This week we unfortunately felt the all too familiar pain of terrorism. As the news came in, it became horrifyingly evident the extent of the depravity of this killer; he purposely sought out a Jewish school so he could kill Jewish children. Once there, he chased after young children in order to be able to murder them, in cold blood, at point blank range.
There are no words; there is nothing that can be said. But we are here and the natural feeling is to want to do something.
While words may fail us, actions cannot. The appropriate response for all of us around the world who were affected by this terrible tragedy is to add in goodness and kindness. Add in observance of mitzvot. Tonight - light a shabbat candle (click here for the time), put on tefillin (contact me and I can help you with them), make Torah study a part of your regular schedule. This is the way that we respond to tragedy, by strengthening ourselves and not allowing terror to deter us.
This Shabbat is also Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of the month of Nissan. The Jewish calendar runs according to the moon’s cycle and our Sages tell us that the Jewish people are compared to the moon. The moon shrinks at the end of the month, only to grow again in the next month. So too, the Jewish people experience periods of depression and periods of renewal. We will always bounce back and continue to grow.
Please take a moment and read this heartfelt plea for increased light from Mrs Chava Sandler (wife and mother to three of the four victims).
May we have only good news to share!