* Translated by Janine Muller Sherr
Two staff members of the Israeli embassy were killed last night in Washington. The terrorist shouted “Free Palestine!” before shooting the young couple as they were exiting an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. If people wearing a kaffiyeh are screaming “Intifada” on campuses throughout the U.S., it is only a matter of time before a real "Intifada" like this will occur.
Within the past week, we have seen two manifestations of the same abhorrent antisemitism — first the murder of Tzeela Gez in the West Bank last week, who was killed on her way to the delivery room, and now the killing of this young couple in Washington who were planning to get engaged in a few days.
What should our response be to this evil? Our sages have been telling us for years: Our enemies want to see fewer openly Jewish people? Less Jewish life? Less support of Israel? Our answer to them is to do more — not to hide and disappear, but to invigorate ourselves, to strengthen our Jewish identity, to be who we are meant to be with pride and resolve.
For over a year and a half, our brothers and sisters in the U.S. have been praying for us. This morning, we are praying for them. They are constantly checking if we are okay, this morning we are checking on them. Throughout this painful period, Jews throughout the world have been singing the moving prayer, “Acheinu, kol Beit Yisrael - Our brothers, the entire House of Israel,” emphasizing the plight of the hostages in Gaza. “May God have mercy on them and bring them from distress to comfort, from darkness to light, and from slavery to freedom.” This morning we recite these words for our brothers and sisters, the entire House of Israel, wherever they are.
