The synagogue is a place of intimate communion with God, where we strive to understand God's ultimate perfection and the meaning of our world.
Today that sanctity was desecrated, as Jews – in the Holy City of Jerusalem, immersed in morning prayers, adorned in tallit and tefillin – were slaughtered in cold blood by jihadists.
Dozens of worshipers were in the Har Nof synagogue at 7 a.m. when the terrorists struck with guns and axes, leaving the synagogue floor drenched with blood.
This attack hits extremely close to home, as the synagogue attacked was where many Aish staff and alumni pray every morning.
Aish HaTorah's Director of Administration, Rabbi Daniel Schloss, was 10 seconds away from entering the building when he heard shots and saw the wounded running out.
The 12-year-old grandson of Rebbetzin Tzippora Heller, a contributing writer to Aish.com, escaped through a hail of bullets. The boy’s father, Shmulik Goldstein, is hospitalized in critical condition.
Four rabbis murdered – one British and three Americans – who pursued their dream of moving to Israel and raising a Jewish family:
Rabbi Moshe Twersky, U.S. citizen and scion of a prominent rabbinic family, father of 5, was mentor to Aish senior lecturer Rabbi Gav Friedman and the director of Aish DC , Rabbi Shlomo Buxbaum.
Rabbi Kalman Levine, a native of Kansas City and beloved father of 9, was a teacher of Rabbi Nachman Elsant of the Aish Intermediate Program.
Rabbi Aryeh Kopinsky, American citizen born in Rhode Island and father of 5, whose son studies with my own son-in-law in Bnei Brak.
Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Goldberg, a British citizen and father of 6, including Ms. Libby Goldberg who worked for the Aish Finance Department.
Responding police officer Zidan Sayif, a 27-year-old Israeli Druze, was also killed by the terrorists.
We mourn this grossly horrific act of inhumanity that leaves four widows and 24 orphans on one street.
Holy War
Perhaps it should not surprise us that terrorists struck our holy place – given that the entire focus of this battle has become Jerusalem and the Temple Mount – the Jews' most holy site.
Forget the fact that the inaugural PLO charter from the 1960s never once mentions Jerusalem, and that it only became a jihadist hotspot once the Jews reunited the Holy City.
Jihadists realize that Jerusalem – holy to the Jews for 2,000 years before Islam ever existed – is where the big battle is now taking place.
That is why Islamists complained that Aish HaTorah's rooftop panorama overlooking the Western Wall includes a scale model of the Second Holy Temple. It is this very aspect of Aish's mission – to educate people about the Jewish connection to Jerusalem – that so undercuts the Islamist's false revisionist version of history.
It is what PR legend Charley Levine, buried one day earlier in Jerusalem, called "Jerusalem Denial Syndrome."
Anyone who doesn't recognize that jihadists are fighting a "holy war," has yet to recognize the true root of this conflict.
Incitement and Tolerance
Israel is amidst a Mideast powder keg. Iran is charging toward the nuclear goal line. Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, ISIS and Gaza are among what Ken Abramowitz calls the 10 existential threats to Israel today.
Palestinian leaders are contributing to the problem, having repeatedly celebrated terror and inflamed incitement against Israel. Last week, on official Palestinian Authority TV, officials praised recent terrorists for heeding the call that "Jerusalem needs blood to purify itself of Jews."
Even in the wake of this horrific synagogue massacre, official PA television showed images of Bethlehem residents handing out candy in support of the attack, and the official Fatah website praised the attack as a "heroic operation."
Living in Israel for 20 years, I have seen the barbaric crossing of many red lines, including:
• The incessant rockets and terror at bus stops and cafes.
• The Second Intifada, where friends were murdered by suicide bombers, and bullets whizzed by my house.
• The murder of yeshiva boys studying at Mercaz HaRav, the Fogel family slaughtered in bed, and the kidnapping-murder of three teenage boys this summer.
• Recent wars with Hamas and Hezbollah, which sent virtually every Israeli resident scrambling to bomb shelters.
Today, as mass murder stormed a synagogue in the middle of morning prayers, another red line has been crossed.
Our hearts wrench at the horror of this attack.
Each of us must ask: How does this tragedy challenge me to improve my own life?
Our love and concern goes out to the victims and their families.
We pray for the recovery of those wounded.
And we pray that soon, our land will be blessed with peace.
