Dear Members of the Muslim Community,
In the wake of Friday’s horrific massacre at the Al Noor and Linwood Mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, I have to reach out. Many people I know have said that in the aftermath of this horrific tragedy, that words fail them. “I wish I knew what to say” one acquaintance told me; others posted on social media that “there are no words”.
On the contrary, there are words, plenty of them, and they have to be said. I don’t share your religion. I am an Orthodox Jew living in America, far removed from the Muslim community in New Zealand. But the massacre in the mosques shows that we share a great deal.
The gunman hated us both, Muslims, Jews, and anyone else who didn’t fit in with his odious white-supremacist views.
The gunman who killed 50 of your co-religionists – I won’t write his name so as not to give him one iota of the recognition or glory he ostensibly craved – hated us both, Muslims, Jews, and anyone else who didn’t fit in with his odious white-supremacist views. “Screw the optics” he posted on social media in the moments before he started his rampage – a direct reference to the Tree of Life Synagogue shooter who killed 11 Jews in Pittsburgh last October, who posted those same words before storming the synagogue and shooting Jews.
The New Zealand killer sported an array of neo-Nazi and white supremacist badges. He wore the patch of an Australian neo-Nazi group, wrote an American neo-Nazi slogan on his rifle, and sported a Ukrainian neo-Nazi symbol on his jacket. As he carried out his massacre, he played a song glorifying Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and urged people to subscribe to the Swedish social media star and white-supremacist role model PewDiePie. Though he targeted Muslims, he seems to hate Jews and many others too.
In the wake of the horrific massacre, New Zealand authorities sent out an unprecedented message to the country’s Jews: all synagogues were to be closed on Saturday, March 16. With the entire country on high alert, the police were unable to guard every minority religion’s house of worship. Across Christchurch, the synagogues made the extraordinary announcement they would not be opening for services on Shabbat.
It’s shocking to think of an entire city’s Jews being barred from synagogue on Shabbat, and this Shabbat it was even more dreadful. It was Shabbat Zachor, when Jews recall the murderous nation of Amalek who attacked the Jewish people thousands of years ago as we journeyed out of Egypt. It’s read every year on the Shabbat before Purim, when we recall another plot to kill Jews, carried out by a descendent of Amalek, the wicked Haman. Shabbat Zachor reminds us that there is evil in the world that is relentlessly out to kill and destroy us. This year, as Christchurch’s Jews were forced to pray at home instead of in their beloved synagogues, that message resonated even more strongly.
In my own synagogue, packed with people taking part in the mitzvah remembering Amalak’s wickedness, I kept thinking of the scene in New Zealand mosques: 50 people murdered and many more seriously injured. Men, women and children shot. Mothers dying as they tried to shield their babies, people gunned down as they ran or crawled for safety. I couldn’t imagine the terror they felt. It was terrible to think of whole families being murdered as they prayed.
In the long history of the Jewish people, we too have been shot as we prayed. We too have been hunted and killed and massacred at prayer. Just five years ago in the Har Nof neighborhood of Jerusalem, two Arab terrorists entered the Kehilat Bnei Torah synagogue and massacred worshippers, killing congregants with guns, knives and axes. Four Jews died as they prayed, and a Druze Israeli police officer responding to the scene was also murdered.
Hundreds of terror attacks in the years since then have seen Jews killed in Israel, in France, in Argentina, in the United States and elsewhere simply for the crime of being Jewish. We know what it feels like to be murdered for our religion, and the agony that comes from being hated.
I will judge people according to their actions, not their ethnicities.
Some might point to the fact that often it’s been Muslim terrorists who were behind these attacks that killed Jews and wonder if we could still feel your pain. In my opinion, that’s an offensive question. Unlike the despicable murderer who killed 50 Muslims in New Zealand on Friday, I don’t hate whole categories of people. With prejudice and neo-Nazism and radical Islam and other forms of extremist hate on the rise globally, I take a stand never to hate a group of people simply for who they are. Every person is capable of good and evil, and we each choose which path we take. Recognizing this is an essential part of civilization. I won’t surrender the right to judge each people according to their actions, not their ethnicities.
