Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Crossing the Chasm with Ahavat Chinam

From Vos Iz Neias:  Satmar Rabbi: Yeshiva Massacre, Sad Era For Klal Yisroel.
Monsey , NY - This past weekend the Anti Zionist Satmar Rabbi, Rabbi Aaron Titelbaum of Kiryas Joel, NY, visited with his chasididim in Monsey NY, to raise money for new Satmar facility's in Monsey.

In his speech, he took a few moments to recognize, and to speak about the shooting attack on the Merkaz H'Rav Yeshiva in Jerusalem, with a sad voice the Rabbi said, "the shooting is like the burning of the Beth Hamikdosh, he continued to say "although its a modern yeshiva [most likely he meant a pro Zionist philosophy] its a very sad era for klal yisreol, that in middle of torah learning an evil 'Rotzech' can walk in, and spray shoot torah learning Bochrim" the Rabbi said. and he raised his voice with sadness "Tzion Bemar Tivkah, Velirushilayim Titen Kolah" "ציון במר תבכה וירושלים תתן קולה"

The Rabbi extended a heartfelt condolences to the family who lost their loved ones, and wished for a speedy recovery for the many who still remain injured.

From Yeshiva World: Belzer Rebbe Shlita Visits Bochrim Injured In Merkaz Massacre
March 9, 2008 The Belzer Rebbe Shlita visited Shaarei Tzedek Hospital on Sunday, to visit the Bochrim who remain hospitalized from gunshot wounds. The Rebbe arrived with with son and first stopped in at the Intensive Care Unit - where one boy remains in grave condition. The Rebbe sat next to the bed, and spoke with the boys father - giving him much needed Chizuk in these devastating times.

The Rebbe then went to another boy - who is B”H recovering from his wounds - and sat with him for a while. The Bochur related the entire incident was had transpired on that dreadful Thursday night which none of us will ever forget. The Rebbe then too gave the boy words of Chizuk to help him pull through.

These are the only two Bochrim which are still in Shaarei Tzedek Hospital - as some others were Boruch Hashem discharged this morning.

It is interesting to note, that upon hearing of the horrifying attack, the Rebbe stopped taking any visitors, and locked himself in his room to Daven and say Tehillim. Thousands of Belzer Chassidim had been visiting Yerushalayim last week for the Bar Mitzvah of the oldest Einikel of the Rebbe - but did not allow anyone to come in. The Rebbe then attended the Levaya on Friday along with a large group of Belzer Chassidim.

Additionally, YWN has learned that there will be a Hesped in Yeshiva Merkaz HaRav at the end of the week, and the Rebbe is scheduled to attend.
Faith Through Tears:  (IsraelNN.com) Rabbi Yerachmiel Weiss, who lost six students in the Merkaz HaRav massacre, was interviewed by usually hard-hitting TV personality Ilana Dayan - and turned the show into an experience in faith amidst crisis.
Rabbi Weiss is the head of the Yeshiva High School of Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav. Five of the eight students murdered on Thursday night by an Arab terrorist from Jerusalem studied there, and one is a recent graduate.

Answering probing questions about his relationship with G-d when facing untimely death head-on, Rabbi Weiss spoke, with a voice alternating between choked sorrow and firm confidence, about his students, himself, and G-d.

A written account of such an intense discussion, as the one below, necessarily loses most of its sheer power. The interview can be viewed (in Hebrew) in full by clicking here.

Read the whole transcript in English, here.
Hat-tip to Amshi.  Lurker insisted I post this.

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

6 comments:

yitz said...

Thanks so much for posting this, Jameel. Yes -- we really need Ahavat Chinam right now -- and who better to set the tone than the Satmar Rebbe, the Belzer Rebbe, and the Gerer Rebbe. More to come @ Shiloh Musings, stay tuned!

Batya said...

Yitz did a great job here.

Rafi G. said...

the Satamar Rebbe, despite his thoughts and attitudes towards the State of Israel and Zionism which are well known that he considers Zionism and the State to be the antithesis of Judaism and the source of all society's ills, is also well known for his tremendous Ahavas Yisrael.

It is well known that the previous rebbe (who died not too long ago), was very personally hurt whenever an Israeli was harmed in a terror attack.

There is a famous story with some politician in the US who was looking for support for a campaign (I do not remember who or where). He arranged a meeting with the Satmar Rebbe to try to get his support.

He did his homework and knew the Rebbe was against Israel. So he came prepared and avoided talkign aout Israel. The Rebbe asked him his opinions on Israel, and he responded he was always a good friend of Israel.

the rebbe responded that that was good.

he later explained that when a goy is anti-Israel, it is always based on hating Jews, so a goyish politician must be pro-Israel. The Satmar conflict with Israel is based on love of all Jews, and therefore they have the right to oppose Israel itself.

Lurker said...

Read the whole transcript in English, here.

The interview was a half-hour long. The English transcript on Arutz-7 is not complete; it only includes a few excerpts.

Jack Steiner said...

Hmmm

M.R. said...

The interview was a half-hour long. The English transcript on Arutz-7 is not complete; it only includes a few excerpts.

Yeah, I'm realizing that, now, too. Does anyone know if there's a complete transcript posted? (I'd prefer English, but Hebrew would definitely help also.)

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