Moshav Netzer Hazani issued the following announcement last night, 36 hours after the terrorist murder of their Rabbi Yitzchak Arama:
Our crown has fallen.
What shall we recount first?
His sterling character?
Or possibly the tremendous love of Torah he had?
His traits of truth, integrity, amazing preciseness?
Every word he uttered was carefully measured. Every minute was utilized to learn Torah and to teach it to others, to bring "shlom bayit" (family harmony), to issue Jewish legal rulings in every area. There was no one in Gush Katif who would not turn to him with questions in every aspect of life.
He entered the orchard [of Kabbalah] and came out whole, with such humility, with love of all G-d's creatures young and old. He comforted orphans, widows, and whoever was in need. It was enough just to see him, and that would already accomplish 50% of the job of comforting.
Whowever knew him - loved him, and loved G-d via him. His view of life was encompassing, and he would always say that one should look at the past, and thus view the present and the future, and in this way understand the entire picture - not to "get stuck" and judge according to the momentary present.
He often said that man's task in this world is that of "borer" - separating the unwanted, the negative, from that which is important and worthy.
He spent much time on the concept of the troubles of the "pangs of Messiah," as well as the joy of Redemption, and he knew that the test of our generation is the test of faith. He therefore tried to give us various tools with which we could successfully meet these challenges and tests.
There is no doubt that the vocation of "defense" and "judging favorably" that he taught us at such length will occupy him at the high levels that he has now reached above, and from there he will vouch for the Nation of Israel and will pray that G-d will finally say "enough" to our tribulations and will rush up the pulses of Redemption.
Our crown has fallen.
What shall we recount first?
His sterling character?
Or possibly the tremendous love of Torah he had?
His traits of truth, integrity, amazing preciseness?
Every word he uttered was carefully measured. Every minute was utilized to learn Torah and to teach it to others, to bring "shlom bayit" (family harmony), to issue Jewish legal rulings in every area. There was no one in Gush Katif who would not turn to him with questions in every aspect of life.
He entered the orchard [of Kabbalah] and came out whole, with such humility, with love of all G-d's creatures young and old. He comforted orphans, widows, and whoever was in need. It was enough just to see him, and that would already accomplish 50% of the job of comforting.
Whowever knew him - loved him, and loved G-d via him. His view of life was encompassing, and he would always say that one should look at the past, and thus view the present and the future, and in this way understand the entire picture - not to "get stuck" and judge according to the momentary present.
He often said that man's task in this world is that of "borer" - separating the unwanted, the negative, from that which is important and worthy.
He spent much time on the concept of the troubles of the "pangs of Messiah," as well as the joy of Redemption, and he knew that the test of our generation is the test of faith. He therefore tried to give us various tools with which we could successfully meet these challenges and tests.
There is no doubt that the vocation of "defense" and "judging favorably" that he taught us at such length will occupy him at the high levels that he has now reached above, and from there he will vouch for the Nation of Israel and will pray that G-d will finally say "enough" to our tribulations and will rush up the pulses of Redemption.