Christchurch’s Muslims were peacefully going about their business. They were praying to the same God I pray to every day. It’s heartbreaking to know they were gunned down in cold blood.
My Muslim fellow human beings, I am immeasurably sorry for your loss. This is a horrific tragedy. I condemn the hate that led to this massacre. I feel your pain. I stand with you. I am praying for your dead, and for the injured who are fighting for their lives. You are not alone.
Yours Sincerely,
Yvette Alt Miller
(49) Anonymous, March 22, 2019 3:10 AM
The God of Islam, Allah is not the same God of the Torah
The God of the Torah is the God of Abraham, Jacob and Isaac and not Ishmael and He covenanted with Abraham. How could Allah be the same as the God of Abraham when there are many anti-Semitic verses in the Quran and Hadiths calling for the elimination of the Jews?
Of course, we all condemn the use of violence but we must not be mistaken and that Islamic doctrines are very anti Jew and Christian. Therefore, we don't pray to the same God.
anonymous, April 6, 2019 5:59 PM
There is One G-d.
Allah is the Arabic word for G-d and while the interpretation of Scripture might be different, Jews and Muslins pray to the same One G-d. I know others here disagree, there is only One G-d, One creator.
(48) Anonymous, March 21, 2019 8:25 AM
Unity in sorrow
Thanks for posting this. We must all, every group, every religious affiliation, every decent human being, be united in opposing hate crimes, genocidal intent and of course, deeds, the preaching of hate and bigotry, and speak out unequivocably about and to those who preach and proselytize such hatred, including our current President of the U.S.A. who was viewed as an inspiration by this most recent terrorist murderer.
(47) Robert Beniston, March 19, 2019 10:07 AM
View in context
This New Zealand attack was an atrocity like many that takes place today and the perpetrator may have been a fanatic but this is not just an isolated attack to be viewed on its own but in the context of current events which includes Moslem attacks against non moslems and Jews. This is tit for tat in a religious culture war which the Moslems are waging and which others have not realised yet. Incidentally the author was technically incorrect when referring Amalak attacking the Jews it was Israel they attacked the Jews were at that time just one tribe among twelve.
(46) Anonymous, March 18, 2019 7:18 PM
agreeing
She said it for me and many others I am sure. Only love and kindness will bring Peace to our World.
(45) Sarah, March 18, 2019 2:34 PM
Together we can
I still can’t find words to say/write. This could have been any of us. I used to go to the mosque. I have recently converted so last Saturday like you and many others was I was observing Shabbat. It’s sickening to imagine being in attacked from the most scared place. Sending love and light to the families of the victims and the survivors.
(44) MESA, March 18, 2019 2:20 PM
We Jews are like the canary in the coal mine. If they can do terrible things to us, they can do it to others. The people in New Zealand were PEOPLE and they were innocent. May Hashem watch over the injured and the grieving families. Thank you Dr. Miller.
Sara, March 19, 2019 9:24 PM
Beautifully said. Dr. Miller expressed exactly what I was feeling. May the people of New Zealand know that they are not alone and that others are praying for them.
(43) A'maal, March 18, 2019 12:59 PM
Christchurch New Zeeland
It's as if I been asleep for a ling ling time.Now I am awake and the News if the latest Mosk attack has shaken me.My sadness is so real as if it was one of my had died.I cannot seem to shake it off.I do not back evil. I will not give it glory. My words are in my heart. But our world any Religion for that matter is in danger. We have to start protecting each other.May this bring us together in Unity in Almighty God.
(42) Deborah Risk Tobin, March 18, 2019 12:35 PM
This is wonderfully articulated. I was raised in an Arab family in America and converted to Judiasm. I now live in the West Bank and work to bring the Arabs and Jews together. Not at all easy, but worth it to me. My son is a builder and hires lots of Arabs and has friends. We have to work towards making peace in the world no matter what is going on around us, or what others think.
