As I drove down to New York on Tuesday, I heard the news that there had been yet another terrible terrorist attack on innocent Israelis in the center of Israel. For the next few hours, I was in shock and so upset, as for the third time in a week people were being murdered on the streets of Israeli cities.
In this attack in Bnai Brak, five innocent people were killed, including a young father who was shielding his two year old son from the bullets, and left behind a young pregnant wife, two Ukrainian workers, a young father of four, and a brave and heroic Israeli Christian Arab Policeman who dashed into combat and helped eliminate the terrorist.
Israel as a country is in shock and now has many new widows, orphans and grieving families.
We pray that the scourge of terrorism is overcome and peace and security can return to the streets of Israel.
On Wednesday the day after the attack, a young man who was on a bike the night before and who the terrorist tried to shoot and but wasn't able to fire as his gun jammed, returned to say a prayer of thanksgiving at the site of the attack. As can be seen in the video, despite being just feet away from the terrorist, he miraculously survived.
As he donned the Tefillin and said the Shema and the blessing of Hagomel in which he thanked G-d for the miracle of his survival, onlookers looked on and realized how much worse it could have been the night before.
The young pregnant wife of one of the murdered victims. gave an emotional interview to Israeli TV in which she described her terrible pain at losing her husband and what it was like as she was trying to explain what happened to her two year old child. At the same time, she spoke of her unwavering faith and trust in G-d and of her determination to somehow find a way forward.
You can read more about these attacks over here.
Israel is a country in pain this week, but also a country that is full of determination and resilience to keep going forward and to keep building on goodness and kindness and growth.
May G-d strengthen Israel and bless it with peace and security.
With blessings for a peaceful and uplifting Shabbat and an upcoming week of tranquility and blessings for all of mankind.
Shabbat Shalom / Good Shabbos
Yisroel