(21) Helen, November 20, 2014 1:13 PM
Teachings recently on Esau and Jacob
What a terrible loss of Rabbinical teaching and wisdom. What a loss of Just and upright men. I lament with those who have commented above. But the teachings show the problem is not going to go away. Jewish people are becoming refugees in their own land. I do not understand Britain and US not doing much. I do not understand at all. Might there be some respite if the republicans get back into power? Oh do prayer for your prime minister. He must be suffering with a sense of powerlessness and utter disregard from the "civilised nations". The complacency must be about oil and geo-politics. Would the republicans help more? Evil feeds off fear and you people are so dignified. This is how Bush got through 9/11 by not bowing to fear. This is how he led the people. Pray for your prime minister Benjamin. I will.
(20) Patricia Dockery, November 19, 2014 11:12 PM
Horrific murders in Synogogue
I love Israel and I love the Jewish people!!! My heart is full of sorrow and grief because of what took place in the synagogue. I am truly sorry for the death of these precious ones that belong to their Heavenly Father!!! God sees and He says "vengeance belongs to Me, I will repay" He will take care of those that come against HIS chosen ones!!!! May the LORD bless and comfort all these families!!!
(19) Chayim, November 19, 2014 12:32 PM
No, we will not be afraid to go to the synagogue !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Golda Meir said many years ago: "There will be peace in the Middle East only when the Arab mothers will love their children more than they hate the Jews."
Well nothing has changed since - their hatred is still the main driving force in giving purpose to their life. They hate, instead of loving, they destroy instead of creating. They teach their children to hate and to shoot before they learn to walk or to speak.
One of the main psychological aims of their attacks at our people is to make us afraid of them. For the sake of our children and grandchildren we can not succumb to that pressure. I can hear you saying so what is the solution?
In the book of Esther we find Mordechai asking all Jews to fast and prey for 3 days. This was our spiritual response to physical threat of annihilation.
Later when the Greeks wanted to destroy our way of life our spirituality and connection with G-d, the Maccabees responded with physical force and won, hence we celebrate the miracle of Hanukkah
Now in the pre-Messianic time we need both:
Our religious leaders to call for all branches of Judaism to start working together towards global unity of Jewish people, exactly as we have promised Him, when we were receiving the Torah. We had a Global Shabbat Project, now let's get together and pray together all over the world.
For our political and military leaders to say: "ENOUGH!" by coming up with a coherent response and punishment to the immediate and extended families of the terrorists.
Drastic times require drastic measures. HE clearly says to us: "Stand up and respond both ways. You have done it before, you can do it again.
(18) Hugo Stiglitz, November 19, 2014 12:16 PM
It's time to arm all Jewish citizens of Israel
Enough is enough. No more lies or half truths. There will never be peace with Palestinians because they don't want peace. Period. They, like Iran, use negotiations as a cover to plan more violence. To hell with international opinion and the absurdly useless U.N.
(17) Anonymous, November 19, 2014 12:15 PM
The red line was crossed long ago
The Palestinians crossed the red line long ago with the first Jew they murdered. Look at the situation carefully - the media all over the world sides with the Palestinians, the world leaders have almost no understanding of the situation and are always pushing the farce of a political solution and lastly the methods used for attack by the Palestinians are such that one needs an armed guard on ever corner of every street in Israel. HaShem is clearly telling us to stop looking at the media, politicians etc. for the solution we will never find it there. There is only one solution to situation of Jews all over the world and that is teshuva - returning to HaShem by working little by little to live a life that is completely in line with the Torah. May HaShem help us all to do so.
Miriam, December 3, 2014 9:43 PM
all Jews are holy, even outside the synagogue
Yes! All Jewish souls are precious, and none should be martyred - anywhere!
(16) Michael, November 19, 2014 9:28 AM
ENOUGH !
Many countries are waking up and changing their laws regarding the slime that murdered these beloved people from entering their countries. Israel is the last hope for the world to stop the parasites, aka, "Religion of Peace." They hate Israel, live there and take Israel money and then kill Jews. Sorry all, this has to stop now. Obama has no use for Israel and caters to the religion of peace to no end. These poor souls killed broke the camels back, May the murdered blessed memory live on with all of us. G-d please save Israel for these snakes that strike innocent , men, woman, and children. Golda Mier is turning in her grave, this mother of Israel would be walking through the holy land and making things right if this beloved woman still was among us.
