Jerusalem Terror Too Close to Home

Monday it was raining and pouring 

and puddles of dirty water filled the streets.

image rain and baby in stroller

The stormy weather kept many people inside.

Where is the one place to find a crowd

no matter what the weather?

A synagogue in a religious neighborhood at morning prayers:

 it is a sure thing.

Third intifada or not,

Tuesday’s pools of blood from the horrific murders

filled a Jerusalem, Israel, synagogue, spilling into the streets.

I will refrain from sharing those photos,

as my friend Varda wrote on that topic.

 I posted in Israellycool yesterday,

the extended family of Rav Moshe Twersky z”l has been important

image Rabbi Moshe Twersky murdered by terroists

to us for more years than I want to count.

I prefer to share photos of victims we want to remember.

After I wrote that,

we found out yet another connection to the victims.

Looking through mainstream media accounts,

one sees photos of the butchering murderers,

but not even the names of the victims.

Sometimes it feels as though there are no degrees of separation.

We had the privilege of being present

at the engagement and wedding,

of Rav Kalman Levine’s z”l daughter.

image kalman levine

And in the same building where he was murdered,

Rav Kalman Levine z”l had the joy of celebrating

the brit milah of a grandson in May 2012.

Rabbi Aryeh Kupinsky z”l was originally from Detroit,

and moved to Har Nof from Kiryat Arba many years ago.

Avraham Shmuel Goldberg z”l was originally from Liverpool.

Today there was news of a fifth fatality,

the Israeli policeman who was first to arrive at the crime scene,

Zidan Sayif, who was a member of the Druze community

and also a young father.

Howie Rothman, originally from Canada,

is in a coma, having barely survived an ax attack to his head.

The family of Shmuel Yerucham ben Baila asked for Tehillim,

prayers for his recovery and the other victims.

Not all is good on the real streets.

image restaurant that was bombed

A new security guard stands alert at the entrance

to this popular cafe spot, next to the sign

marking the spot where these people were killed by a suicide bomber.

image of Hebrew sign

 The celebration for new Olim was held,

sorry I was not able to attend and share it with you.

However, today a new group of 58 immigrants

arrived from the United States.

These olim have chosen to make Israel,

 their new home.

They can join us in offering the traditional words

of comfort to mourners:

המקום  ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים

Besorot tovot

is a popular expression heard this week,

with everyone looking for good news.

But when will Arab media stop inciting violence?

0 thoughts on “Jerusalem Terror Too Close to Home

  • November 19, 2014 at 4:26 pm
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    Thank you for introducing us to these beautiful people, for keeping the focus on theses dear ones. Prayers for the families and all who loved them go out from Seattle. Prayers for the peace of Jerusalem, and for the courage of world leaders to step up and address these real underlying issues.

    Reply
    • November 19, 2014 at 4:33 pm
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      Thank you, such wonderful kind people butchered while praying sounds like a bad movie, still hard to come to grips with it all.

      Reply
  • November 19, 2014 at 4:55 pm
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    So very sad. thank you for sharing with us and telling us more than is in the newspapers.
    Besorot tovot, Shifra

    Reply
  • November 19, 2014 at 5:06 pm
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    Can’t stop the tears

    Reply
  • November 19, 2014 at 7:38 pm
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    I’m sorry for this great loss; I’m also sorry that you think the arrival of 58 more US immigrants will achieve anything good for Israel and the Jewish people.

    Reply
    • November 20, 2014 at 12:44 am
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      Esther – I find your comment extremely distasteful. People are being buried and their bodies are not even cold, yet you choose to make some sarcastic remark about Jews returning to their homeland.

      Will it achieve anything good for Israel and the Jewish people? Ah… let’s see – many Jews who would otherwise have lived under Muslim oppression live under freedom in their own country. Jews who might have been killed in conflicts around the world now live under freedom in their own country.

      Jews who, at one stage, had nowhere to turn and nowhere to run – now have a place to live under freedom in their own country.

      Our people is what strengthens us – so Esther Altshul Helfgott – we do not just think the arrival of new olim achieves anything good – WE KNOW IT!

      Reply
  • November 20, 2014 at 2:36 am
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    Thank you for sharing with us a more personal side of this tragic event among our brethren. Welcome to the 58 new immigrants to Israel. It is written upon the hearts of many Jewish people to go home. And home we will go no matter the situation. May His face continue to shine upon you!!!

    Reply
  • November 20, 2014 at 8:50 am
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    I have enjoyed your blogs for some time. Many of us here in Canada have been praying for you this week. CBC national news gave the story top priority and listed the names of the rabbis and policeman who were killed and spoke of the condition of the other victims. They made it clear they were at worship when the attack occurred. You are on our hearts.

    Reply
  • Pingback: Shabat Shalom: Bitter and Sweet | The Real Jerusalem Streets

  • November 23, 2014 at 9:01 pm
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    Thank you, Sharon. I know you understand. Thank you for sharing photos of these men that will bring smiles of memory to their families and friends. Those beautiful smiles bring the set jaw of resolve that carnage cannot. Thank you so very much for celebrating with powerful words the lives of those holy neshamot, and for putting the onus on those who hate for a living. Hashem yikom damam.

    Reply

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