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Mods, please post this beautiful letter encouraging Unity among all Jews, starting with a Shloshim for the Fogels, in every Jewish community, this Sunday. Only good can result.
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Letters To The Editor (Jewish Press, 04/08/2011)
Honoring The Fogels
One fellow, after hearing about the Fogel massacre in Itamar last month, asked rather flippantly, “What kind of Jews were they?” His intent was obvious. If the victims were irreligious or even if they were observant but nisht fun unzerrer (not from our circle) their loss was of no great import, chas v’shalom.
Sadly, such tribalism is quite prevalent and is likely the chief reason we are still in galus after 2,000 years. I’m not writing to cast aspersions; rather, I’d like to offer the following suggestion. I believe every Jewish community in the world should convene a Shloshim for the Fogel family on Sunday, April 10. Imagine the chizuk this would provide for the orphans and all the residents of Itamar, as Jews of all colors and denominations pay homage to those who eschew material comfort and devote themselves to the Torah and the Land of Israel.
When we are first introduced to the Amalekites in the Torah, they are attacking our stragglers. The Torah, by mentioning those who lagged behind, teaches us that Amalek recognized there was division in our ranks and this emboldened them. If all Jews were united under the banner of Torah and would put aside their petty differences, no force on earth could harm us.
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We can’t bring the Fogels back, and there are no words to comfort their children, but if their loss is the impetus that leads to achdus – unity – it will be a tremendous zechus for the kedoshim and for others who sacrifice themselves for Klal Yisrael.
Dr. Yaakov Stern
Definitely true and a great way to make an incredible kiddush hashem.
well said
I’ve sent this out to some people in my contact list.
“His intent was obvious.”
It was?
Perhaps it would be a great zechus for the Fogel family if Dr. Letter-Writer would not judge someone’s intentions.
I completely agree with tomim tihye. I don’t think it’s fair to assume that somebody thinks that “If the victims were irreligious or even if they were observant but nisht fun unzerrer (not from our circle) their loss was of no great import[ance]” just because they asked what kind of jews the Fogels were.
Ok so tomim tiyeh is right…why should that invalidate the rest of the post? Why should we not have a shloshim for the Fogels?
Sadly, such tribalism is quite prevalent and is likely the chief reason we are still in galus after 2,000 years. I’m not writing to cast aspersions;
Sadly such tribalism and baseless assumptions is likely the chief reason we are still in galus after 2,000 years.
We all know that through writing such a letter, in this fashion, is using their unfortunate deaths for political gains. Very very sad, and heartless. Sorry.
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