"The more they were afflicted, the more they multiplied and burst
forward." Exodus 1:12
by Rabbi Eliezer Waldman
Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshivat Kiryat Arba
22 Tammuz 5762
One day last week my wife and I set out in the morning for a long day of shiva visits. The first station was at the Sheba hospital in Tel HaShomer to visit two children of the Shabo family of the shomron community of Itamar whose mother, Rachel, and three other children were murdered by an Arab terrorist just a few days ago. This visit encompassed two mitzvot, Bikur Cholim (visiting the sick) and comforting mourners. The boy, Asael, who is eight years old, had his leg amputated and the girl, Aviah, thirteen years old suffered serious injuries to her internal organs. They were surrounded with the love of relatives and the nurses. This was my first experience to perform these two mitzvot under such conditions. Again, we see the Jewish power of continuance of life.
These two children witnessed the barbarous murder of their mother and three brothers, and here they are with the responsibility of perpetuating the life of their family.
We then set out for the community of Ginot Shomron to pay a shiva call at the home of the mother of Rachel Shabo. Rachel's husband, Boaz, and two more children were sitting shiva. These members of the family were not at home at the time of the massacre. We were impressed with the determination of Boaz who lost a wife and three children, turning to G-d and asking Him for the strength and faith necessary to begin anew and restore the life and warmth of a loving Jewish family.
From Ginot Shomron we continued to Elkana to the home of Professor and Mrs. Elazar Twito, whose son Yosef was murdered in that terrorist attack on the Shabo family. Yosef was the head of security team of Itamar. He heard the shooting and immediately took his gun and ran towards the Shabo house. And, when bursting through the door, he was shot by the terrorist. Yosef was a teacher of first grade children in Alon Moreh, loved by both the children and their parents. At the Twito home we heard stories of a young man from Algeria coming on aliyah at the age of eighteen just in time to participate in the War of Independence of 1948 as a religious member of the Palmach commando unit. He then continued his studies and achieved the academic position as professor of Tenach (Bible studies) at the University of Bar Ilan. The Jewish traits of devotion, sacrifice, and faith as a driving force to go on with the life of a nation still struggling to ensure its existence, were vividly but humbly demonstrated.
We continued this trip of gathering spiritual strength to the next station, to the town of Eli. We came to pay our respects to a family by the name of Kessler who were mourning their nineteen-year-old daughter, Gila, who was murdered when a suicide bomber exploded at the bus station at French Hill in Jerusalem. Her mother came from Tunis and her father from the United States. Gila was doing national service in a Jewish Agency office in Jerusalem. The family, including her American grandparents who lived in Shilo, asked if I could explain this sequence of tragic events that demand so much faith in order to continue. I related to them my experiences with the families who had lost their loved ones to Arab terror. At this moment it came to me that, while our government must courageously take the necessary steps to destroy the terror and its roots, we people of faith must also try to perceive the Divine Process unfolding before our eyes. At this point I found myself putting into words, thoughts and feelings which have been bursting within me, searching for avenues of expression.
Our sages teach us that there is a Jerusalem in Heaven which is opposite the Jerusalem on Earth. The Jerusalem in Heaven projects the spiritual powers of life to be aroused in the Jews seeking the inspiration and Divine elevation in Jerusalem of Israel. All appearances of life on Earth receive their nourishment, powers of growth and true meaning from heavenly sources.
