A Thoughtful Tribute upon the Murder of the Kidnapped Boys, June 2014
by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine
The world was plunged into mourning this afternoon with the news that the kidnapped boys had been killed. For days we were galvanized, each one doing his or her part, trying to ensure their safe return.
I know that for some people the first reaction is to question, “Does this mean that all our prayers, study, chesed, advocacy, and concern, was all for naught?”
The answer is “No,” it is not for naught. God puts us in situations where we perceive things according to the limited information that is available to us. Based on the information that is available to us, the test of moral behavior is to see how we will respond.
And we responded. From the intelligence community who tried with every ounce of skill to achieve a favorable outcome, to the Israeli soldiers who worked at great risk and with great diligence to locate the boys, to the heartfelt prayers that pierced the heaven, coming from every community, to the displays of support and unity shown by so many. Yes we did respond.
And now we mourn. We mourn the tragic kidnapping and murder of three noble souls. And we mourn the evil in the world that is tolerated with such a casual attitude.
In the yeshiva where Eyal Yifrach learned, there were two notes that he left underneath the volume of Talmud from which he studied. These were notes that 19 year old Eyal wrote shortly before he headed out on the trip to go home. In one note he wrote of his acceptance of a goal: To increase his focus on character development in the areas of humility, modesty, and goodness. A second note, also found under his volume of Talmud, outlined the volumes of study which he hoped to complete in the coming months. Such goal setting behavior is typical of great Jews as they strive to grow in character and in Torah study. In this tragic episode the world lost three great people.
There will be many lessons to be learned from this tragic incident, I’m sure. But the fact that it appears that the boys were killed right away means that in a certain way, reflection on all the rescue efforts produces an unfortunate theme of “too little, too late.” And I believe that that is a theme that thinking humans need to take to heart. Perhaps our most devoted efforts once a crisis occurs are examples of “too little, too late.” Because the tragedy of the kidnapping and murder began long before it actually happened. There is a more fundamental problem here. As long as supposedly legitimate governments and companies are allowed to fund hate training, and as long as supposedly legitimate governments and companies are allowed to fund the publishing of handbooks guiding low-lives how to kill and kidnap, we cannot in good conscience claim that we have truly done our part.
May God grant comfort to the families and to all of us. May G-d bless His people with true peace.
© 2014 by TEACH613™
P.S. I found this video presentation by Rabbi Berel Wein quite meaningful: http://vimeo.com/99890224
Thank you for sharing this message and the special story about Eyal.
Dear Rabbi Rhine. Thanks very much for addressing this painful and tragic event with your insightful reflections. We should never underestimate yeday eisav nor the depths to which human beings can sink. It is unimaginable where the world would be without the Jewish people and our Torah.
IYH the families of those beautiful Neshamos should be gebentched with nechama bekorov.
Besoros tovos and kol tuv
jimmy
Sir,
Thank you for your insight.
Now, pursue the murderers with vigor.
Have a nice day.
Mike
What happened to those boys is so very sad, even a bit numbing. I definitely have questioned the value of my prayers. Thank you Rabbi Rhine for focusing our thoughts. It’s time for action.
I find the assumption that the boys were kidnapped so that G-d could test us to be pogeya bichvodo shel Mokom.
Rabbi Rhine’s reply:
Dear Rabbi,
Thank you for writing.
With all due respect, I cannot claim (and did not claim) to know why Hashem does anything. We do however have an obligation to appreciate what Hashem wants of us now that He decided to do something. “Hatzur Tomim Poolo.” I do believe that the families and the Jewish community acted admirably in the face of significant adversity.
May Hashem comfort all of us in the face of this great tragedy.
-MYR
Well said.
Let me share a thought with you:
It occurred to me that this enormous tragedy that united Klal Yisrael happened not long after a terrible division had occurred in our ranks. The flap over the drafting of Chareidi soldiers brought out incredible venom on both sides of the divide, revealing the startling depth of that fissure. It divided Jew from Jew as never before in recent history. There are no coincidences in Hashem’s perfect world.
There is food for thought here.
Some would say our disunity and sinas chinom created the potential for this tragedy. Others might say that Hashem mercifully gave us a mechanism to heal our rift. And maybe they’re both the same thought.
In our pain, it is natural to scream about the cold-blooded ruthlessness of the murderers. The depth of evil is overwhelming. But at the same time, shouldn’t we look at the lessons about disunity and unity that came out of it? Tragedies always pull us together. Isn’t it time we learned that they are there to unite us, and if we stay united – never losing the ahavas Yisrael and achdus they engender — they will no longer be necessary?
The pain to the families of these boys is unfathomable. How do we address their pain????? What do we do with our individual pain??? It’s been a long galus… Perhaps we should pray for Moshiach more fervently….. Let’s try to be more understanding and kind to every one of our brothers in klal Yisroel. Kindness begets good. Let’s come together and work on it.