The Rush to Condemn

3 Iyyar 5786

Day 18 of the Omer

The world, and most especially the Erev Rav ruling regime, are in a rush to condemn the IDF soldier's actions demonstrated in this picture. 

FM Sa’ar calls soldier’s smashing of Jesus statue in Lebanon ‘shameful’

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar says an IDF soldier’s damaging of a statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon is a “shameful action” and apologizes for the incident.

An image shared on social media yesterday by a Lebanese journalist and authenticated by the IDF showed the soldier smashing a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammer.

“The damaging of a Christian religious symbol by an IDF soldier in southern Lebanon is grave and disgraceful. I commend the IDF for its statement, for condemning the incident, and for conducting an investigation into the matter,” Sa’ar writes on X.

“I’m confident that the necessary strict measures will be taken against whoever carried out this ugly act. This shameful action is completely contrary to our values. Israel is a country that respects the different religions and their sacred symbols, and upholds tolerance and respect among faiths. We apologize for this incident and to every Christian whose feelings were hurt,” he adds.

"Contrary to our values": We hear quite a lot about this conflict of "values" in this country, but this situation is much better framed as a conflict of wills - humanity vs. its Creator.  There's no better time than today, just before the Zionist holiday of "Independence", to highlight this internal war.  

In the rush to judge and condemn the actions of this soldier, it is worthwhile for the Torah loyalists to review what HKB"H communicated to us via the prophet Yeshayahu (27.9)...

"Therefore, through this shall Jacob's iniquity be atoned for, and this shall be the fruit of his sin's removal:  When he makes all the altar stones like ground chalk stones, and Asherah-trees and sun-idols arise no more."

[Rashi] Therefore. Now, too, with this, Jacob’s iniquity would be atoned for, to merit to be redeemed as then.

Through the zealous and righteous actions of this soldier, may we merit to be redeemed today.  May they serve to tip the scales of justice in favor of the revelation of our righteous Mashiach now.

The rebels against our Torah "values" will self-righteously insist that "This is not who we are."  But, it is who we are meant to be.
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Related:  "The Northern Command will also assist the Christian community in restoring the statue to its place, the military added."  (Source)