(41) SURESH MANOHARAN, March 18, 2019 12:12 PM
Very empathetic
An empathetic and a thoughtful article...
(40) Joe Bill Scott, March 18, 2019 11:23 AM
The reaction must include a prescription for action.
It is not enough to lament the situation we are in. If during WWII, The New York Times had reported Nazi atrocities (obviously much worse than this event) would it have been thought sufficient to pen a similar chagrined essay? No, action would have been urged.
What policy should be prescribed now?
If a person's livelihood depends on a reputation that can be easily destroyed if the truth is spoken, than person needs to leave Chicago/Boston/Park Slope/Manhattan/L.A. and come back to Israel already.
NYgal, March 18, 2019 7:55 PM
120 Christians were murdered by Muslims in Nigeria last week
That's the same week as the NZ mosque massacre. The media, the heads of governments, Muslims m and non-Muslim, nice people around the world are all silent. No condemnations, no teddy bears, no flowers, no outrage.
(39) Tyrone Wille, March 18, 2019 7:35 AM
Shalom, I agree with you totally, thank you for speaking
Keep speaking out, otherwise, the saying they came, and no one was there to speak for us, because if you and I don’t speak for the rights of others there will be no one to speak for us.
Joe Bill Scott, March 18, 2019 11:24 AM
They aren't speaking up for us now
Why would "they" speak up for us in the future?
(38) donna, March 18, 2019 7:01 AM
What about the Christians
More Christians are terrorized for their faith than any other group. The only reason I mention this is because you made sure to include Jews and Muslims that face terror but you left out Christians who are murdered daily. I am not sure why. It made me so very sad that you intentionally left out Christians. I do agree it was absolutely horrible what happened in New Zealand. It has to end...all of mans injustice to man has to end. There is a God ...... man was created in His image. We must rise to higher consciousness so that the light of God reflects back that image. God is omnipresent...in ALL...Can you even imagine what God thinks of all of this. His Kingdom is in our midst.....His Temple is within man. We all need to get this right. I so look forward to the promise. Love and Shalom
Dvirah, March 21, 2019 4:05 PM
Not Well Known
I doubt the omission was intentional, attacks on Christians are not well publicized.
(37) Anonymous, March 18, 2019 6:14 AM
How can you use a horrible event like this to use for your own political agenda?
Anonymous, March 20, 2019 1:45 AM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_massacres_in_Nigeria
(36) Claudia Glittenberg, March 18, 2019 5:46 AM
Exodus 20:2
I agree that any form of hate and murder is wrong, but you said that you pray to the same god as the Muslim people. Itˋs not the same god. The god of the Muslim is like Haman. You violate the commandments when you mingle with other gods. Remember the first temple was destroyed over this sin. Read Ezekiel 8. Please donˋt answer this comment. Thank you.
(35) Nalinaksha Mutsuddi, March 18, 2019 4:52 AM
Spread love
Spread love not hate
(34) Martin Herring, March 18, 2019 3:10 AM
A Christian in New Zealand
Thank you very much for this letter, I work with Muslims, Hindus, Mormons and on occasion Jews. I have always considered New Zealand to be a very tolerant and diverse country and I am shocked to think this has happened in Godzone (what we used to call this country in the 70s and the 80s)
There is no room for this sort of hatred in this country and I hope and pray that it never happens again.
Shalom
Annie, March 18, 2019 6:47 AM
The Murderer is an Australian
Please remember that the killer was an Australian who came to NZ with the sole aim of doing this; he was NOT an New Zealander.
(33) Anonymous, March 18, 2019 1:48 AM
I deeply appreciated this Letter.
I read this moving letter an d I really aprpeciated . When thiking of horrible attacks throught the world makes us ask: Where is God, Our Lord when those crimes occur... But it is the evil within men´´s soul and heart which impells them to acts of terror. I send my sentiments of deep sorrow and sympathy tho the famileis of the deceased, and I pray that some day the gap between Muslims, Christians and Israelis will be closed or at least co-exist in peace, and those people will have no other choice than disappear.
