Condi's Condolences and other thoughts

Secretary Condoleezza Rice

Washington, DC

March 6, 2008

I spoke with Foreign Minister Livni to express my condolences to the people of Israel and the families of the victims of the attack tonight against rabbinical students at the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva in Jerusalem. We hold all citizens of Israel in our thoughts and prayers in this tragic hour. We wish a full and rapid recovery to all those injured.

The United States condemns tonight's act of terror and depravity. This barbarous act has no place among civilized peoples and shocks the conscience of all peace loving nations. There is no cause that could ever justify this action.

2008/162

Released on March 6, 2008

There is no cause that could ever justify this action.

I agree. But Madam Secretary, you need to to understand that there is no cause that could ever justify the barbaric murder of Erez Levanon Z"L either. There is no cause that could ever justify Osher Tuito getting his leg blown off. There is no cause that could ever justify throwing a molotov cocktail into the Egozi family car. There is no cause that could ever justify the heinous murders of Tali Hatual and her four daughters, and Rachel Shabo and her three sons, and Revital Ohayon and her two sons, and little Danielle Shefi who will never grow up.

Roni Yihye was killed in a kassam rocket attack just days ago in the Sapir college parking lot. He was a husband, and a father to four children. The barbarous act that took his life has no place among civilized peoples.

The bottom line is that there is no cause that could ever justify ANY act of terror and depravity. I hope this latest attack will serve the Secretary as a reminder of that fact. If my son had been killed today, I imagine I would be even angrier than I am with Condoleezza Rice and her boss and all her State Department Arabist cohorts and each and every one of her farcical peace negotiators... on both sides. I imagine I would be even angrier than I am with the three stooges in charge of the Jewish state.

Rabbi Brody says I am missing the point.

This has all happened on the evening of what should have been one of the happiest days of the Jewish year, Rosh Chodesh Adar. One's gut (non-emuna) reaction would be to blame the weakness of the Olmert/Barak regime, which has rendered Israel a paper tiger in the eyes of its frenzied neighbors, who have no qualms about making suicide bombers out of children and old ladies alike. This may be true, but it's missing the point.

The point is that Hashem is talking to us loud and clear - we are one people with One G-d, to whom we all must return with all our hearts. To think in the business as usual mode is to turn a deaf ear to Hashem. Erev Shabbat Pekudei is a time for national accounting. May Hashem have mercy on us.

Dear Gd in Heaven, how you test us. I am but a small person and I don't know how to hold my hot anger, my deep sorrow and my faith in You -- all together in the limited space of my being. I beg you to hear our cries and count the tears we have shed. Av HaRachamim, have mercy on your people Israel and do not let our light be extinguished forever. Amen.

This helped me a little bit; maybe it will help some of you also.

The question, “Shall the Judge of all the earth not do justice?” (Genesis 18:25), can be authentic and carry weight only when it bursts forth from the pained heart of a deep believer. The first to ask this question was our forefather Abraham, himself a man of great faith and the father of all believers...

The first to ask the question, “why do the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper?” was none less than Moshe. Moshe – the very one who led us out of Egypt, split the sea, stood on Sinai, and heard the commands, “I am the L–rd your G–d, Thou shalt not have any other gods before Me” – also questioned.

The Talmud (Menachot 29b) relates that Moshe was shown how the great Rabbi Akiva suffered a tortuous death at the hands of the Romans. When Moshe saw them comb Rabbi Akiva’s flesh with iron rakes he exclaimed, “Is this Torah and is this the reward!?" The answer that came from Above was, “Silence, thus has arisen in the thought (of G–d)”.

The problem with Moshe’s question was not that he verbalised a thought and was subsequently silenced. It was the content of Moshe’s question that was silenced. This is rather disturbing for the reply to his question was superficially no reply. Moshe requested a rationalisation and yet he received a command.

We need something strong tonight. Rationalization is not available. Anger is not a whole answer. I don't see any way forward but to carry on with the commands we have received. At least there is strength in them.

Lila tov, everybody. Lots of funerals tomorrow.