Terror attack goes to head and heart

“I proclaim before G-d that I have arrived in the land which G-d swore to our ancestors to give it to us.” Parshat Ki Tavo

Last week, my daughter went to Israel for a gap year of Torah study. Today, she was minutes from a terror attack.

“Dearest, I felt unprepared to speak to you when you called about today’s attack, and I wasn’t very helpful in easing your anxiety. I’m sorry.

“I hesitated because there are two approaches – head and heart. I wasn’t sure which was the right response when you called. Now I can share them both.

“Israel is a safe country. Children walk to school or take the bus alone. They play in the streets late into the night. Women can walk freely in Jerusalem at night. No-one has electric fences or anything much more than a lock on their front door.

“Every country has its disasters, some natural, other man made; some have both. Israel doesn’t have tornadoes or hurricanes. Its crime rate is relatively low. What it does have are too many car accidents and – not comparing them – anti Jews who want to hurt and terrorise us. While these painful attacks are shocking and often feel personal, they are extremely rare and statistically don’t change Israel’s safety record much.

“I want to repeat, terror attacks are extremely rare, boruch Hashem. They hurt us deeply, and the whole of Israel will cry for the loss of these holy people who were just murdered al kiddush Hashem (only because they were Jewish).

“Israelis are sadly used to this fact of life, and have developed their own coping systems. They return to normal life as soon as possible. The attack area is cleared asap, and returns to a normal bus stop. People insist on going about their planned day and not letting this hate affect them more than necessary. Seventeen years ago, I walked into an attack scene about a minute after it happened, on King David Street in Yerushalayim. It takes unusual strength to clean the streets and move forward, but we Jews are truly resilient.

“That’s the head answer. My heart is screaming that this is our land, promised to us by Hashem. We will thrive in it as yidden, finding Hashem there in day to day living; feeling the kedusha of its land; seeing Hashem in its divine providence.

“The Gemoro (Brochos 5) comments that eretz Yisrael is acquired through suffering; nothing good comes easy, and Israel has a lot of harsh realities, including weather, drought, and neighbours. To live in eretz Yisrael is a privilege, but one that is earned. We have to remember, as the Rebbe often reminded us, that Hashem has His “eyes upon the land constantly” (Devarim 11:12); leading the Rebbe to assure us regularly that eretz Yisrael is “one of the safest places in the world” and that “Hashem is our guardian who neither slumbers nor sleeps.” (Tehillim 121).

“Ain’t no depraved, inhumane terrorist going to tell us where to be and besides, we place our trust in Hashem, while of course acting responsibly and listening to safety instructions, and live our life in Israel joyfully.

“Holy souls have left this world today, and left a terrible void in so many hearts. Spend an extra five minutes today learning Torah and being extra kind, honouring their neshomos, then do ‘like in Rome’, and go about your day resolutely. Until very soon, we’ll merit Hashem’s promise that ‘you will live securely in your land’.”

With so much love,

Tatty