Annie, March 18, 2019 3:06 AM
I live in NZ, and one of the things that is hard to comprehend is why he travelled from Australia to NZ to do this atrocity. He came to live here so as to carry out his evil plans. His hope of causing hate and dissension has failed utterly.
(32) Michael Neuman,DMD., March 18, 2019 1:01 AM
Excellently said price!
You might have also mentioned the Brooklyn born Jewish nut who gunned down Palestinians at prayer in Hebron a few years ago, to illustrate that hate is certainly a universal evil which no one group is immune!
Raymond, March 18, 2019 3:45 AM
Not a Fair Comparison at All
That is not a fair comparison at all. For one thing, Baruch Goldstein had every reason to believe that the islamoNazis were about to wipe out all the Jews living in Hebron at that time, and thus it can be said that he was engaging in a pre-emptive strike. But even if one rejects such an idea, Baruch Goldstein represents one Jew. His behavior was completely unlike the behavior of Jews as a whole, and just about every Jewish leader at that time condemned him. Contrast that with the followers of Allah, who quite proudly engage in islamoNazi terrorism every single day of the year, with their fellow followers of Allah cheering them on every step of the way.
(31) Laura BenAmots, March 18, 2019 12:59 AM
Lovely to see this Humane letter in commerfoderie with our Muslim brothers and sisters.
We must state again and again "There is never justification for Hate."
(30) Joel adler, March 18, 2019 12:19 AM
Well said
I agree 100%
(29) Mezcukor, March 17, 2019 11:53 PM
In answer to Yvette article
Dear Yvette,
Your letter to the Muslims is ok until you say that we pray from to the same god. Their god, Alla, is not the god of Jews and Christians. Have you read the Koran, the hadiths. Please do and you might change your mind.
Sincerely
Mezcukor
(28) geoff dickson, March 17, 2019 10:59 PM
The world media is silent
While we all feel for the NZ community, in recent days in Nigeria Fuluni tribes have killed 120 Christians and burned 140 homes in Kaduna region while Boko Haram has burned churches, homes, killed and captured women and children. The world media is silent because Christians are the victims.
(27) Raymond, March 17, 2019 10:18 PM
Deleted comment
This comment has been deleted.
Canuck, March 18, 2019 1:25 AM
No candies.
Unlike the aftermath of many Muslim-perpetrated murders (including that of a young Israeli Jew this morning), apparently no candies were handed out to celebrate the N.Z. massacre,
(26) Rachel Saffer Spiro, March 17, 2019 9:44 PM
I echo this powerful and heart felt message .
Thank you for finding the words that are in our hearts. Together we will stamp out hate with love and stamp out darkness with light.
Anonymous, March 19, 2019 11:56 PM
tell me how you going to stamp out hate ? what kind of love you talking about ? its a liberal ideas that does not get you any where
(25) Doron, March 17, 2019 8:53 PM
wish a nice letter from a Muslim
Wow, it would be nice to see Muslims writing such nice letters of condolences and empathy with us when fellow Jews are massacred.
Raymond, March 17, 2019 10:19 PM
Holding Your Breath
If I were you, I would not hold my breath waiting for that to happen.
(24) Anonymous, March 17, 2019 7:58 PM
Big mistake
Since when are Muslims praying to Hashem? They pray to Allah. As far as I know the nane of their god is not Hashem, they do not pray to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. You like the Pope are in denial.
Anonymous, March 17, 2019 10:20 PM
Allah vs G-d
I totally agree with you. Based on the murderous behavior constantly being done in the name of Allah, there is not just no way that Allah is the One True G-d of our Torah.
Anonymous, March 18, 2019 4:51 PM
Actually...
Actually, Rambam holds that Islam is not avoda zara... because it's the same G-d
(23) Anonymous, March 17, 2019 7:42 PM
why oh why?
this man said he chose New Zealand as it WAS the safest place in
the world.Safe you say?When he managed to get all the weaponry
& ammunition here in N.Z !Let us hope & pray going into 2 of our
most important holidays Purim& Pesach the world turns it's good
cheek & says "hag Sameacha"
Anonymous, March 18, 2019 6:49 AM
He may have bought the guns here, but he modified them illegally.
