"If your enemy hungers, give him food to eat;
and if he thirsts, give him water to drink.
For you?ll be piling burning coals of shame on his head
and the Lord will reward you." -- Proverbs 25:21-22, International Standard Version)
The world press will little note nor long remember a decision made a couple of days ago by the Jewish Agency for Israel. The decision is the first time that a coordinated effort has been made by Jews to help victims of Jewish terrorism. Yes, there is such a thing, but there's a story behind the story, if you'd like to learn something here that you won't likely learn elsewhere.
Background
The two verses from chapter 25 of the Book of Proverbs cited above have been on my mind since last Thursday. That's the day when the world's press carried the sad report about a young Israeli man who went on a shooting rampage in the Israeli town of Shfaram.
Tortured in mind and soul over orders to report for duty in the IDF and help force his fellow countrymen to leave the Gush Katif area of Israel (where they are residents, not settlers), the young man tried to go AWOL in protest, according to press reports, but then snapped mentally and went on that shooting rampage.
Four non-Jewish Israelis were killed. But then the Arab community in Shfaram lynched the soldier, and the world's press devoted more press coverage to the lynching than it did to the shooting.
By the oddest of happenstance (my rabbi friends keep reminding me that "coincidence" is not a kosher word), the ISV Foundation, which I've sponsored for the last ten years or so, just happens to be working on translating the Book of Proverbs this month for its English-language translation, called the International Standard Version. And it was my happy task to translate that chapter this week.
And that's why I happened to be thinking about just how it is that piling burning coals on somebody's head can actually be an act of kindness and not terror. Do take a moment, won't you please, to check out the following little-noticed story published yesterday in the Israeli news media.
The News Report
With a brevity and succinctness that belies the important content of the story, Arutz Sheva reported the following on Friday, 5 August 2005:
Acts of Kindness, Acts of Shame
I admit it. The original Hebrew text of Proverbs 25:21-22 doesn't have the phrase "of shame" in the third line of the pericope:
Frankly, our Committee on Translation for the ISV added the two words to the text because contextually we think they're required for the passage to make any sense. A footnote will be inserted into the passage that notes that the Hebrew text lacks the phrase, just to keep things technically accurate.
The behavior of the Jewish Agency for Israel on Friday proves how right we were to do this.
Have you ever read, even once, in any press report published anywhere in the world that a Muslim group has condemned a terrorist act by conservative, Wahabbi-type, radical Muslims?
No? I didn't think so.
Neither have I.
Not one.
Have you also noticed that never, not even once, have any press agencies carried a report that Muslims sent aid to help Jewish victims of violence perpetrated by conservative, Wahabbi-type, radical Muslims?
I certainly haven't.
By its decision, the Jewish Agency piles coals of fire on the heads of the Muslim community of Israel. To the shame of these Muslims. And to the glory of God. They are trying to heal the hurts caused by personal vendettas.
These Amazing Jews of Israel
Yes, I know. The man who shot those Israeli non-Jews was reported as being from Kfar Tapuach. That's the village conclave in Samaria that's surrounded by hostile, conservative, Wahabbi-type, radical Muslims. Every once in a while, those Muslims have been known to sneak into places like Kfar Tapuach and shoot little six-month-old baby Jewish girls to death while they're asleep in their bassinets.
This is the same Kfar Tapuach for whose behalf I've committed to help finance the design and construction of a security perimeter to help protect it from those attacks. A few Israeli friends of mine (David Ha'Ivri and Yekutiel Yaacov, to name two of them) knew the shooter personally.
And yes, I'm on public record as being against personal acts of retribution against the conservative, Wahabbi-type, radical Muslim community such as last Thursday's attack. State acts of retribution I endorse wholeheartedly, in keeping with the traditions of international law and the sovereignty of nations.
However, having given that caveat, let me say that my respect for the Israeli people has increased of late, precisely because of the posture of kindness in the midst of tragedy displayed by the Jewish Agency for Israel.
May HaShem reward them.
Uh, while you're at it, Lord, would it be too much to ask for you to stop the Sharonic (rhymes with "moronic", don't you know?) government from forcing the Jewish residents (not settlers) who live in Gush Katif and Samaria from their homes and businesses?
As part of Your reward to the Jewish Agency?
and if he thirsts, give him water to drink.
For you?ll be piling burning coals of shame on his head
and the Lord will reward you." -- Proverbs 25:21-22, International Standard Version)
The world press will little note nor long remember a decision made a couple of days ago by the Jewish Agency for Israel. The decision is the first time that a coordinated effort has been made by Jews to help victims of Jewish terrorism. Yes, there is such a thing, but there's a story behind the story, if you'd like to learn something here that you won't likely learn elsewhere.
