Blood-Soaked Prayer Shawls
by Rabbi Boaz D. Heilman
Nov. 19, 2014
Monday evening a group of us went to see a movie at the
Framingham AMC theaters. Part of the Boston Jewish Film Festival, “Run Boy,
Run” was the final entry of the festival.
The theater was nearly full; there were many who came on their own,
others who came as organized groups, such as the dozen or so of us from Congregation
B’nai Torah.
The film is based on a true story. It’s about a child, about nine years old, who
survives the Holocaust by quite literally running from one hiding place to
another, working, foraging and stealing for food and shelter. But the story isn’t only about his physical
survival. It’s also about the survival
of his Jewish soul, his Jewish identity.
Many left the theater in tears, many others in deep thought.
The next morning, we all awoke to the terrible and tragic
news from Israel. Four rabbis were
murdered while praying in a synagogue in Jerusalem. Many others were injured. The Druze policeman who ran to their defense
was gravely injured—shot in the head—and later that day died too.
That same day, a rabbi on his way to cancer treatment in
Brooklyn, New York, was ruthlessly beaten by thugs who first wanted his money,
then worse. He was insulted, cursed,
called “dirty, bloody Jew” among others.
Not even 70 years have passed since the end of World War II
and the Holocaust, but the world’s worst hatred continues.
Let there be no doubt about it. It isn’t only hatred of Israel that motivates
these attacks. It’s hatred of the Jew,
wherever he might be. It isn’t the Land
of Israel that people want us to vacate; it’s the entire world.
We need not have worried about the loss of our
identity. The world will not let us
forget it.
The four rabbis in Jerusalem were brutally slain while they
were praying. Quite literally, they were
in the midst of Kiddush ha-Shem,
meditating over God’s holiness in a holy sanctuary. That didn’t stop the terrorists, it only
incited them further. It wasn’t Israelis
they were killing. It was Jews.
And what Jews! Rabbis!
The best of the best! Educated, kind,
enlightened, devoted to goodness and holiness, to Tikkun Olam, making this world a better place. Pure in thought and deed, they never preached
hatred; they never sullied their language with epithets or curses. They only sought to bring light to this
world. Wrapped in tallitot, the traditional payer shawls, and with t’fillin straps wound around arm and
forehead, they were sanctifying God’s name, confirming God’s unity in the
heavens as on earth.
70 years ago, the Jewish people nearly disappeared. Instead, we multiplied and greatly
increased. Our influence in education,
law, medicine, technology and entertainment has only grown and broadened. The tragic murder of the four rabbis in
Jerusalem—one of them the grandson of the founder of the Maimonides School in
Brookline, a great Hassidic master whose legacy is vast and legendary—will not
stop us today either. Their light will
go on shining through the generations.
Pages upon pages of Torah and Talmud will be studied in their
memory. Hatred cannot put a stop to
holiness.
Our heartfelt condolences are extended to the bereaved
families. Our prayers for refuah sh’leima—a speedy and full
recovery—go to those who were wounded in the terrible attacks.
And to the family of the Druze policeman who heroically
sought to defend those who were praying in the synagogue and whose actions
prevented further harm—our thanks and deepest condolences. His funeral was attended by
thousands—including the President of the State of Israel—who came from all over
Israel to pay their last respects.
May we all find solace in the midst of all the
grief and pain that surrounds us today.
We pray that our deeds might lead to greater peace in this world; God
knows there is already way too much hatred and violence.
© 2014 by Boaz D. Heilman
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