(22) Moshe ben Jaakow, March 17, 2019 7:04 PM
Schkojach!!!
(21) Anonymous, March 17, 2019 7:02 PM
One who has mercy on the cruel, will end up being cruel to those who deserve mercy
I find it deeply offensive that the writer includes reference to the Har Nof massacre whilst trying to comfort muslims who are at the heart of so many killings of our people. It is true that one shouldn't hate for no reason, but the muslim nation as a whole preach hate and death in the name of their religion, so hating them would not be for nothing. Whilst it might look nice to empathise with the victims of this crime, our sages have told us that one who has mercy on the cruel, will end up being cruel to those who deserve mercy. As a family member of one of the men murdered in the Har Nof Synagogue, it really upset me to read your article. If you felt so connected to your people, you would have been more sensitive about publishing your thoughts.
Anonymous, March 17, 2019 8:56 PM
All crimes are wrong!
All crimes are wrong under God! Are you implying all Moslems are criminal? There are crimes perpetrated by extremism, bigotry, cruelty, but not all Moslem feel this way, the genocide of innocent people in NZ is horrific! And the world community should condemn it as they are doing, standing always for what is right is important, even when in the past similar crimes were committed by Arab extremists, there are bad and good people among all groups! Nobody is above!
Anonymous, March 17, 2019 10:21 PM
Offensive?
How is it offensive? All lives matter, all terrorists are horrible. What's offensive about the statement?
Anonymous, March 17, 2019 10:26 PM
Har Nof Massacre
I see there are two people here, with opposing views, who have chosen to remain anonymous on this one. I want to say that I fully support the first one calling him or herself Anonymous. What happened in Har Nof was evil beyond words. The ones murdered were Rabbis praying...in other words, not only among the best of us minding their own business, but in the act of trying to bring G-dliness into the world. And one of those murdered was a grandson of the great Rav Joseph Soloveitchik! All Jewish lives have infinite value, yet somehow the murder of Rabbi Twersky was particularly shocking and horrifying to me. And let me just say here that anybody who faults you for anything you said here or feel here, is behaving in a morally reprehensible manner. I am so very sorry for your terrible loss.
Anonymous, March 18, 2019 12:32 AM
I am terribly sorry for your loss
I am the same one who said all crimes are wrong under God!
And going back to your comments, of course the Har Nof massacre is evil beyond words, as were the hundred and hundred evil attacks against Jews all over the word and against Israelis by the terrorist organization Hamas,
But we should not extend this evil nature to all Moslems, it is wrong! Not all Moslems are evil!
What happened in NZ is shocking and horrifying and the same perpetrators hate Jews as well. We should always condemn hatred, bigotry and racism against any people!
I am terribly sorry for your loss in Har Nof and deeply sorry for not saying it before! I am with you! But let's not feed our hearts with hatred, the world today is full of it!
(20) Anonymous, March 17, 2019 6:41 PM
YHWH and Allah are not the same diety...
Are you saying that you are a Muslim who worships Allah and not the Ancient Holy One of Israel Dr. Miller.??? You need to brush up on your comparitive theology/religion or open Torah at least once oh learned "doctor"... Truely you are ignorantly mistaken or intentionally misleading people with your Freemasonic dogma... Pushing an agenda perhaps.??? Wow... Unbelievable..
(19) Bonnie NIckle, March 17, 2019 6:22 PM
They are us , we are them
I extend my condolences to all of the Muslim families that have suffered losses from hate . These acts are atrocities no matter what religious or non religious community are attacked by such violence. Personally I think those that commit such attacks just pick a "reason" as if to justify in their twisted minds why they do it. Or maybe it is just on their "to do list". I choose to be a Light and to do as much Good as I can. Prayers for Love and Peace to all.
(18) Anonymous, March 17, 2019 6:05 PM
No one mentions the Christians being murdered in Africa or Moslems killing Jews!
