And then came the news of the attack on Mercaz HaRav Yeshivah. My first thought was that there was a profound reason why this particular place at this particular time. Hashgacha pratit. My second thought was "Why?" And even more so as the reports came in of the celebrations going on in Gaza over the atrocity.
"Why, Hashem, when this is davka Am Yisrael's time for joy and celebration? Why should Adar turn upside down and bring them joy and gladness and not us?"
I hope I am not alone in asking this question. I hope that this will not be cause for another round of "the settler camp is holy of holies and we are chosen as sacrifices because we are the most righteous."
All evening long and again this morning, there was something nagging at the back of my mind. I kept going back to the story of "Ai" from the book of Yehoshua in the Tanakh. Thirty-six men died in battle and the leaders of the "settlement movement" went into mourning and asked God..."Why?"
Yehoshua, perek zayin---This morning, I found my answer to "why?" And it's the same answer to the question "Why Gush Katif?"
1. And the children of Israel committed a trespass in the consecrated thing, for Achan...took of the consecrated thing[during the conquest of Jericho]; and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.
2. And Joshua sent men from Jericho, to Ai,....Go up and spy out the land.....
3. And they returned to Joshua, and said to him, Do not let all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; do not trouble all the people there; for they are but few.
4. So there went up there of the people, about three thousand men; and they fled before the men of Ai.
5. And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty-six men; and they chased them from before the gate to Shebarim, and smote them in the descent; and the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
6. And Joshua rent his clothing and fell to the earth upon his face before the Ark of the Lord until the evening, he and the elders of Israel, and they put dust upon their heads.
7. And Joshua said, Woe, O Lord God, why have You at all brought this people over the Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to cause us to perish? Would that we had been content and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan!
8. Pray, oh Lord, what shall I say, after Israel has turned their backs before their enemies?
9. For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear and shall encircle us and cut off our name from the earth; and what will You do for Your great Name?
10. And the Lord said to Joshua, Get up; why do you fall upon your face?
11. Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them; and they have also taken of the consecrated thing, and have also stolen, and also dissembled, and they have also put into their vessels.
12. And the children of Israel shall not be able to stand before their enemies; they will turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become accursed. I will not be with you anymore, if you do not destroy the consecrated thing from among you.
13. Arise, prepare the people, and say, Prepare yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you will not be able to stand before your enemies, until you remove the accursed thing from among you.
The National Religious Public has set itself as the example to the nation of love of the Torah and the Land. They spearheaded the settlement movement. They represent a sizable portion of the IDF. When you set yourself as the example and yet fail in some area of it, you are the one who pays the price for failure.
Report: Terrorist worked as driver at yeshiva
Residents of east Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabel Mukaber say shooter who killed eight students at Jerusalem seminary Thursday was arrested by Israel four months ago, released two months later; his house demolished Friday morning
"...The involvement of Israeli Arabs in terror attacks is a problem the defense establishment has been forced to deal with quite a lot....."
The enemy was welcomed inside and given employment that enabled him to reside in Jerusalem.
"...remove the accursed thing from among you."
It bears repeating over and over and over again until someone begins to listen...
There is no "yishuv haaretz"---settling the land---without expelling the enemy from our midst!! Half a mitzvah is not a mitzvah, it's an invitation to disaster. We have reaped what we have sowed. God forgive us and open our eyes to Your Truth. Help us to return to the Torah-true path without compromise and let the deaths of our beloved children not be in vain. Amen!
UPDATE: Attack will be seen in Messianic terms
...This attack was aimed specifically for the religious Zionist and settler population, and the terrorists knew that by speaking in this language, to these people, their message could only be interpreted in one way. This will be seen in terms of Ishmael and Isaac.
Please, God, may it be so! Let the Purim "turn around" mean real teshuva.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Anonymous commenters MUST use a pen name.