(15) Bayla, November 19, 2014 8:58 AM
Just a reminder that we're in golus
This horrific incident and those of the last few weeks all over Israel just goes to show that all the 'living in Israel' hype that people have posted here is a denial of our situation. We are in golus - be it in Europe, USA or Israel!
May we be worthy of redeeming soon.
(14) Anonymous, November 19, 2014 8:51 AM
Rabbi Aryeh Kupinsky
copied from: www.theyeshivaworld.com
Rabbi Aryeh Kupinsky HY”D, 43, was a US citizen too. He was a regular at the minyan where the attack occurred. The family has known tragedy as Rav Aryeh’s 13-year-old daughter, Chaya Chana was niftar 3 years ago in her sleep. Rav Aryeh was known as a man of chessed and ran a gemach. He was known to never refuse anyone seeking assistance in any form, always seeking ways to assist others. His oldest son learns in Yeshiva Gaon Yaakov in Bnei Brak, headed by Maran HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita. He is survived by his wife and five children, ages 5-16.
I was his and his older siblings babysitter over 42 years ago. His whole family are kind, wonderful chessedik people, true Torah Jews.
(13) Sharona, November 19, 2014 7:47 AM
This is so sad and tragic. My prayers are with them. I read somewhere that before Moshiach are going to be difficult, but it doesn't have to be. If we work hard to improve ourselves, we can be cleansed pleasantly instead of painfully. Lets each of us find something to work on, whether it's guarding our speech against gossip so our prayers are more effective, improving with Shabbos so we bring light, etc.
(12) Anonymous, November 19, 2014 5:34 AM
Red Line?
it is intensely shocking for any Jew to hear that Rabbis were cut down while dovening amida, wearing their tallis and tefillin. Yet I cannot understand and am shocked by you saying a red line has been crossed. That something previous could have been "tolerated". Is this worse than 8 young boys being shot down while learning in Mercaz HaRav study hall? Five members of one family killed in Pizza Sbarro when we hear the fathers last words were shma yisrael? yeshiva students killed in Otniel and Atsmona? Murders of babies? What happened yesterday was terrible and very very shocking. But a red line? Please reread and rephrase.
Jack, November 19, 2014 10:43 AM
100 percent wrong
Dear Anonymous,
You are absolutely right. The cheapens Jewish blood. Those yoiu mentioned and others were "ok" before the Arabs passed this redline or that. That is wrong! No spilling of Jewish blood is acceptable. That's the redline.
The one point that Rabbi Simmons makes that needs to be reiterated is that this is a WAR. We should urge the Israeli government to begin fighting it like that. Don't put our soldiers in danger, don't put our civilians in danger, stop treating their wounded, and stop doing things for public opinion.
The Almighty surely wants us to win this war so let's start fighting it.
(11) Sam, November 19, 2014 4:55 AM
Forgiveness?
Forgiveness is irrelevant until the sinner seeks forgiveness.
(10) Jared Israel, November 18, 2014 8:57 PM
Your attack on Egypt, lumping it together with Syria, is monstrously wrong.
Why, in the midst of writing about this horrific tragedy, do you take the opportunity to falsely equate the Egyptian state with Jihadists who want to destroy Israel? Since former Egyptian president Morsi was overthrown, Egypt has conducted an all-out war against the Muslim Brotherhood. This is the most important defeat for the Islamic variety of clerical fascism in many decades. Egypt is fighting a mortal war with the Sinai terrorists, behind whom stands Hamas, the key remaining Brotherhood force. To attack Egypt is to join in the US-EU campaign to save the Muslim Brotherhood. Therefore, an attack on Egypt is in a very real sense an attack on Israel. Shame!