Yes, it's terrible when anyone is massacred anywhere. Yet, I agree that there is too much silence when these Christians are being murdered in Africa or Egypt. And, those Moslems like Omar have added to hate fueled against Moslems as well as her antisemitism. David Duke, a neo Nazi in US even applauded Omar's anti Semitic stance. And, she's from Somalia where Christians have also been murdered. And, the idea that just because this particular gunman used neo Nazi rhetoric doesn't stop the socialist left like Corbin in Britain to spew his hatred like Moslem Omar spewing hers. It's coming from both sides. Even the Har Nof murders were caused by Moslems. You mention Arabs, but they were Moslems. I hate to say it, but this is just backlash against Moslems who would kill us if they could. Look at Hamas in Gaza and the Moslems in Judea Samaria. They want to kill Jews. I believe this gunman was thinking "I'm going to get them before they get me."
(17) Anonymous, March 17, 2019 5:59 PM
PewDiePie Is Misrepresented In This Article
Thank you for writing such a strong, insightful, and important article on this frightful and sickening attack in New Zealand.
However, I do think that it is very important that media in general, and especially articles such as these in particular, be very cautious about who is identified as being supportive of the repugnant ideology that led to this massacre. Felix Kjellberg (PewDiePie), condemned this attack, and the intolerance that led to it, in no uncertain terms. [https://twitter.com/pewdiepie/status/1106419935390171136]
I am concerned that this inaccuracy could inadvertently, and unnecessarily, drive a wedge between his 85 million subscribers and the orthodox community.
I am a modern orthodox Jew myself, and have no sympathy for the spewers of hate and intolerance. I love the content from both Aish.com and PewDiePie, and I am saddened that an organization like Aish, which should be especially sensitive to what it is like to be on the receiving end of the false allegations that have been hurled at Jews since time immemorial, is not more careful about incorrectly branding someone a white supremacist or supporter of that vile worldview.
Sincerely,
A fan of both his and yours.
(16) Anonymous, March 17, 2019 5:55 PM
Great article.
I hope you sent this to the people in the mosques in Christchurch.
(15) Connie Metayer, March 17, 2019 5:39 PM
What
I agree
(14) Laurence, March 17, 2019 5:38 PM
what about the massacre of christians all over the world by muslim ?
I don't really understand why you felt the need to write this letter to the muslim community. Why don't you write a letter to the christian community because of the murder of christians in Egypt or in Nigeria (last week The Fulani jihadists, who have become a greater threat to Nigerian Christians than the Islamist terror group Boko Haram killed 52 people) ?
Mikhael, March 17, 2019 6:52 PM
@Laurence
Well, why not write a letter of condolence in that case to the Shiite community when their mosques are attacked by Sunnis, or to Sunnis when their mosques are attacked by Shiites?
https://www.voanews.com/a/shiite-mosque-in-pakistani-capital-attacked/4141974.html
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/81152503-157.html
Or when Buddhists attack Muslims in Burma?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017%E2%80%93present_Rohingya_genocide_in_Myanmar
Or when Hindus attacked Sikhs?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_anti-Sikh_riots
All of these are odious and innocent people suffered in all these instances. What's shocking about the NZ attack though is that it happened in a place that we tend to think of as "safe" and thus immune from all these sectarian passions, and while it's appropriate to feel sympathy and horror at atrocities committed to innocent people anywhere by anyone, the alleged perpetrator in this case would single out Jews as well as Muslims, so we as Jews should also feel solidarity with this community.
(13) Judith E Reines, March 17, 2019 5:32 PM
Excellent Letter
This letter says it all
(12) Anonymous, March 17, 2019 5:25 PM
Yes. Thank you
After reading so much vitriol among the comments, I just want to weigh in on your side. May the light of HKBH fill all corners of the world and we as Klal Yisrael be the bearers of light that we were called to be.
