Monday it was raining and pouring
and puddles of dirty water filled the streets.
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
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.
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.
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.
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?