RANDOM MURDER

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5635166.post-1154204869112682182006-07-29T12:54:00.000-07:002006-07-31T17:34:04.500-07:00RANDOM MURDERBS"D 5 Av Erev Shabbat a man forced his way into the Jewish Federation of Seattle & shot several innocent people, including a pregnant woman. One is dead. Thanks to <a href="http:egina2.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Jordan</a> for the heads up on <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a0K9On5mM7yg&refer=home" target="_blank">this</a>. I worry for my friends who work on behalf of all Jews in the Diaspora, including my home community of Vancouver. May G@d bless the work of their hands. The weekly message from the head of Federation in Vancouver, newly returned from his trip to the north of Israel, included this statement: <blockquote>"...while the evacuation of southern Lebanon has been heavily covered by the Western news media, the equally large evacuation of northern Israel is barely a story to the rest of the world. An estimated 500,000-700,000 people have left northern Israel to relocate to the centre and south. The remaining population, mostly the elderly, poor and new immigrants who don't have the family or financial resources to leave, is hunkered down in bomb shelters. The streets are empty. Factories and businesses are shut down. Restaurants and stores are closed. Fruits and vegetables are rotting in the fields. The entire north of Israel has become devoid of life and activity..."</blockquote> There are thousands of soldiers up there risking their lives so that I could have a pleasant Friday night of prayer & sharing food with <a href="http://smontagu.org/blog/" target="_blank">Simon</a> & his family, <a href="http://danyaruttenberg.net" target="_blank">Danya</a> & <a href="ttp://boroparkpyro.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Steg</a> here in Jerusalem. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Meir_Lau" target="_blank">Rabbi Yisrael Lau</a> once recounted a story from his childhood. I recall that he told of the last time he saw his big brother before they were separated at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buchenwald" target="_blank">Buchenwald Concentration Camp</a>. The elder Lau said to the little boy, <blockquote>"There is a name of a place you must know. It's called 'Eretz Yisrael'. Remember this name always. No matter what happens, you must repeat this name, so when this is all over & they ask you where you want to go, you must tell them, 'Eretz Yisrael'. Because that is the only place in the World where they do not kill Jews."</blockquote> I must close this post & my eyes. Tomorrow it's off to the bindery, in this perpetually besieged country. The sofrut must go on. Shavu'ah tov - may you have a good week. 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