No More Labels

Only people were killed in Sbarro.

I agree completely. I've heard people talking about how we have to be more modest or make more brachot in response to the situation now in eretz yisroel, but the message I keep feeling that is being sent to us is to reach out to all other Jews regardless of their cultural
background or level of religious observance. Maybe that is a precondition
for the savior we are all waiting for.

If only Everyone read this. The visit comment frommjaronson says it all beautifully.

I am not an Israeli, I am not a Jew, I am a Christian. Without the Jew, I would not have God, or faith or belief or hope. I was born in l939. When I was a child, my father told me of the attrocities that were being carried out by Hitler's men. I was very afraid. I prayed every night that these terrible things would stop, that God would put a stop to them or that these people would realize their leader was Evil and would rise up against him. I thought these people were ignorant not to see that he was lying to them. Today, the Israeli people have their own homeland, it was given to them centuries ago by a Kind and Loving and Forgiving God. He brought them back from all the Nations. They will never again be without their own land. They must call on Him to protect them. They must ask for Wisdom and Courage and He will answer. God promised that He would bring them back to their own land after dispersing them and this He has done. Once again, the Evil One is trying to drive them away and destroy them, but God will not allow this to happen. Have faith in the God of Israel, He is in control. If you will cry out and seek His face, He promises to answer. I ask everyone to Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem!

Rabbi Apisdorf's article is right on the mark. With all due resect, when will we start to hear a greater call for unity from our gedolim/rabbis during these troubled times? Instead of attributing our troubles today here in the land of Israel to the same thing which caused our Temple to be destroyed 1,900 years ago, we either hear nothing or the same party lines, ie - that the cause of our anguish is the lack of Mitzvah observance amongst the non-religious segments of the population. While Mitzvah observance is no doubt central to being a Jew, and the Torah even admonishes us that if we do not keep the commandments, we will be punished accordingly, our ancient sources clearly demonstrate the centrality of unity - that the Jews being united is a prerequisite for the coming of the Messiah. No one seems to get this nowadays. Perhaps if we religious Jews reached out to our non-religious bretheren "b'ahava", with love, instead of trying to ram Judaism down their throats, they would begin to see the beauty and meaningfulness in our heritage, and would then be more open to returning to their faith. Instead, no one has any tolerance for anyone who is different than they are. It has been said that no one has ever become religious through coercion. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET IT, FOLKS? IT'S TIME TO STOP THE PETTY BICKERING AND LABELING AND START LOVING OUR FELLOW JEWS! Then, G-d will surely redeem us from our troubles.

Wonderfull article, Rabbi. Thank you. There were also no non-Jews killed in the attack. Our enemies don't stop to ask, "Oh, before I shoot you, I just have one question: Was your mother Jewish?"

WOW! This was really powerful and ture. My heart aches when other Jews loose their lives.

If we could only learn from this article. If we could only listen to what this article really has to tell us. Unless we Jews will learn to get along, there will be no peace.

As in the camps, as in the ghettoes, as in the shtetlach it is only Jews.

Thank you

My only comment is, a tear from my eye and "ziftz" (deep sigh) from my heart.

the finest piece of TRUTH i have read in a long time. chills ran down my spine as the rabbi poignantly and powerfully made a point that sadly needed to be made.

I was shocked beyond belief and saddened by the suicide bomber hurting so many people. It is barbaric and not in this day and age. Although I never ate at Sbarro, I feel that this bombing could have been in any restaurant in Jerusalem that I had visited. May HaShem protect us all!

Indeed we are all jews, no matter from what sect or degree of observance, or country we live in. May we all understand this.

The Rabbi's comments are spot on. Our enemies do not discriminate between our petty labels - we are all descendants of the same patriarch - hence one family. Jews are Jews!

It is only when we all break out of our concerns for our own puny 'circles' and start realizing that we are all together part of the grand nation known as Klal Yisroel that we can begin to function according to our national destiny.

My Hashem grant that this realization comes soon.

Rabbi, as nice as your piece reads, I'm afraid that not even something as tragic as the Sbarro bombing will have the effect of bridging the growing gaps among Jews in the world today. It would be nice if true, but I'm afraid it's just a pipe-dream.

Well said.
Thank you.