I was in my rabbinical class finishing the evening prayers as the sounds of automatic gunfire rang out through the Yeshiva. We were in the classroom above the Library which turned out to be the killer's target. As we lay on the floor, bracing furniture against the doors, we could only imagine the horror he was wreaking in the rest of the Yeshiva. We were unarmed and could only wait and pray that help arrive as soon as possible. We called the police, but it was only thanks to a man named Dadon and an off-duty officer named Shapira who neutralized the killer. When the security forces finally arrived, they searched the building and found us sitting on the floor in the dark.
As they whisked us out of the building, we gained a first hand glimpse of the horror the killer had wrought. We were spared only because we were delayed in finding a tenth man to make our minyan. Had we finished praying one minute earlier we would have found ourselves in the path of the killer.
As I was driven home by my daughters, the gnawing question of why bad things happen to good people was now magnified by the fact that murder was perpetrated against young Torah students learning Torah in a Torah Academy. I offer this essay as an attempt to come to grips with this dilemma.
"The Torah is a tree of life to those who grasp hold of it." And yet eight Torah students, learning Torah in a Torah Academy, were mercilessly gunned down by a raging beast called Amalek.
How can we reconcile the special Divine providence extended to those "grasping hold" the Torah, with the bloody reality to which we bear painful witness? The answer lies in the date of the attack: Rosh Chodesh Adar.
Rosh Chodesh is a time of joy in that the new moon symbolizes renewal and rejuvenation. Yet it is also a time when the moon is not visible, and consequently, is a time of darkness symbolizing evil.
Adar is a month of great joy for we celebrate the victory of good over evil. Yet it is also a month of fasting over the evil designs of Amalek. Indeed it is in this month that we remember Amalek by reading the "zachor" Torah portion. We remember that "God's war against Amalek is from generation to generation."
The ability to exercise a choice between good and evil demands the existence of evil and by extension, people who purvey that evil.
Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch explains that the battle against Amalek is really a battle over whether Man will obey God or the dictates of his own rationale. Man expresses his freewill by deciding to act either according to his own definitions of right and wrong, which devolve to his own "might and power," or according to God's definition of morality.
The ability to exercise a choice between good and evil demands the existence of evil and by extension, people who purvey that evil. Those people are known as Amalek. And though Amalek was a specific people, the verse commanding their destruction states: "blot out the memory of Amalek". Consequently, Hirsch explains that the memory of Amalek, of people who glorify the sword, must be blotted out. For as long as their memory is glorified others will follow the path of evil and reject the path of morality.
Although evil, necessary for freewill, is part and parcel of Creation, it is seemingly nevertheless a stain on a loving God who wants only good for his creations. So much so that God, as it were, offers a "sin offering" as atonement on none other than Rosh Chodesh, when light is diminished and evil reigns supreme. God can do little more than offer a sacrifice in atonement, lest he remove from Man the very task He entrusted to him: to be a partner in creation, to complete creation, through his own efforts.
Nowhere is this paradigm of existence more pronounced than in the story of Ester read on Purim. The Megilla tells of Amalek's plan to annihilate Israel where he obtains the King's seal on a decree to that end. The Jews fast and pray that Esther's efforts to annul the decree succeed. However they are told, "The decree of the King cannot be annulled." Since when can't a king issue an annulment?! The answer is that this refers to not just any king, but the King of Kings. The decree that cannot be annulled is God's decree of Creation, the decree of freewill, the decree that evil must have free reign.
The Jews obtained only the permission to fight back -- this was God's answer to their fasting and prayers.
The Jews obtained only the permission to fight back -- this was God's answer to their fasting and prayers. And as they fought evil, so too must we. Real evil will not go away with appeasement and peace negotiations.
The Megilla ends with the celebration of the victory of the Jews. We rejoice however, not at our own strength, realizing that victory would be for naught without God's hidden help. Indeed it is this knowledge, that God works behind the scenes to guarantee our success, which is the source of our joy.
It is only the guaranteed assistance of the Creator that can explain Israel's continued existence in the face of evil perpetrated by the Amaleks of the world. But that guarantee extends only to the nation as a whole and not to individuals. No individual can confidently assume a protected existence - not even a Torah scholar, learning Torah, in a Torah academy.
So what of the promise that "grasping" the Torah offers special Divine providence? Perhaps, though the Torah does provide a path to righteousness and life in general, there are times that are beyond man's comprehension. At such times we must lament: "Difficult is the death of the righteous in the eyes of God."