When the Jewish nation was created, upon deliverance from Egyptian
slavery, we were attacked by Amalek who would not accept a national
Divine entity representing the G-d of Israel in this world. Moses then called upon Joshua to mobilize the Jewish army to fight Amalek. After the defeat of Amalek by Joshua and his forces, Moses was commanded to engrave in the national Jewish memory that G-d will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under the heavens. Moses declared, "Because the L-rd has sworn by His Throne, that the L-rd will have war with Amalek from generation to generation." Exodus 17-16
Just as the Israeli government issued emergency call up orders to
mobilize the forces necessary to fight terror; in the same manner the
G-d of Israel issued emergency call up orders, mobilizing the purest
souls of our people to serve in the heavenly army. The heavenly hosts
draw strength from the Divine source of life, and thus project a
constant stream of faith, courage and devotion to our soldiers on the
ground. The wars fought to ensure Jewish existence and national rights
are always waged on two fronts. On the Earthly front, the Israeli
Defense Forces serve as the "ground troops". They are aroused and
strengthened by the spiritual inspiration of those pure Jewish souls who were mobilized to serve on the heavenly front, projecting the light illuminating the true meaning of Jewish life. This Divine mobilization of Jewish souls is most painful to the families who have lost their loved ones. I do hope that these thoughts and feelings can soothe the pain by giving a deeper meaning to the words pronounced when comforting mourners, "May G-d comfort you among all mourners of Zion and Jerusalem."
The Kessler family seemed to absorb these thoughts while taking a few
moments to digest them. Their astonishing response came forth saying,
"Would that our government rise up and embrace these powers of faith
being projected upon us by this heavenly battalion of Jewish souls.
Would that our leaders discover our true source of strength and go
forward to uproot and destroy our enemies." We came away from this visit with the Kessler family assured more than ever of the ultimate victory of Israel.
From Eli we traveled to the nearby town of Shilo, to pay a shiva call at the home of the Yerushalmi family, whose son, Shmuel, was murdered by an Arab suicide bomber at the bus station in French Hill as was Gila Kessler. Rabbi Avraham, the father, a refined Torah scholar who teaches at a yeshiva in Bet El, and the mother, Anat, created an air of gentle softness engulfing all those who came to comfort them in their pain and mourning. When we were discussing the ideals of Eretz Yisrael and the pioneering motivation of our young generation, Anat asked me to wait until she gathered her young children to join us, so we could share our thoughts with them. These loving and responsible parents want their children to absorb the full depth of this painful experience, knowing that it will enrich their faith and strengthen their ties to the Land, which has become more precious because of the dear price of Jewish life invested in it.
From Shilo we set out for Ofra, our last stop on this special journey, bringing us to the core of Jewish life clinging to the roots of Eretz Yisrael. We came to the home of Chanoch Alon whose wife, Noah, and their five year old granddaughter, Gal, were murdered by the suicide bomber at the same bus stop in French Hill. Noah was a kindergarten teacher for many years in Ofra. Most of the young generation of Ofra had the privilege of being influenced by the joy and unlimited energy of her personality. Chanoch, one of the original builders of the community in Ofra, expressed his appreciation and thanks to the G-d of Israel for giving him the opportunity to participate in this Divine Process of restoring Jewish life to the ancient hills of Judea and Samaria. How privileged we are to witness the transformation of these barren areas into flourishing Jewish communities bringing to realization the vision of the prophets. The great efforts of the few produced this astounding reality of two hundred fifty thousand Jews living a meaningful life of faith and joy which have been tested and galvanized by many pains. Again, the Divine words describing the secret power of the eternity of Israel were echoing as a soft backdrop in every home we visited that day. "The more they were afflicted, the more they multiplied and burst forward." Exodus 1:12
From Ofra in the land of Binyamin, we turned south towards Jerusalem on our way home to Kiryat Arba- Hebron in the hills of Judea. Driving in the darkness of night, after a long and trying journey, the lights of Jewish communities all along the way illuminated the hills of YESHA, adding a dimension of sweet comfort to the anguished soul of Israel. After digesting the magnitude of the spiritual powers enhanced by the suffering of these bereaved families we felt humbled when facing fellow Jews with so much faith and love for the people and the Land of Israel. At that moment a prayer rang forth to the G-d of Israel: "Please help us to continue to bring the light of Torah and Jewish faith to all of Israel, without any more pain; only with love, joy and happiness."
