WISH
11A11011AL
self in more ways than one, the
rabbi says.
He cites another example from
Jewish history. About 1,900 years
ago, when the second Temple
was destroyed, the Jews lost au-
tonomy and their plight lasted
until the establishment of the
State of Israel in 1948.
Flashback: Around the year
70, the Roman Empire ruled
Judea, but the area was governed
by Jews. When the second Tem-
ple was destroyed, Jews were
taken as slaves. Some migrated
to Babylonia and other eastern
extremities of the Roman Em-
pire.
Why did the Jews lose auton-
omy? Ostensibly, the Romans
and other political icons like Ti-
tus and Vespasian were to blame,
Rabbi Well says. But the Talmud
teaches a different lesson.
`The cause of our downfall was
sinat chinain, which translates
into unwarranted hatred of one
Jew for another," he says.
At least four Jewish groups
were locking horns at the time.
The zealots wanted to fight the
Romans or die. Members of a
kind of Jewish mafia sought to
reap material gain from the tur-
bulence. A third group preached
appeasement, but willingly
cashed in its Jewish identity for
governing positions within the
empire.
And, typical of most societies,
there existed the general popu-
lation, the quiet majority yearn-
ing for safety and prosperity.
"The problem was that the
scene back then went from being
a discussion of political and philo-
sophical differences to character
assassinations, one Jew against
the other, which is what we're
seeing today," Rabbi Well says.
"It was our hatred for one an-
other that brought about our
downfall (exile and dispersion)."
The rabbi cites the Book of
Deuteronomy, Chapter 32, Verse
7: "Remember the days of yore.
Understand the lessons of gen-
eration after generation. Ask
your parents and they will relate
it to you. Ask your elders (the
scholars) and they will tell you."
"This verse is God telling the
Jewish people to analyze their
history and learn from past mis-
takes, as well as accomplish-
ments," Rabbi Weil says.
"It was our hatred
for one another."
— Rabbi Steven Well
In the past week, he has found
heartening steps in this direction.
"Every major Jewish Orthodox
lay organization and Orthodox
rabbinical organization — as well
as Benjamin Netanyahu and Shi-
mon Peres — have come out and
condemned the perversion of
Jewish law resulting from the as-
sassination.
"It's a time for mutual under-
standing and respect. They have
all come out with sincere concil-
iatory remarks. This is a start,"
he says.
"(But), if there's not a tremen-
dous move made to keep our dif-
ferences in the realm of the
philosophical and political and
out of the realm of vitriolic char-
acter assassinations and charac-
ter attacks, then we have a very
dreary, dark, bleak future."
In fact, it could be the fateful
year 70 CE repeating itself.
"That's the fear that I have,"
Rabbi Weil says. 0
Teaching The Children
About Tragedy
DAVID ZEMAN STAFF WRITER
F
or the youngest of Jews, the
assassination of Israeli
Prime Minister Yitzhak
Rabin carries bewilder-
ment as well as grief.
The emotional reaction of their
parents, combined with snippets
of news reports on the slaying,
have left children with_ many
questions, and some fear.
Why was Rabin killed? Why
would one Jew kill another?
What will happen to the gun-
man?
For Frances Pearlman's 11-
year-old son, Zachary, the inquiry
was more personal. "He wanted
to know if this could happen to
his own grandfather," said Ms.
Pearlman, of Farmington Hills.
To combat such anxiety, teach-
ers at Jewish community schools
mobilized this week to discuss
how to best explain the tragedy
to their students.
"This is going to be a Kodak
moment in teaching, so to speak,"
Ms. Pearlman, president of the
Jewish Educators Council, told
a gathering of school officials
Monday. "We have to be ready to
answer every single question
they have."
The brainstorming session at
Temple Beth El produced a plan
to aid teachers in anticipating
questions on the assassination,
and offer possible answers. The
group also vowed to help teach-
ers and parents deal with their
own feelings of loss.
TRAGEDY page 6
(KEREN KAYEMETH
LEISRAEL) INC.
WOMEN OF JEWISH NATIONAL FUND
There is not much I can add to what has already been said.
I speak for myself when I say that I have been overpowered
with remorse by the news of the assassination of Itzhak
Rabin.
We have lost a leader, a general and a statesman. He was a
defender of his country and a SEEKER OF PEACE.
My heartfelt and deepest condolences to Mrs. Leah Rabin,
her children and grandchildren.
Sandy Schore - President
Women of Jewish National Fund
STATEMENT BY
AGUDAS CHASSIDEI CHABAD-LUBAVITCH,
THE CHABAD-LUBAVITCH MOVEMENT
The assassination of Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin is tragic, saddening
and despicable.
Violence and murder are anathema to our Torah's teachings, as they are
to all civilized people. The moral leadership of the world must not tire
in its efforts to eliminate fanaticism and extremism of any kind.
The Rebbe has taught us that tragedy, G-d forbid, must be countered
by positive and constructive efforts. The Jewish people, and all men
and women of goodwill, should pause to reflect upon the sanctity of
human life, and the importance of mutual love and respect. Let us
actively embrace tangible and meaningful acts of goodness and kind-
ness towards one another, and let us seek to overcome and heal the fis-
sures that bring disunity and chaos to the world.
Our condolences to Mrs. Rabin and family, and to all our brothers and
sisters in the Holy Land who have suffered so much and so deeply from
acts of violence and murder.
As always, we pray for peace—true and enduring peace—in Israel and
in the entire world.
LUBAVITCH FOUNDATION OF MICHIGAN
810-737-7000
AGMIERINEN6