Last Thursday, we all awoke to the terrible news of the terrorist bombing in the heart of Jerusalem. This time it hit home more than ever before. Who hasn't eaten at Sbarro's while in Jerusalem? We can visualize ourselves sitting at the very tables that were blown to pieces. If that were not enough, later that day we heard the unbearably sad news that our daughter's second grade teacher, Shoshanah Hayman Greenbaum (Morah Greenbaum, as she was known to the children she loved and who loved her), 31, pregnant with her first child, whose wedding my daughter so joyously attended eighteen months ago, was among the victims. Telling Rebecca was heart wrenching and she cried herself to sleep.
On Friday, I drove to Pennsylvania to pick up our son Zev from summer camp. We wanted him to spend Shabbos with us before departing on Wednesday for Israel. He has just completed high school and is going to study for the year at Yeshivat Sha'alvim.
Over Shabbos, we talked to many parents whose children are scheduled to depart for Israel in the next couple of weeks. All are agonizing over whether or not to send their children. A number of parents have already decided to pull their children out. Zev is resolute in his commitment to go. He is still young so that is understandable. More surprising is the relative calmness with which Sheryl and I support his decision.
Zev has been looking forward to going since January, when he spent a few days at Sha'alvim to 'check it out'. Having done our own homework, we also felt that Sha'alvim would be ideal for Zev. We were thrilled when he was accepted. We felt that a year (more likely two) at Sha'alvim would give him the foundation and maturity that would prepare him for life as a well-rounded Torah Jew.
We have taught Zev to believe in G-d and His Torah. To believe that, as Jews, we have an eternal and unbreakable bond to the Land of Israel and its people. To recognize the bravery of those who live in Eretz Yisrael, especially those who have chosen to move there recently. We wonder: would we be sending the wrong messages if we pulled him out? That our commitment to Israel and its people is only valid during good times? That we don't really believe in the Omnipotence of the Almighty? That, he (and we) should not be brave?
We were surprised by the disappointment and frustration Zev expressed over dinner at the parents who have decided not to send their children. While proud of the strength of his convictions, we reminded him that the Torah commands that we 'dan l'kaf zechut' - we must give people every benefit of the doubt. We cannot put ourselves in anyone else's shoes and cannot judge those who reach the opposite decision. Indeed, we are sure that some are thinking that we are crazy to put our precious son in harm's way.
When we see him off on Wednesday night, all we can do one is impress upon Zev that he is going to Israel to learn, not to hang out, that he must be vigilant, never careless, that he must be more serious and mature than we have a right to expect of a 17 year-old. Finally, we must invoke the words of King David and pray every day to the Master of the Universe that, "Hashem will protect you from every evil. He will guard your soul. Hashem will guard your departure and your arrival, from this time and forever (Psalms 121).?
On Friday, I drove to Pennsylvania to pick up our son Zev from summer camp. We wanted him to spend Shabbos with us before departing on Wednesday for Israel. He has just completed high school and is going to study for the year at Yeshivat Sha'alvim.
Over Shabbos, we talked to many parents whose children are scheduled to depart for Israel in the next couple of weeks. All are agonizing over whether or not to send their children. A number of parents have already decided to pull their children out. Zev is resolute in his commitment to go. He is still young so that is understandable. More surprising is the relative calmness with which Sheryl and I support his decision.
Zev has been looking forward to going since January, when he spent a few days at Sha'alvim to 'check it out'. Having done our own homework, we also felt that Sha'alvim would be ideal for Zev. We were thrilled when he was accepted. We felt that a year (more likely two) at Sha'alvim would give him the foundation and maturity that would prepare him for life as a well-rounded Torah Jew.
We have taught Zev to believe in G-d and His Torah. To believe that, as Jews, we have an eternal and unbreakable bond to the Land of Israel and its people. To recognize the bravery of those who live in Eretz Yisrael, especially those who have chosen to move there recently. We wonder: would we be sending the wrong messages if we pulled him out? That our commitment to Israel and its people is only valid during good times? That we don't really believe in the Omnipotence of the Almighty? That, he (and we) should not be brave?
We were surprised by the disappointment and frustration Zev expressed over dinner at the parents who have decided not to send their children. While proud of the strength of his convictions, we reminded him that the Torah commands that we 'dan l'kaf zechut' - we must give people every benefit of the doubt. We cannot put ourselves in anyone else's shoes and cannot judge those who reach the opposite decision. Indeed, we are sure that some are thinking that we are crazy to put our precious son in harm's way.
When we see him off on Wednesday night, all we can do one is impress upon Zev that he is going to Israel to learn, not to hang out, that he must be vigilant, never careless, that he must be more serious and mature than we have a right to expect of a 17 year-old. Finally, we must invoke the words of King David and pray every day to the Master of the Universe that, "Hashem will protect you from every evil. He will guard your soul. Hashem will guard your departure and your arrival, from this time and forever (Psalms 121).?