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Rabbi Eliezer Waldman serves as Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshivat Kiryat Arba
forward." Exodus 1:12
by Rabbi Eliezer Waldman
Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshivat Kiryat Arba
22 Tammuz 5762
One day last week my wife and I set out in the morning for a long day of shiva visits. The first station was at the Sheba hospital in Tel HaShomer to visit two children of the Shabo family of the shomron community of Itamar whose mother, Rachel, and three other children were murdered by an Arab terrorist just a few days ago. This visit encompassed two mitzvot, Bikur Cholim (visiting the sick) and comforting mourners. The boy, Asael, who is eight years old, had his leg amputated and the girl, Aviah, thirteen years old suffered serious injuries to her internal organs. They were surrounded with the love of relatives and the nurses. This was my first experience to perform these two mitzvot under such conditions. Again, we see the Jewish power of continuance of life.
These two children witnessed the barbarous murder of their mother and three brothers, and here they are with the responsibility of perpetuating the life of their family.
We then set out for the community of Ginot Shomron to pay a shiva call at the home of the mother of Rachel Shabo. Rachel's husband, Boaz, and two more children were sitting shiva. These members of the family were not at home at the time of the massacre. We were impressed with the determination of Boaz who lost a wife and three children, turning to G-d and asking Him for the strength and faith necessary to begin anew and restore the life and warmth of a loving Jewish family.
From Ginot Shomron we continued to Elkana to the home of Professor and Mrs. Elazar Twito, whose son Yosef was murdered in that terrorist attack on the Shabo family. Yosef was the head of security team of Itamar. He heard the shooting and immediately took his gun and ran towards the Shabo house. And, when bursting through the door, he was shot by the terrorist. Yosef was a teacher of first grade children in Alon Moreh, loved by both the children and their parents. At the Twito home we heard stories of a young man from Algeria coming on aliyah at the age of eighteen just in time to participate in the War of Independence of 1948 as a religious member of the Palmach commando unit. He then continued his studies and achieved the academic position as professor of Tenach (Bible studies) at the University of Bar Ilan. The Jewish traits of devotion, sacrifice, and faith as a driving force to go on with the life of a nation still struggling to ensure its existence, were vividly but humbly demonstrated.
We continued this trip of gathering spiritual strength to the next station, to the town of Eli. We came to pay our respects to a family by the name of Kessler who were mourning their nineteen-year-old daughter, Gila, who was murdered when a suicide bomber exploded at the bus station at French Hill in Jerusalem. Her mother came from Tunis and her father from the United States. Gila was doing national service in a Jewish Agency office in Jerusalem. The family, including her American grandparents who lived in Shilo, asked if I could explain this sequence of tragic events that demand so much faith in order to continue. I related to them my experiences with the families who had lost their loved ones to Arab terror. At this moment it came to me that, while our government must courageously take the necessary steps to destroy the terror and its roots, we people of faith must also try to perceive the Divine Process unfolding before our eyes. At this point I found myself putting into words, thoughts and feelings which have been bursting within me, searching for avenues of expression.
Our sages teach us that there is a Jerusalem in Heaven which is opposite the Jerusalem on Earth. The Jerusalem in Heaven projects the spiritual powers of life to be aroused in the Jews seeking the inspiration and Divine elevation in Jerusalem of Israel. All appearances of life on Earth receive their nourishment, powers of growth and true meaning from heavenly sources.