Helen, November 20, 2014 1:21 PM
Jared makes sense
I appreciated your comment. Please can you explain how US and EU support Muslim Brotherhood. I do not understand. Thanks. Helen
Jared Israel, November 22, 2014 5:17 PM
Evidence of US-EU support for Muslim Brotherhood is abundant
A few examples: In Feb. 2011, White House spokesman Gibbs, speaking for Obama, said Mubarak must resign "yesterday" and that the Brotherhood HAD TO be part of a new government, despite Egyptian constitutional prohibition. In Aug. 2012, when terrorists from Gaza murdered 16 Egyptian soldiers in Sinai, and the Brotherhood (which controlled the government) said Israel had organized the attack, the State Department refused to condemn the Brotherhood, saying only that 'that is not our view.' In June 2013, when Gallup poll found over 70% of Egyptians anti-Brotherhood, US Ambassador Patterson grossly interfered by telling Egyptians not to take part in unprecedentedly huge protests against Morsi's Brotherhood government. In Aug. 2013 after the army belatedly dispersed the Brotherhood's two Cairo terror encampments, EU envoy Bernardino Leon falsely claimed that the army disregarded an EU-brokered peaceful solution, even though the Brotherhood had flatly and openly rejected mediation. In 2013, when Brotherhood-directed Sinai terrorists launched attacks from mountain strongholds vulnerable only to helicopter attack, the U.S. stopped shipment of Apache helicopters to Egypt. In Aug. 2013, Sens. McCain and Lindsey went to Cairo at Obama's request and demanded that Brotherhood leaders, charged with the most serious criminal offenses, be released from prison and brought into government (!) Throughout summer and fall 2013, the US government demanded charges be dropped against Brotherhood leaders. When Morsi was removed from power, after the largest protests in Egyptian -- and probably recent world -- history, the German foreign minister said it was a criminal act. In July 2013, the EU foreign policy council demanded that Egypt give the Brotherhood a free hand, despite the fact that it was conducting murderous attacks on Cairo residents. That's a small sample, google my name for more.
(9) Anonymous, November 18, 2014 8:46 PM
Rabbi Twersky is a Rebbi, not a Rosh Yeshiva, at Toras Moshe, also known as 'ToMo'. I attended his emotional levaya where the shock could be felt by all.
(8) Anonymous, November 18, 2014 8:22 PM
Charles Levine z"l
You mentioned Charles Levine, who was buried the day before on Har Hamenuchot.
(7) Anonymous, November 18, 2014 8:07 PM
A National Day of Mourning, Fast and Repentance in Israel
Dear Rabbi Simmons, it seems that the many red lines that have been crossed just confirm that our action of national repentance is long overdue. G-d told us what to do in the times of a national crisis long time ago and keeps reminding us now. Should more Jewish blood, G-d forbid, be shed on the streets and in the synagogues to finally wake us up and to act as One Jewish Nation ? What we did in Shushan, Persia many centuries ago needs to be done now in Israel - a National Day of Mourning, Fast and Repentance. And Jews from all around the world will join in, as they did for the recent Jewish Unity Shabbos project. It's now time for Israel to take the lead from South Africa and organize a Jewish Unity Day of Mourning. Fast and Repentance. With G-d's help and our joint effort, may we see this come true very soon!
Hugo Stiglitz, November 19, 2014 2:20 PM
After repentance and prayer comes preparation
Finally, someone who understands. Only through unity can we receive the power we need to prevail against our foes. Don't forget that in Persia, after repentance, Jews were allowed to organize and arm themselves to defend against their attackers. That time has come. No more lambs to the slaughter!
(6) Bruce Birnberg, November 18, 2014 7:42 PM
thank u
Dear Rav Simmons,
Your moving words are a comfort and a call to action.
Thank u,
Bruce B
(5) Eliezer Eisenberg, November 18, 2014 7:29 PM
Let us pray
Perhaps our prayers should be less introspective and more proactive. When King David went out to battle, as far as I can tell, he prayed more that his enemies meet G-d than that he should.
(4) Jacob, November 18, 2014 7:24 PM
So sad.
My heart is filled with tears. This attack was an act of despicable brutality and inhumanity.
Let's hope that things will not escalate any further (I am not optimistic).
Let's pray these poor souls and their family.
Let's reinforce our unity as a people.
(3) Mary Anne, November 18, 2014 7:23 PM
Oh G-D have Mercy on Your people
This is So Tragic, beyond words....May G-D save Israel and Yerushalayim.... May the L-RD protect His people....come quickly....HaMashiach....
(2) Anonymous, November 18, 2014 7:15 PM
Get Them Out
The palestinians must go. They must be thrown out of the country. Every inch we've given up must be taken back. Martial law must be delcared. And now.
(1) Charis, November 18, 2014 7:00 PM
Horrific news
I have just watched the BBC news coverage of this hideous butchery.
Awful, barbaric and brutal. May God forgive the perpetrators. I cannot.