(11) Judie weiss, March 17, 2019 5:22 PM
Well said
(10) Anonymous, March 17, 2019 5:17 PM
I don’t see this outcry from the Muslims when thousands of Christians are killed and Jews are being massacred. The gun man knew how the media would react to this and he was right. The media started blaming the Conservatives, the NRA anyone who does not buy into the left wing socialism. He was a socialist and the media is blaming everyone else but the perpetrator. I don’t see them blaming Omar here with her anti Semitic rants and the Liberal Jews are afraid to call her out. I am getting pretty sick of this double standard.
(9) Richard Fendrich, March 17, 2019 5:13 PM
JEWISH too
JEWISH too and share your well stated view.
(8) Wondering, March 17, 2019 5:10 PM
How about Christians Murdered daily?
I couldn’t help but wonder about hundreds of Christian worshippers murdered in Nigeria during last two weeks. Haven’t read any letters to these brothers and sisters? Why is that? Silence when churches get attacked almost on a permanent basis in the Middle East, yet a media storm with everyone falling all over themselves to express their horror and condolences when a mosque gets attacked. No one cares when a mosque gets attacked in the Middle East either. No one cares when Jews are attacked on a daily basis in every corner of the world, barely mentioned or distorted NY Times and WaPo style: “2 Palestinians murdered by Israelis” and nothing about what these two did prior to being eliminated. Why is such fundamental difference when it comes to the group whose members perpetrate 99% of the horrific attacks on civilians? I can’t help but notice these fundamental hypocrisy and preferential treatment. I just want explanation why is that? And PewDiePie is NOT white supremacist. He is a gamer. Game streamer. Get your facts together.
laurence, March 17, 2019 6:36 PM
pity for the ones that are cruel toward us
I totally agree with you. I posted a similar comment. I am also wondering if at the time of the bible, Moshe rabbeinu would have send a compassionate letter to the amalekite in case some of them would have been killed by a hittit....
(7) Anonymous, March 17, 2019 5:06 PM
‘offensive’??
you find it offensive to point out the fact that our people have been persecuted and murdered by muslims? What is your problem ?? i find your point of making this point offensive!! as if a single muslim will jot down such an empathetic letter!
SteveHC, March 17, 2019 5:37 PM
They HAVE
PLENTY of “letters” and other measures of PUBLIC support from Muslims and their congregations upon the massacre of Jews over the past few years have been in evidence.
Anonymous, March 17, 2019 6:35 PM
PALESTINIANS MURDERED BY ISRAELIS! WOW!
Wondering! Please get facts together, Palestinians never claimed such a thing going on, Palestinians are not murdered by Israelis, Israelis have the need to defend themselves. When Palestinians the last few days launched missiles to Tel-Aviv, it is very normal to retaliate for the need to protect Israeli citizens. Maybe other countries would have retaliated even worse, but Jewish values would not allow it! You should get these facts properly!
Anonymous, March 17, 2019 6:50 PM
SORRY! Wondering!
I am very sorry, read your message in the wrong way, believe we agree when allegations are made that Palestinians are murdered by Israelis, sorry again!
jen, March 19, 2019 11:07 AM
not many would care
sobering thoughts... why would any moslem write to comfort the murdered jews n christians? most will rejoice & celebrate the deaths of "infidels"!!
(6) Anonymous, March 17, 2019 4:40 PM
My heart goes with the Moslems of New Zealand!
My heart goes to Moslem of New Zealand! Why innocent people will need to die in this manner? It is devastating! The only solution to hatred is through education and Representative Omar should stop with her hatred rhetoric! We can see how dangerous racism of any type can be! we can address problems in a rational and civilized way, not by lashing out to a whole group of people, we need to see people individually and not as a totality!
(5) Joseph A Apicella, March 17, 2019 1:29 PM
The Dead will be remembered in my Church
A house of worship should be a place of refuge. Now many have to have a plan in place to handle violations. An attack on one house of God is an attack on all.
(4) Chryl McWilliams, March 17, 2019 1:27 PM
Thank you!
I was also struggling with words for this horrific act! Until this letter, I was also struggling with how to feel. This helped, so my prayer has been answered!
