Stopping from time to time to wipe his tears, Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, Rav of the main shul in the Bondi Beach neighborhood of Sydney and a senior Dayan, spoke the morning after the massacre at which his son‑in‑law, Chabad shliach Rabbi Eli Schlanger, H’yd, was murdered along with 14 other people.
In a speech replete with emunah, Rabbi Ulman emphasized the need to mourn the loss but not give in to despair.
“Chazal tell us that the first days are for crying and even afterward, but we know that we have to continue much greater than before—l’illui nishmas those in the Olam HaEmes,” he said. “Those who were killed were Mekadeish Shem Shamayim with their lives. For whatever reason, they died Al Kiddush Hashem, and now we must continue everything they’ve worked for.”
“We cannot allow terrorists—all they want is to stifle our lives, to bring us down, to destroy us, make us despondent, and lose hope. At the moment it seems—how can we move forward? How can we continue?”
“But that’s not what any of the kedoshim would do; they wouldn’t react in such a way. And we have to step up and do the same. We have no choice. We can’t understand what happened. We don’t have a choice but to say: ‘Baruch Dayan Emes.'”
“Even at a time of weeping, we have to remember that now is a time to be united as much as possible, to make up any petty grievances, because that’s how all tzaros begin.”
“A’yh, very, very soon, Hashem will send Moshiach, and we’ll see those who went very, very soon.”
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
Dying al kiddish hashem and dying because you’re a jew is two different things but very very confused and overlapped Concepts. Most people can’t get it straight and emotions finish the job off. But there is a difference you should try and find out
How many more times are we going to participate in such sad, heartbreaking memorial gatherings. As this memorial service in Sydney, Australia. It is a sad fact that the nations of the world (for the most part) will be very generous & sympathetic to the (deceased) Jewish victims of violence. This is an age old custom. Whether in Europe or other places. Like Holland, Sweden or Australia the authorities will generously offer their sympathies.
However, when the Jews face an existential threat. Whether in Israel or other places. And they hit back in an efficient & organized manner, everyone seems to forget that the Jews were victims. They all vocally condemn the action.
Why no posts or footage of the Levayas?