Background
The two verses from chapter 25 of the Book of Proverbs cited above have been on my mind since last Thursday. That's the day when the world's press carried the sad report about a young Israeli man who went on a shooting rampage in the Israeli town of Shfaram.
Tortured in mind and soul over orders to report for duty in the IDF and help force his fellow countrymen to leave the Gush Katif area of Israel (where they are residents, not settlers), the young man tried to go AWOL in protest, according to press reports, but then snapped mentally and went on that shooting rampage.
Four non-Jewish Israelis were killed. But then the Arab community in Shfaram lynched the soldier, and the world's press devoted more press coverage to the lynching than it did to the shooting.
By the oddest of happenstance (my rabbi friends keep reminding me that "coincidence" is not a kosher word), the ISV Foundation, which I've sponsored for the last ten years or so, just happens to be working on translating the Book of Proverbs this month for its English-language translation, called the International Standard Version. And it was my happy task to translate that chapter this week.
And that's why I happened to be thinking about just how it is that piling burning coals on somebody's head can actually be an act of kindness and not terror. Do take a moment, won't you please, to check out the following little-noticed story published yesterday in the Israeli news media.
The News Report
With a brevity and succinctness that belies the important content of the story, Arutz Sheva reported the following on Friday, 5 August 2005:
Jewish Agency Offering Aid to Shfaram Victims
16:16 Aug 05, '05 / 29 Tammuz 5765
(IsraelNN.com) The Jewish Agency for Israel on Friday released a statement to the bereaved families and wounded victims of Thursday?s fatal shooting attack in Shfaram, offering financial assistance.
Officials report this will be the first time that contributions from world Jewry intended for Jewish terror victims will be distributed to Arab victims of terror.
Acts of Kindness, Acts of Shame
I admit it. The original Hebrew text of Proverbs 25:21-22 doesn't have the phrase "of shame" in the third line of the pericope:
"If your enemy hungers, give him food to eat;
and if he thirsts, give him water to drink.
For you?ll be piling burning coals of shame on his head
and the Lord will reward you."
Frankly, our Committee on Translation for the ISV added the two words to the text because contextually we think they're required for the passage to make any sense. A footnote will be inserted into the passage that notes that the Hebrew text lacks the phrase, just to keep things technically accurate.
The behavior of the Jewish Agency for Israel on Friday proves how right we were to do this.
Have you ever read, even once, in any press report published anywhere in the world that a Muslim group has condemned a terrorist act by conservative, Wahabbi-type, radical Muslims?
No? I didn't think so.
Neither have I.
Not one.
Have you also noticed that never, not even once, have any press agencies carried a report that Muslims sent aid to help Jewish victims of violence perpetrated by conservative, Wahabbi-type, radical Muslims?
I certainly haven't.
By its decision, the Jewish Agency piles coals of fire on the heads of the Muslim community of Israel. To the shame of these Muslims. And to the glory of God. They are trying to heal the hurts caused by personal vendettas.
These Amazing Jews of Israel
Yes, I know. The man who shot those Israeli non-Jews was reported as being from Kfar Tapuach. That's the village conclave in Samaria that's surrounded by hostile, conservative, Wahabbi-type, radical Muslims. Every once in a while, those Muslims have been known to sneak into places like Kfar Tapuach and shoot little six-month-old baby Jewish girls to death while they're asleep in their bassinets.
This is the same Kfar Tapuach for whose behalf I've committed to help finance the design and construction of a security perimeter to help protect it from those attacks. A few Israeli friends of mine (David Ha'Ivri and Yekutiel Yaacov, to name two of them) knew the shooter personally.
And yes, I'm on public record as being against personal acts of retribution against the conservative, Wahabbi-type, radical Muslim community such as last Thursday's attack. State acts of retribution I endorse wholeheartedly, in keeping with the traditions of international law and the sovereignty of nations.
However, having given that caveat, let me say that my respect for the Israeli people has increased of late, precisely because of the posture of kindness in the midst of tragedy displayed by the Jewish Agency for Israel.
May HaShem reward them.
Uh, while you're at it, Lord, would it be too much to ask for you to stop the Sharonic (rhymes with "moronic", don't you know?) government from forcing the Jewish residents (not settlers) who live in Gush Katif and Samaria from their homes and businesses?
As part of Your reward to the Jewish Agency?