As such, the Zohar provides a succinct theological response in the form of prudent advice: "A man should not confidently affirm - God will deliver me or will do for me this or that - but rather he should endeavor to fulfill the precepts, walk the path of truth, and put trust in Him that He will help."
And thus we fight Amalek. A fight for the perfection of the world. It is a fight man wages internally, striving to fulfill God's will. It is also a fight man wages against those who wield "might and power" to avoid carrying out God's will.
The victory of this fight is embodied in the Holy Temple, symbolizing God's dwelling amongst mankind upon acceptance of His will. In the Megilla, Haman sought to derail the building of the Temple. Today, Amalek attacked our small Holy Temple, the Yeshiva, center of Torah learning, whose purpose is to bring God's will, God's peace, to mankind.
And so it was on Rosh Chodesh Adar, a time of good mixed with evil, that our rejoicing was mixed with tears. We cry bitterly over the loss of our holy Torah students at the hands of Amalek. But we rejoice in the Divine promise that no matter what designs the evil Amaleks of the world will conspire, they will never destroy the nation of Israel. In the words of Haftarat Zachor: "Netzah Yisrael Lo Yishaker" -- The eternity of the people of Israel is guaranteed by God.
(25) Ezza Amittai, February 26, 2009 10:16 AM
Who am I to judge?
Torah has Orah in it, light. Pesach aceman, I agree that Hashem's light is always there. Sometimes, like the sun, it's clouded over, and each person has a different reason for the clouding. Those beloved Yeshiva scholars went to G-d with the Holy Words in their minds and on their lips. Sure, that does not dispel the grief of their loved ones, or the shock we tend to live with in every generation. My brother was killed 9 years ago (bless his memory) and I was so angry with G-d. Two years of confusion and grief went by, and I hardly prayed except the regular Shabbos, mealtime prayers etc, but no personal ones. I was not speaking to G-d. Then one day I entered into a prayer/dialogue with Him and a miracle occurred. I will write about that miracle some other time, but it instigated my first private conversation with Him after 2 years. I said "I am so angry that You didn't save my brother." A quiet truth rang in my soul when I heard the awesome words "You don't know what SAVED is. I do." With those simple words I was humbled back into love with G-d. It's true, that just because G-d did not perform actions that conformed to MY EXACT NOTION of what He should have done for my brother, that doesn't mean He didn't SAVE my brother, Brendan. Brendan is in the Shekinah, safely and happily in HaShem's presence. We tend to think that dying is the worst thing that can happen, but as I was told in my heart "There are many things I don't know about, that G-d does." Who am I to judge? I take hold of Psalm 23: "The L-rd is my Shepherd, I shall not want.....my cup overflows...Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the House of the L-rd forever." And thus I have to leave the 'incomprehensible' to the Great Knower. May G-d bless all of B'nei Yisroel, and also B'nei Noach. Shalom
(24) Anonymous, February 24, 2009 10:29 PM
I don''t think he is suggesting that evil is its own entity of which G-d doesn''t have control over. I think he''s simply suggesting that evil is needed for us to have Free Choice. That as much as Hashem might not want to have evil in the world, He must make it an option in order for us to not choose evil and learn from it
(23) Yoni Kayman, February 24, 2009 6:04 AM
"Peace on Earth"
Once after a speech from our beloved Rosh Yeshiva zt"l where he spoke of his lofty desires to fix the world- tikun olam a student approached the rosh yeshiva on this issue of amalek. The student was wondering how it is possible to reconcile the concept of tikun olam and pursuing peace alongside the fighting and blotting out of amalek. The Rosh Yeshiva always talked of uplifting the whole world and never stopped with fixing the Jewish Nation exclusively. The Rosh Yeshiva unexpectedly answered the following "if we have to kill amalek we failed in our job" Afterward I found it in the ramba"m melachim chapter 7 or so. Ramba"m says we extend our hand in peace to amalek as well and ask them to accept our values. The rosh yeshiva is the only one I ever heard that was real with that concept!!
