I still remember the moment. I was a small boy, and we were driving from our home in Afula to Jerusalem. Suddenly, a Molotov cocktail came flying toward our car. Thank G‑d we were all okay.
A few days later—apparently repeating what I had heard on the street—I said, “I hate those Arabs.”
My father was deeply shaken to hear such words coming from my mouth. He took me to the bookcase, pulled out a prayerbook and showed me a verse from Psalms that we say three times every day: “G‑d is just in all His ways, and His mercy is upon all His creation.”
“Everyone in the world,” he explained, “is G‑d’s beloved handiwork. Yes, terrorists and other criminals must be penalized, but heaven forbid to hate an entire people.”
This week, hearing news reports of the slaying of an innocent Arab youth, I remembered our conversation. Some may call it just revenge. We know it is a foolish and criminal provocation. What a pity that they never paid attention to the daily prayers.
The entire Jewish world is shaken up and deeply revolted by the murder. Israeli police worked speedily and efficiently to detain those responsible. Now, Israel should direct its resources to stop those who are using this senseless act as an excuse to harm even more innocent people.
For those of us who are not in uniform, our job is to remember, and remind others, that we are all creations of one G‑d with a single purpose: to do acts of goodness and kindness, creating a better world for all of us.
Let us also pray that we soon experience the prophecy of Isaiah: “They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn more war.”
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