Let's be realistic...Most Jews, in general, don't want to be seen by the world to be brutal or racist or what have you. I'm in the process of trying to teach family members better Jewish pride.
The other day I had an exchange with a family member on facebook about the "Schalit deal". While everyone in their shell is all honky dory happy about Schalit being free, they don't get it. You save one Jew (hopefully) but in return potentially get 100 more dead ones by releasing murderers. What response do I get by a family member? "What was Israel supposed to do to free Schalit?" My response, "Execute prisoners each day until he is free." The response to that, "But the world will frown upon that..."
To that, in my opinion is the lack of Jewish pride. I gave a long tempered response to that saying, "The world didn't care when 6 million were murdered," and "when it comes down to survival, the world can go you know what themselves. I would rather be Jew that is hated, but a winner and alive than a dead Jew that is loved with holocaust memorials erected everywhere."
after that, he deleted the whole exchange the next day...
Here is my response to liberal relatives who sent me the email below virtually aasking us to celebrate this fiasco.
>>The exchange would include Amina Mona, a young woman who lured a lovestruck Israeli teenage boy to a Palestinian city over the Internet, only to have him killed by waiting militants, according to Mohammed al-Barem, a leader of the Popular Resistance Committees, <<
What do we tell his family as well as the Jews who will be murdered by some of the released terrorists as well as soldiers killed in the future recapturing those terorists.
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F
Sent: Wed, October 12, 2011 11:19:13 AM
Subject: Fwd: [ANNOUNCE-LIST] Gilad Shalit - “She’hecheyanu Ve’ki’imanu, Ve’higiyanu”
Begin forwarded message:
From: Yonatan Cohen <
[email protected]>
Date: October 12, 2011 10:06:59 AM PDT
To:
Subject: [ANNOUNCE-LIST] Gilad Shalit - “She’hecheyanu Ve’ki’imanu, Ve’higiyanu”
Gilad Shalit - “She’hecheyanu Ve’ki’imanu, Ve’higiyanu”
In the coming days, the holiday of Sukkot followed by Smini Atzeret and Simchat Torah will offer several opportunities to recite the words “She’hecheyanu Ve’ki’imanu, Ve’higiyanu” expressing gratitude to the Holy One for the blessings of being alive, being sustained, and arriving to this time.
This week in particular, as I will say these words my thoughts will be with Gilad Shalit and his family. After 1934 days in captivity, Gilad, a son to Israel, will please G-d return home.
Several years ago, in discussing the mitzvah of pidyon shvuyim (redeeming captives) in our shul, I mentioned the tension between Avinu and Malkeinu – the difference between choices that a Father and a King would make. At this time we take comfort in an Israeli leadership that acted in a parental way, though in our hearts we may still struggle with the decision’s potential risks and dangers. A parental choice, nonetheless, reminds us that the Jewish people is a family.
So as we gather in our Sukkot, which this year more than ever will echo the Shalit protest tent that was erected in Jerusalem, and as we waive the four species, which this year more than ever will echo the unity of our Jewish family, and recite the words of “She’hecheyanu Ve’ki’imanu, Ve’higyanu” may we bear in mind:
She’hecheyanu – May the Holy One bless Gilad with life for all his life.
Ve’ki’imanu – May the Holy One sustain this agreement until Gilad’s release and thereafter for the betterment of the people Israel.
Ve’higiyanu – may Gilad arrive home safely and hastily.
And together, let us say, Amen.
R. Yonatan Cohen
Topic: The reason operation Cast Lead ended because Hamas threatened to kill Shalit (Read 1268 times)