(22) pesach aceman, March 23, 2008 12:06 AM
connection of Egyptian slavery, Purim, Expulsion from Spain and Shoa and Evil
I personally do not believe as you have said that evil was created. I believe it is the abscence of exercising our free will = our ability to choose. When we do not choose then Hashem will force us to choose one way or another. The loss of 8 young innocent men from clal Yisrael is but the latest chapter which includes many murdered innocents. Yet we do not learn nor exercise that command to blot out Amalek first from OUR midst and then from the midst of the world around us (also a choce by others to follow our lead). Loss of light with the new moor smacks to me of superstition for AT ALL TIMES IS THE LIGHT OF HASHEM PRESENT. We have to but open our eyes and our hearts to the light within each and everyone of us and then we CHHOSE to see the light. The yerida to Mitzrayim was for a reason but those who left Eretz forgot the reasons. they did not choose properly and so we went eventually into slavery (even though predicted by Hashem it is REVERSIBLE as many of his edicts have been - see the Torah) We forgot about the HOLY LAND (not in the way the world protrays this land but as ERETZ KADOSH). So too at Purim the Land was devoid for the most part of Jews including Mordechai who did not return after the miraculous reversal of the king's decision to wipe us out (at least to allow us to defend ourselves: his edict was not reversible simply because of his ego: again see how many times in the Torah Hashem has reversed his edicts for good or not for the good). So too in Spain which became the pinnacle of Jeiwsh learning and the relations with our Arab cousins. Then the Shoa in which German/Polish Jewry thought this was the pinnacle of learning but there too the talmedim were wiped out. Now (my fear) America sees itself as the center of Torah learning and will American Jews also be taught a lesson G-d forbid? So much of what happens to us (called evil) is from not choosing or what is chosen is not pleasing to Hashem as it does not follow his edicts and paths of morality and living a 'good' life of honesty and truth in our relations to Hashem, man and the Land. We too in Israel need to learn and so we go (most recently) from Gush Katif to Amona to the murder of young talmudim. We shed tears but do we learn? This is a lesson for each individual and for the Nation as a whole. There is no darkness, only when one shuts one's eyes to the light that is ALWAYS THERE! The latest of such signs and warnings is what happened and maybe it was on Rosh Hodesh Adar for a reason! We are very moralistic in regards to our present day Amalek in not wanting to harm civilians but why do we not apply that same morality between oursleves instead of the infighting that exists between religious sects, between secular/observant, between husband and wife and parents and children. We can only carry on the hypocrasiy so long before Hashem again will send his message one way or another. I apologize for the length of this comment, but we must read it right.
(21) mike smith, March 19, 2008 6:30 PM
great article
How I can trust in G-D if you write that the individual is never protected?
(20) Michael Lazar, March 19, 2008 10:43 AM
Amalek- Have we learned nothing?
Who are we to defy Hashem? Not even a King of our people would ignore his edicts. Yet, history recalls a different story: Saul, a King of Israel took it upon himself to ignore Hahsem's decree regarding Amalek, saving their King, Agog, allowing him the chance to perpetuate his heinous line and continue
to pursue the Jews.
Hashem commanded us to blot out the memory of Amalek, but our failure to do so has led us to a history of attempted genocide and persecution. As we mourn the loss of the Yeshiva students that were slaughtered by a modern day Amalekite, I question whether the attack could have been stopped or its effects minimized if these students had been taught that self defense and pikuach nefesh are commandments that require physical as well as spiritual preparation. Unfortunately, we are painfully aware of Amalek and his presence in our Jewish State. It is our obligation to learn from the lessons of the past by showing no mercy to Amalek when his hand is raised against Israel and to protect ourselves from his blood thirsty attacks by protecting all of our nephashot through a philosophy of Jewish Self defense.
(19) Fergus, March 18, 2008 1:18 AM
Are you suggesting that "evil" is somehow a separate entity outwith G_d's control?
(18) Sarah Leah, March 17, 2008 6:53 AM
A Neshamah
I can't put myself in the moment of the terror attack. I can't know the sounds and feelings of horror. I can mourn with Israel over this loss and I can find simcha in that their Neshamas were elevated to higher levels of holiness. Only Hashem knows the life of a Neshama; where it's been and where it's going. For now, I can daven for peace and strength in the homes of the families that are in pain.
(17) Ralph Rubinek, March 16, 2008 8:39 PM
We as Jews must never forget to arm ourselves.
The shooting of Jewish Rabinical students reminds me the horror my mother had to endur during the Holocaust. I wrote the following in her mememory. As Jews world-wide we must take heed, rememember and reflect as the world watched and did nothing... We are once again on the crossroad... In Israel as well as America... REMEMBER THE PAST OR WE ARE DOOMED TO RELIVE THE HORROR...
A Mothers Day Message
by Ralph J. Rubinek
On Mothers Day, we honor our Mothers for all the good, love and wisdom that they have given us in life.
On this day, I honor my Mother by sharing with my fellow citizens some of her wisdom, gained through hard experience.
