will be, but Sharon's response (as delayed as it was) was obligatory, and a continued and unrelenting military response is required of us. The worst thing we could do at this time would be to listen to the messages coming out of the White House and show "restraint". We have a long overdue job to perform and we must not hesitate.
I noticed that Jack Straw was one of the first European voices to respond. He said Israel was not entitled to carry out "this kind of unlawful killing, which we condemn." Well, my response to British Foreign Secretary Straw can be taken directly from Obadia 1:18. I won't quote it here for fear of being accused of incitement.
We Jews have not kicked off World War III, but the groundwork may have been laid on the White House lawn just over a decade ago.
The only "anti-Semitic response" I'm really concerned about is the one that could come from all the good people of this world who have been waiting for a proper response to terrorism on the part of Israel. They want to know why we've spent so much time listening to the voices in the world who plan our demise, rather than taking care of the snakes that have been allowed to propagate in our backyard.
In addition to a decisive military reaction, prayer on the part of all of us would be a good response. So, may all of the extreme anger and rage that has been generated by Yassin's death fall upon those who mourn for him.