We received the news about Bin Laden as we returned home from a Bar Mitzvah on Sunday night. As we turned on the radio we
A party atmosphere? For shame!
heard President Obama speak to the American people and say that it was confirmed that Osama Bin Laden was killed by US troops. On Monday, I heard that he was killed by Navy Seals in a targeted killing. The Seals are a tough group of Marines who set out on highly secretive and dangerous missions.

Our initial reaction was subdued. Was it true? Was he really dead after almost ten years waiting to capture him?

As soon as we came home and turned on the TV, strange images hit me. I heard cheering, screaming, whooping and hollering and celebrating. I think it was Geraldo Rivera who said it felt like Mardi Gras or New Years Eve.

What was this party atmosphere? Both at Ground Zero and in Washington outside the White House, Americans were celebrating. As I scanned the crowds, I saw that it was mostly youth who were reveling. Was it youthful immaturity that caused them to be more excited and to be whooping it up in front of the TV cameras than to be thankful and grateful and a bit more serious about future ramifications?

Every time a Jew is killed in Israel in a terrorist attack, we see the Arabs celebrating in the streets of their towns and villages. And we condemn that behavior. And just last week on Pesach when we read the Song of Moshes at the Red Sea, Shirat Hayam, we learn that the malachim, the angels, were not allowed to sing the Shira because even though the Egyptians deserved to be punished, they were still Hashem’s children and celebrating their death would be wrong. 

We can certainly be grateful and thankful and comforted that justice has been served. But a party atmosphere? For shame! Let us better reflect on the partial closure to the horror of 9/11 that this brings.

It cannot bring full closure as long as there is still a war going on and as long as there are still terrorists who want to kill Americans and Jews. Americans should thank G-d that the mission was a success and praise the brave Marines who risked their lives for this succeess.

Kids, it’s time to grow up.%ad%