My Mother, just like most other Mothers, taught me how to live right. But she did much more. She was a Holocaust survivor who learned from her hard experiences. Se was victimized by the Nazis, a tyranny led by a madman. Adolf Hitler. Gun-toting Nazis dragged her family to their deaths. Unarmed she was unable to resist.
Sent to Auschwitz, the largest concentration camp, she was chosen by "Doctor" Mengele for "experiments" which were simply medical torture. Of the women in this program, most who were lucky were systematically executed.
Mother was a source of strength and inspiration to other prisoners. She told them of a land where individuals are judged on their own merits, not condemned as a group. She spoke of land, America, where the people control the government, as opposed to Europe, where governments for centuries enslaved people.
Finally - when liberated by Allied forces - she emigrated to America, the land of her dreams.
I am her only son. She raised me with the only family legacies she had - her memories. She taught me that there are few things more destructive than a government gone bad.
She instilled in me an abiding love of the United States Constitution, which she studied closely in order to become a citizen. Swearing loyalty to the Unites States was one of her proudest moments. Mother died in August, 1974 after many beautiful years in America, but never free from her painful memories. She left this message, one well worth sharing with every son and daughter in the land:
"You must fight for your freedom every day of your life... even if as a last resort, you must take up arms to defend your freedom do so! Freedom is your G-d* given right -- along with all other rights under the constitution. Protect it."
Chaya Hershberg Rubinek
Born July 16, 1921,
Olkuse, Poland
Died August 23, 1974
(16) Pierre, March 16, 2008 4:36 PM
The two Trees in the Garden of Eden
were symbolic of obeing God or choose Good AND EVILsimultaneously.SinceThen we have Good AND EVIL.Certainly we are to fight evil,we ask God to protect us but this is conditional to obey HIM first.Those young students were on the path of the killer but those around them were also hit.Let's read and obey ALL of Gods Commandments that He pursue all our ennemies.(Gen.3,Lev.26,Deut 28)
(15) Ruth Housman, March 16, 2008 11:35 AM
all is God
God is not separate from the entire creation, meaning good and evil and herein lies a deep paradox that must be unanswerable. As we create, making works of art and a masterpiece of our lives in terms of compassion and tikkun olam, we are mirroring the creation itself, which is love. Now we cannot know anything without its opposite truly. Can we know love without loss? All of life is a deep amalgam of opposites and language too, reflects this, as in cruel and crewel. A gigantic embroidery of tapestry, a story created by God in love.
We can only act on this plane with compassion and love and surely also we act in hate and do evil things. But what is holding together the world itself, must be this dynamic tension and what truly MOVES us, emotionally and spiritually has to be the need for tikkun always. Perhaps at some level we must forgive God. The only way to perceive this is that it must come out all right in the end. As Anne Frank so poignantly believed. Now many will argue with this. I am saying that there is another dimension to free will and surely on this level, we have that illusion and also that opportunity. We must believe in free will and act according to moral principles. But life exists on many layers and this symphony has a conductor.
(14) Mois Navon, March 16, 2008 9:01 AM
Baruch Dayan Emet
Dear Michelle,
We never THANK God for the bad. Bad is bad - as obvious as it sounds, it must be said. What the Gemara (Berachot 54a, 60b) explains is that we must acknowledge that God runs the world and though His ways at times (like these) are very difficult to comprehend, we nevertheless accept His judgement. As such, the blessing for bad things is "Blessed are You True Judge" - as opposed to when we THANK God for the good He gives us we say, "Blessed are You who is Good and does Good."
(13) michelle, March 16, 2008 8:16 AM
i think that all of this was to show us. it was a sign. that we should still be strong and remember amalck. enev though its very painful. everthing is for a reason and we have to thank hashem for the good and the bad.
(12) Tamy, March 16, 2008 7:30 AM
HaMakom Yinakem Damam
The Blood splattered Sefer is a painful jolt for those of us who need visual cues to learn or understand. When we see such a horriffic photo, it propels us to the painful conclusion of this reality. Eight innocent and pure neshamos have beeen taken from us in such a raw,painful way. We must never forget and do teshuva collectively!
(11) Anonymous, March 16, 2008 4:12 AM
There is a new intafada brewing in Israel.
Arabs are being incited to violence whilst Israeli media turns a blind eye.
There is no safe place in Israel anymore except for the Divine protection of G-d.
On Thursday a holy Tzadik of Jerusalem was attackled whilst immersed in personal prayer.
On Thursday night 3 Arabs were apprehended before attempting to hijack a public bus.
