Last Wednesday we experienced an extraordinary Kiddush HaShem (sanctification of G-d's name) when an Arab murderer armed with a huge bulldozer went on a rampage on the streets of Jerusalem. He flattened occupied cars, turned over a bus and ran over innocent pedestrians until his reign of terror was finally stopped by what was

He took personal responsibility and immediately understood that he had to take action.

described as "a passerby."


As a result of five minutes of horror, two mothers and a grandfather were killed, and scores of others injured. That "passerby" was "M", a hesder yeshiva boy on leave from a special army unit. He took personal responsibility and immediately understood that he had to take action to save fellow Jews. He endangered his own life by climbing onto the bulldozer, where he took a gun from a security guard and shot the savage terrorist, thereby putting an end to the ruthless killing.


This brave young hero, "M", is one of our students at the Yeshiva of Kiryat Arba. When asked how he had the courage and determination to act so swiftly, he explained that he was inspired by the valiant actions of his brother-in-law, who killed the Mercaz Harav terrorist, and by the educational values of faith in the Almighty, devotion to the ideals of the Torah and taking responsibility for each of his Jewish brethren. He mentioned several Torah commandments that instruct us to kill our enemies before they kill us, and the warning in parshat Kedoshim not to stand idly by the spilling of your neighbor's blood (Vayikra 19:16). Any act taken to save Jewish lives from their murderers is a sanctification of G-d's name.


Unfortunately, this heroic action by "M" was taken after some of the police and security personnel did not respond adequately or quickly enough to save lives. I cannot put the blame in its entirety on these security people, the blame lies with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense and others senior officials, who have created an atmosphere of trepidation, of not responding to terror immediately, and fear of getting involved in terror prevention. Any law enforcement officer who uses his weapon and succeeds in deterring a crime is liable to be arrested and dragged through the courts for years. This depressing situation leads to a climate which stimulates terror and completely destroys the government's terror deterrent capabilities.


For seven years, the government has done nothing substantial against Kassam rockets fired on Sderot and other western Negev towns. This inaction or "restraint" has encouraged the terrorists to continue their daily bombardment of Jewish towns. The failure to prevent aggression, and weakness of the Israeli government to secure the lives of its Jewish citizens, is a result of the self-degrading Israeli army fleeing from Lebanon and the crime of uprooting the Gush Katif and northern Shomron Jews from their homes in the Land of Israel.


The Arabs quickly grasped the utter deterioration of Israel's basic moral obligation to protect her people and willingness to yield her rights to her homeland. There was a total lack of courage and determination to initiate operations that would prevent enemy violence and deter them from daring to even think of attacking or endangering Jewish lives.


The moral principle by which every Jewish man, woman and child knew that his life could depend on Jewish soldiers has always been the backbone of the Jewish State. The bravery and valor of a Jewish warrior was the pride of the Jewish people, and the world revered us as well. Saving Jewish lives was always a sacred mission even if it had to be carried out on foreign soil like Entebbe, thirty two years ago on July 4, 1976. Far and wide it was known that the Israeli government would send soldiers to distant places and go to all lengths to save Jewish lives.


But today, in the heart of Jerusalem, the government's reaction indicates a loss of all national survival instincts; our leadership has morally deteriorated by showing indifference and taking no notice of impending danger. Our leaders have become paralyzed and exhibit no willingness to fight the enemy.


The exemplary officer at Mercaz Harav and his brother-in-law, our student "M", have thrust a new Jewish pride and determination into the confused atmosphere of national life in Israel. They have restored our dignity. They have restored the deepest essence of the Zionist ideal by navigating their actions according to a map of faith and Torah values. Their sanctification of the Almighty demonstrates that only Zionism which derives its power from Divine

Only a Zionism of faith will create the motivation and courage to overcome the moral fatigue of our government.

values of Jewish faith is able to confront and eliminate the threat to Jewish existence in Israel. Only a Zionism of faith will create the motivation and courage to overcome the moral fatigue of our government, and revitalize the enthusiasm and pioneering spirit inherent in our people.


This thought is expressed clearly in the words of Bilaam, in this week's parsha, in which we find a glowing description of Jewish valor which compares the awakening of Israel to a leopard and lion: "Behold the nation will rise up as a leopard, and as a lion will demonstrate his prowess." (Bamidbar 23:24) The commentary of Rashi explains the source of the power of the leopard and the prowess of the lion: "They rise up early in the morning to recite the S'hma, to put on tefilin and tzitzit." Our spiritual roots are brought to life by the performance of mitzvot that reveal our allegiance and devotion to the word of G-d, which gives us the power to rise up against our enemies.


The phenomenon of a Kiryat Arba hesder yeshiva student taking swift and decisive action against a terrorist murderer, thereby preventing him from taking the lives of more innocent Jews, is a direct result of the moral values ingrained in him by his rabbis. We are grateful to the Almighty who has granted us the privilege of being part of an educational process that produces such bravery and selfless devotion, that brought about a sanctification of HaShem and serves as a shining example to all of us.