Fom Daniel Luria - Ateret Cohanim- Jerusalem Reclamation Project Massacre in Yerushalayim - Yeshivat Merkaz haRav

Shavua Tov, It has been a traumatic weekend and start to Chodesh Adar for Am Yisrael. The month of additional joy has been stymied by the shocking attack and heartless murders of 8 pure “angels” studying Torah at the flagship Yeshiva of Merkaz HaRav. It was a stark reminder, beyond the many previous ones, that Amalek has not been destroyed from this world. The hate-filled Arab world and its forefront leaders in the form of Hamas, Hezbollah, PA, and Iran, are the modern day Amalek.

Rather than pretend that there is a difference between an Arab from Gaza City (Hamas), Beirut-Lebanon (Hezbollah), or Ramallah (PA), we should wake up to our own reality and understand that we are at war !! One only needed to see the joyous celebrations throughout the Arab world, after the massacre at Merkaz HaRav, to truly undersatnd that we aren’t talking about a lone terrorist or a small band of extremists. No country in the world would accept or tolerate the situation like we have here, in Israel. Could anyone possibly imagine that missiles would be falling in Baltimore, Brooklyn-New York, or LA and that Washington wouldn’t “seriously” react, with a vengeance and real purpose? We have seen how the great USA reacted to a single traumatic terrorist act by changing the face of 2 countries (Afghanistan and Iraq), thousands of miles off shore. We have the same enemy on our back door step !!

It is time to ignore the hypocrisy of the world. It is time to feel and consider only ourselves - to worry and protect our people, at all cost and not whether we should or shouldn’t target a building that may or may not have civilians. We are war and it is time that the Israeli government and the Jewish world understood this fact. Oslo and the failed “so-called” peace process, has forced Israel to capitulate, to comprimise and the open the door to daily terrorism. The road distance from Gush Katif to Jerusalem is very short. Unfortunately we were witness to this fact last Thursday night.

The door to Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav may have been thrust open by a sick terrorist, who cut short the lives of 8 beautiful boys in cold blood, but i believe that we have an obligation to also look at the lead-up. We must look at the procession of leaders who have handed over weapons, who have expelled Jews from our homeland and who have shown weakness in the face of our enemies by a series of apologetic retreats and comprimises. We have forgotten that we are the Jewish People who have full rights to live in this tiny strip of holy land - the G-d given land of Israel.

With Purim around the corner, we would do well to recognize that Amalek is still alive, but at the same time, that we can, and will, overcome this nation of hatred and evil. Joshua defeated the enemies of his time, King David secured the borders of Israel, Mordechai and Esther had the faith to defeat the Amalek of their time and the Maccabees overcame the stronger Greek enemy. In our own time, the courageous and idealistic IDF of 1948, 1967 and 1973, crushed the surrounding Arab armies with the help of G-d. On wings of messainc eagles we defeated our enemies.We returned home to Jerusalem, Chevron, Beit El and the Golan. It is time to regenerate that passion, drive, idealism and vision. It is time to be proud of our Jewish identity and to fight for this Land of Israel and for Yerushalayim at it’s centre. Tomorrow will be too late, as the Arab world and its Amalek associates are at our doorstep in Jerusalem. Tomorrow is late, for Jerusalem has been placed on the negotiating table today and our enemies sense further capitulation.

These same enemies arrived at the doorstep of Merkaz HaRav and took 8 pure souls with good hearts. Sadly, it hit even closer to home, with Mati Dan’s nephew - Segev Pniel Avichayil and Rabbi Yitzchak Cohen’s son - Neriah Cohen being amongst the students murdered. Mati Dan as most of you are aware, is the founder, driving force and head of JRP-Ateret Cohanim. Rabbi Yizchak Cohen has lived in renewed Jewish Quarter (moslem quarter) for over 25 years, taught at Yeshivat Ateret Yerusahalyim and is the author of the monthly journal ‘Iturei Cohanim’. This tragedy has blown a hole in the hearts of both families and opened up a deep wound in the f’amily’ of Ateret Cohanim.

Chaverim - there is alot of work to be done. I call upon each and everyone one of you to get involved with our efforts on an ongoing basis.It is up to you and us !! Please do not sit back and wait for a favourable or truly Jewish Government in Israel. We all have to act today. (From sponsoring Mishloach Manot for our families & security guards…urgent training of our families/staff at a shooting range…childrens projects, family renovation work, security and legal projects, and of course investments, with Arabs ready to sell…etc)

Even in this joyous month of Adar, we are in mourning and yes, we have been shaken badly by the recent tragic events. But we will not be crushed. We will not be broken or diverted from our mission. Our resolve will remain high and we will secure a united Jerusalem. Our response to this Arab terror at the heart of our pulsating centre - will be to establish 8 new Yeshivot, or to purchase and reclaim 8 new buildings in and around the Old City. We will add 8 more families to the renewed Jewish Yishuv and we will add more students to the world of Torah. Amalek and the Arab world will not succeed. Am Yisrael is eternal and so is our bond with Eretz Yisrael and Yerushalayim.

Please be in touch.(Feel free to forward this email) Lehitraot Daniel Luria Exec Director JRP/Ateret Cohanim 972546544407

This entry was posted on Monday, March 10th, 2008 and is filed under action. You can leave a response.