Please spend at least 10 minutes of personal prayer a day davening for the holy pure Jews of the Land of Israel.
HaShem is our salvation - let us turn and cry to Him from the depths of our hearts
(10) Jamie, March 16, 2008 3:31 AM
Powerful article
This was a very thought provoking article and added much depth to this yr's Parshat Zachor. I thought the photo in the graphic was in good taste -- the drudgereport also featured it. We are so distant from these events, and photos like this bring the reality of horror much closer and allows us to feel our brethren's pain.
(9) Zahava, March 16, 2008 2:33 AM
Words, not pictures
I am in awe of those who can so eloquently express themselves at such a time, to try to help themselves and others make sense of tragedy. It is a true chessed to have articles such as these posted to give people strength and inspiration. I take exception, however, to the blood stained sefer so prominently displayed on the web page. Years ago, before I became frum, I visited the Temple Mount and walked through the museum of the Arab "martyrs." I was disgusted and repulsted at the bloody displays. I saw them as cheap propaganda ploys. Jews, I thought, would never degrade their own martyrs in such a way. But I see we, too, have sunk to the level of grabbing the attention and ostensibly the emotional tug of a potentially uninterested audience by parading gaudy marketing techniques. We don't need it. The story speaks for intself. Stick to the men supporting each other in grief, and let the blood be covered.
(8) Anonymous, March 14, 2008 3:06 PM
I am grateful for this article
I have not been able to cry over the atrocity that occurred that night. Not until reading this article. I realize deep down inside I was struggling with questions I couldn't face and here are some answers. Thank you and "yasher koach" for writing such an eloquent article that will certainly initiate the healing process for many readers, and refocus our efforts on what needs to be each and every Jew's goal in life; to do the Will of our Creator regardless of what comes our way.
(7) yecheal, March 13, 2008 9:55 PM
Shining the Light
Thanks to Mois Navon for writing this thoughtful piece. It casts Light into a very dark space.
(6) Anonymous, March 13, 2008 6:09 PM
Jewish response
I think anytime someone in the world community - Human Rights Watch, etc. - accuses Israel of excessive force and of brutalizing the Palestinians, they should read this article and see how incredibly civilized the Jewish-Israeli response is to our enemies. We always look inside for the spiritual message, never calling for violent revenge. Isn't it clear who is the aggressor in this conflict, and who truly desires peace? G-d willing we will have no more "sacrifices" for peace before everyone wakes up to the reality of who and what is fueling this conflict.
(5) sharona, March 13, 2008 4:41 PM
The moon
I noticed that too about the moon and that the tragedy happened when the moon was not visible. I also noticed that Purim, which celebrates our victory, comes when the moon is full, showing us that there's hope.
(4) yeoshua, March 13, 2008 4:16 PM
am israel hai
i never see any jewish
i leaved in a village of france,
i was the jew in 200 km arround
i did techouva, in 1991 after a travel my real country ISRAEL
because Essaw and amelek still live in europe
chabbath shalom
(3) Shira, March 13, 2008 1:27 PM
this is continued from my first comment it got deleted sorry....
You know I am here hour after hour looking at the blood splatter sefer. As I baruch hashem have Aish as my home page. And my attitude with the news is let someone else watch it. My brothers pain, my pain, I need to know. However, I hate the news in general. And I am thinking part of the pain is even being afraid to go there. To even think about it. I feel the Arabs have made us sea saw with our feelings. One minute we are thinking I just am numb. And we should never let the Arabs take away our feeling of wanted to connect to these obvious unusual events. I feel such a need to get busy with Shabbas and just block it out. I really want to take on a mitzvah for at least one week for each Talmud that lost his chance. Ble neder.
It is a comforting thought to even aim for.
(2) Shira, March 13, 2008 7:26 AM
Don't be afraid
We are all one people. I really want to take on a mitzvah for at least one week for each student that lost his chance. Ble neder.
It is a comforting thought to even aim for.
(1) Shira, March 13, 2008 5:29 AM
NO WORDS
It says words that come from the heart go to the heart. however, when I see my brothers blood splatter over the ink the held the words of torah.My mind is blank and my heart is full of sorrow to form the thoughts into ink. the same holy books they learned over sweated over. now contain their own blood. I am sure without knowing anyone in the yeshiva, that every soul that died kiddish hashem, while being in the beis medrash is at the kesay ha kavod, right now, as I cry over my words for them. I know they are davening for us and I feel so close to these jewish brothers I never knew. They will never be forgotten ever.