Monday, June 26, 2006

One Soldier's Life.

Gilad Shalit
Photo: Reproduction:
Hagai Aharon (YNetnews)


Last night, after Maariv, our minyan said Tehillim for kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad ben Aviva (Shalit), hoping for his safe return. There were prayers said at the Kotel last night for Gilad, and I've received a few emails going around the internet as well. I suggest you take a moment today, either at davening, minyan, or even at your computer to say some tehillim or a tefilla for this soldier.

The situation concerning this soldier is very complex -- the IDF wants to immediately go into Gaza, if not for just sending a strong message to the PA that terror will not be tolerated. The political establishment is holding the IDF back (as they have been for the past 10 months from the Disengagement), hoping for a political solution. Frankly, if Israel had responded forcefully after the first Qassam rocket attack after the Disengagement, (as was promised by Sharon) I doubt we would be in this situation to begin with.

Fatah (remember them, the "moderates" everyone was very worried after they lost the PA election to Hamas?) has now threatened that if the IDF starts a serious ground assault in Gaza, they will use chemical and biological weapons against IDF troops.

"With the help of Allah, we are pleased to say that we succeeded in developing over 20 different types of biological and chemical weapons, this after a three-year effort," the group said in a leaflet it has distributed. "We say to (Prime Minister Ehud) Olmert and (Defense Minister Amir) Peretz: Your threats of invasion do not frighten us. We will surprise you with new weapons you have not faced until now. As soon as an IDF soldier sets foot on Gazan land, we will respond with a new weapon."

Israel responded that the massive use of force is on it's way:

The cabinet issued a message following the meeting saying, "Israel sees in the event Sunday morning at Kerem Shalom a most severe incident. The responsibility is on the Palestinians, on Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, the government and the PA. Israel will take all the necessary steps to return the captured soldier Corporal Gilad Shalit to his home. The cabinet approved the military ranks to carry out the necessary preparations to accomplish this mission."

However, if the soldier is successfully returned home (which we all pray for), I doubt the IDF will do much.

So many memories came flooding back to me last night; the tehillim we said was the same perek we used to recite daily in Yeshivat Hesder on behalf of IDF soldiers captured in Lebanon. I recalled the awful week 10 years ago when IDF soldier Nachshon Wachsman was kidnapped, and the entire Jewish world held their breathes, lit an extra candle for him on Erev Shabbat, and said tehillim around the world for him. And there was IDF soldier Madhat Youssef who was assigned to defend Kever Yosef, and the IDF decided to rely on the PA for his safe extraction. He died from loss of blood because the politicians didn't send in the IDF.

Trying to think of something positive, I recall the July 4rth USA Bicentennial celebration in 1976 when Israel shocked the world (and themselves) with the heroic rescue at Entebbe.

There's a drawing of the Entebbe Mission that sums it up for me -- a victorious IDF Airforce Hercules transport plane heading back from Entebbe towards Israel.

The plane was full of the rescued Israelis and the exhausted, but proud IDF soldiers.

And drawn simply underneath the plane, was a huge hand, helping it along.

IDF Soldier, Gilad ben Aviva -- we're hoping to see you back home safely, soon.


Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Its a nightmare.

The Palestinians can be trusted to do one thing. Lie, cheat swindle, decieve, manipulate and act dishonourably.

Why is Israel held accountable for every single action against the Pals, yet when ever there is a 'terrorist attack, assault, missile launch its not the Palestinian State its a rogue faction.

The Maxim of War used to be divide and conqueror, now it seems to be divide and avoid direct responsibility.

regards Aaron

Anonymous said...

This is not an incident.
This is not terrorism.
This is war.
Will we act accordingly?
So far all talk-no action.

Anonymous said...

This is not an incident.
This is not terrorism.
This is war.
Will we act accordingly?
So far all talk-no action.

orthomom said...

Amen. We all hopw to see him back home soon - but there is no such hope for his fellow soldiers who were tragically killed.

socialworker/frustrated mom said...

Tehillim is all we could do. This is the millionth blog I am reading about this. This is not in a bad way it is good that ppl have it on their minds.

Olah Chadasha said...

datingmaster, that's just disgusting and in poor taste. I can't believe you would stoop so low as to bring in your personal problems, especially in light of this event. Does it make you feel better to make jokes during a serious situation? Why don't you just keep it to yourself, just this once, m'kay?

Jameel, very moving post. May this brave young soul be returned safely. May out pathetic actually get a soul and decide to actually stand up and protect the country.
-OC

Anonymous said...

This is, indeed, a terrible situation. We all hope only that this soldier is safetly returned, no matter what the means of his return.

Anonymous said...

Amen.

westbankmama said...

When Yoni Netanyahu died saving the hostages in Entebbe, were those who doubted the wisdom of acting on our own - or did the country realize that besides Hashem, we have to depend on ourselves alone?

JoeSettler said...

Don't worry, we'll all forget about Gilad in around 2 weeks when Olmert and Peretz plan to distract us with his brave expulsion of more Jews from their homes.

I guess he is living up to the maxim: "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em".

YMedad said...

We also said Tehilim here in Shiloh but I have to point out the true ramification of this incident: the fence hasn't stopped the Kassams and now it hasn't stopped the tunneling.

The Orthodox community in the US was shtum during the last disengagement (and I hope it's the last) becuase they thought Sharon knew better. Well, he didn't and Olmert knows even less and Peretz doesn't know anything about defense and security. The demographic issue/threat has been proven to be not as proposed by Olmert & Co. So, if the logic of a further retreat and the worthiness of a fence is disproved, will we revenants in Yesha finally get the support for our position no less than the concessionist polices of Sharon received the support of all the far-left groups in the US?

bec said...

how does olmert sleep at night? i really hope that somewhere deep inside, he realizes that his politics have caused this tragedy.

rockofgalilee said...

I think we should realize that it isn't politics that caused this tragedy, it's the Jewish people not behaving the way God wants them to that caused this tragedy.

Jack Steiner said...

ROG,

I am not sure that you can really say that.

rockofgalilee said...

jack,
I can really say that.
I'm going to blog it today, if I can find the time.

Dot Co Dot Il said...

Sadly, many of these politicians don't do anything unless there is a dollar to be made in it.

JJ said...

Amen, Jameel. Was just skimming thru Haaretz and it says that the window of opportunity to rescue Gilad will be closing soon. When will our government WAKE UP????

Out of respect for your blog, I will not respond to Rock of Galilee's asinine comment.

rockofgalilee said...

God involved in tragedy?? You mean he doesn't just sit up in the clouds playing cards??? What was I thinking.
It sounds just as asinine to pray for his safety.

the sabra said...

im with rockofgalilee

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