Those families are committed to Hashem and no one and no event can move them from that commitment. It is part of their DNA – the DNA of all Jews who, when their faith in Hashem is put on the line, “become swifter then eagles, stronger then lions, to fulfill the Will of their Creator.”
I stand in awe of these holy people and am reminded of what I saw in the hellish pits of the Holocaust when, despite everything, our people sang “Ani Ma’amin – I believe with perfect faith in the coming of Messiah and even if He may tarry nevertheless I believe!”
That faith has been our glory, our invincibility. We may fall apart on the “small stuff” (which is not so small after all) but when it comes to the big things, our dedication to Torah and love of Hashem bursts forth.
It would be understandable if the families in Har Nof were to say, “Enough; we are leaving. We have our American and British passports. It’s just too painful and difficult over here. We’ve done our part. We struggled financially. We live in tiny apartments. We gave up an easier life to help build this land.”
But these families are Jews who remain steadfast in their commitment and loyal to the oath they made at Sinai. The well-known Jewish prayer “If I forget thee O Jerusalem…” throbs forever in their hearts and souls as it has throbbed in our people throughout the millennia. And so of course these stricken families, even while their open wounds are so raw, refuse to abandon Yerushalayim.
They thanked me for coming but it is I who must thank them for allowing me to stand in their awesome presence and witness their indomitable faith.
I looked at the clock and realized I had to make my way to Hadassah Hospital to visit those who were wounded, some critically. I met the families and heard their cries. I saw the victims’ wounds. The savages stabbed and slashed, cut off limbs and lacerated faces, leaving ugly and agonizing scars.
I spoke to the brokenhearted families and they too are staunch and strong. Nothing – nothing – can deter them. Their love of Hashem, their commitment to Torah and Eretz Yisrael, are beacons of light that illuminate the world and impart strength to all who encounter them.
I visited a young boy who was not injured in the massacre at Har Nof but in a vicious grenade attack. His mother was lovingly hovering over him, stroking his forehead, holding his hand. I went over to the young man and told him I had a wonderful shidduch for him – a beautiful young girl who wanted to marry him. Suddenly his face lit up with a beautiful smile. Even as he smiled his eyes filled with tears and they flowed down his cheeks. He could not speak, but he communicated with his shining eyes. His tears spoke volumes and his smile proclaimed hope and faith. Then he closed his eyes and fell back into a deep sleep.
I whispered a prayer. “Please, Hashem, let it happen. Let this beautiful boy go under the chuppah and build a genuine faithful Jewish home. Allow this precious son to have the privilege of raising sons and daughters of his own to worship your holy Name and build Your holy land.”
I embraced is mother and even as I departed I continued to whisper, “Please G-d, let us see the fulfillment of Your prophecy that we will hear “in the cities of Judea and the streets of Jerusalem…the sound of joy and the sound of happiness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those saying ‘Praise the L-rd of Hosts, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.’ ”