(3) Anonymous, March 17, 2019 12:58 PM
nonot
the God of Israel, Isaac & Jacob is not the same god of the Muslim.
Anonymous, March 17, 2019 1:24 PM
not the same God
*i meant to write the God of ABRAHAM, Isaac & Jacob is not the same muslim god
Anonymous, March 17, 2019 4:05 PM
Not same God
So you say God of Abraham is not God of Ishmaelites but only israelites. Not surprised to see poor knowledge of Torah on your part. Please don't ask people to laugh at your comments.
Anonymous, March 17, 2019 11:55 PM
Qur'an commandments
The Qur'an commands the Ishmaelites to kill every non-Muslim who refuses to convert or submit (9:5). Please don't ask people to laugh at your comments.
jen, March 18, 2019 10:32 AM
not same God
the ishmaelites of the bible worshipped God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob but the moslem worship allah ... how could the same God instruct another group of people to anihilate another?
(2) Eli K, March 17, 2019 10:45 AM
Ironic, isn't it?
Although I agree with your thoughts of condolence, I beg to call attention to the following:
"Unlike the despicable murderer who killed 50 Muslims in New Zealand on Friday, I don’t hate whole categories of people.... I take a stand never to hate a group of people simply for who they are"
Did you not just write about the mitzva of Parshat Zachor, to remember and avenge the evil perpetrated by Amalek? The entire nation represents evil and will be annihilated.
I know it doesn't sound politically correct to our ears bombarded with Westernized definitions of ethics and morals, but Torah is the Ultimate Truth. Ask your Rav about this mitzva and about hating entire groups of people.
Although this is a separate issue, I found your contradiction ironic.
Yvette Alt Miller, March 17, 2019 12:37 PM
We don't hunt Amalek today.
B"H
Thank you for your interesting comment. You are right that the commandment to remember Amalek and to wipe them out is an eternal mitzvah incumbent on all of us, but anyone who assertions that this might give us license to hate whole groups of people today is very mistaken. Amalek was an ancient Middle-Eastern nation that harbored an intense hatred of Jews. Even though the lands in which they lived were not part of Israel, they chose to go and attack our ancestors. Jewish sages have explained that Amalek's unique evil was that they were motivated by an irrational hatred of G-d and holiness. So long as the Jewish people represented both, Amalek was our enemy. In time, the people of Amalek were absorbed into the tribes around them and disappeared as a unique nation. It's very important to recognize that we no longer can identify someone as a descendent from Amalek today. (To erroneously claim that we know with certainty that a living person today is from Amalek might lead someone to mistakenly feel they could harm them, G-d forbid: that is not the case.) Some Jewish thinkers explain that Amalek lives on in each one of us, in the form of their original hostility towards G-d and holiness, and that one way to continue to fight Amalek today is to seek to conquer cynicism and anger within ourselves. Either way, one can certainly honor the Biblical commandment to remember Amalek's evil without giving license to our worst impulses of prejudice, and hating whole groups of people today. We are better than that.
Nancy, March 21, 2019 5:58 PM
To Yvette Alt Miller
I absolutely love your articles! You are such a gifted writer and I would love to meet you some day.
Anonomous, March 18, 2019 1:42 AM
To ironic
This is ironic. Please I am not a cold hearted person! What happened in N.Z. Is unspeakable, G-D comfort those poor souls! Amen!! I recently read in 1 Samuel, the prophet Samuel told king Saul to utterly destroy all people ,mem & women, young & old-infants too! And all the live stock as well. Saul did not do this entire killing off of this people group. And the kingship was taken from him, eventually going to the son of Jesse-king David. G-D must have known that all of these people would turn out against Him. Seems hard to believe but it is in G-D's word!. I pray for peace, healing, LOVE,& understanding-tolerate our differences (we have more in common, than differences) treat each other as we want to be treated. Shalom to all!!!
(1) Anonymous, March 17, 2019 10:30 AM
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Joseph A Apicella, March 17, 2019 1:33 PM
I join in your prayers for those injured and those killed
We all pray for the end of injustice and for those who pray for G-ds mercy.