When the Jewish nation was created, upon deliverance from Egyptian
slavery, we were attacked by Amalek who would not accept a national
Divine entity representing the G-d of Israel in this world. Moses then called upon Joshua to mobilize the Jewish army to fight Amalek. After the defeat of Amalek by Joshua and his forces, Moses was commanded to engrave in the national Jewish memory that G-d will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under the heavens. Moses declared, "Because the L-rd has sworn by His Throne, that the L-rd will have war with Amalek from generation to generation." Exodus 17-16
Just as the Israeli government issued emergency call up orders to
mobilize the forces necessary to fight terror; in the same manner the
G-d of Israel issued emergency call up orders, mobilizing the purest
souls of our people to serve in the heavenly army. The heavenly hosts
draw strength from the Divine source of life, and thus project a
constant stream of faith, courage and devotion to our soldiers on the
ground. The wars fought to ensure Jewish existence and national rights
are always waged on two fronts. On the Earthly front, the Israeli
Defense Forces serve as the "ground troops". They are aroused and
strengthened by the spiritual inspiration of those pure Jewish souls who were mobilized to serve on the heavenly front, projecting the light illuminating the true meaning of Jewish life. This Divine mobilization of Jewish souls is most painful to the families who have lost their loved ones. I do hope that these thoughts and feelings can soothe the pain by giving a deeper meaning to the words pronounced when comforting mourners, "May G-d comfort you among all mourners of Zion and Jerusalem."
The Kessler family seemed to absorb these thoughts while taking a few
moments to digest them. Their astonishing response came forth saying,
"Would that our government rise up and embrace these powers of faith
being projected upon us by this heavenly battalion of Jewish souls.
Would that our leaders discover our true source of strength and go
forward to uproot and destroy our enemies." We came away from this visit with the Kessler family assured more than ever of the ultimate victory of Israel.
From Eli we traveled to the nearby town of Shilo, to pay a shiva call at the home of the Yerushalmi family, whose son, Shmuel, was murdered by an Arab suicide bomber at the bus station in French Hill as was Gila Kessler. Rabbi Avraham, the father, a refined Torah scholar who teaches at a yeshiva in Bet El, and the mother, Anat, created an air of gentle softness engulfing all those who came to comfort them in their pain and mourning. When we were discussing the ideals of Eretz Yisrael and the pioneering motivation of our young generation, Anat asked me to wait until she gathered her young children to join us, so we could share our thoughts with them. These loving and responsible parents want their children to absorb the full depth of this painful experience, knowing that it will enrich their faith and strengthen their ties to the Land, which has become more precious because of the dear price of Jewish life invested in it.
From Shilo we set out for Ofra, our last stop on this special journey, bringing us to the core of Jewish life clinging to the roots of Eretz Yisrael. We came to the home of Chanoch Alon whose wife, Noah, and their five year old granddaughter, Gal, were murdered by the suicide bomber at the same bus stop in French Hill. Noah was a kindergarten teacher for many years in Ofra. Most of the young generation of Ofra had the privilege of being influenced by the joy and unlimited energy of her personality. Chanoch, one of the original builders of the community in Ofra, expressed his appreciation and thanks to the G-d of Israel for giving him the opportunity to participate in this Divine Process of restoring Jewish life to the ancient hills of Judea and Samaria. How privileged we are to witness the transformation of these barren areas into flourishing Jewish communities bringing to realization the vision of the prophets. The great efforts of the few produced this astounding reality of two hundred fifty thousand Jews living a meaningful life of faith and joy which have been tested and galvanized by many pains. Again, the Divine words describing the secret power of the eternity of Israel were echoing as a soft backdrop in every home we visited that day. "The more they were afflicted, the more they multiplied and burst forward." Exodus 1:12
From Ofra in the land of Binyamin, we turned south towards Jerusalem on our way home to Kiryat Arba- Hebron in the hills of Judea. Driving in the darkness of night, after a long and trying journey, the lights of Jewish communities all along the way illuminated the hills of YESHA, adding a dimension of sweet comfort to the anguished soul of Israel. After digesting the magnitude of the spiritual powers enhanced by the suffering of these bereaved families we felt humbled when facing fellow Jews with so much faith and love for the people and the Land of Israel. At that moment a prayer rang forth to the G-d of Israel: "Please help us to continue to bring the light of Torah and Jewish faith to all of Israel, without any more pain; only with love, joy and happiness."
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Rabbi Eliezer Waldman serves as Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshivat Kiryat Arba