Time will tell how the killing of Charlie Kirk will affect Jews in Israel and around the world.
Kirk was a staunch defender of Israel and Jewish values. Charlie was a religious Christian who kept the Sabbath. Faith and family were very important to him.
The Sabbath day of rest for the young Charlie Kirk family was Saturday not Sunday. Let’s hear what Kirk told Rabbi Moshe Scheiner of the Palm Beach (Florida) Synagogue.
“This past winter Charlie Kirk came to Palm Beach to speak and stayed at the home of one of our members,” Rabbi Scheiner related to an audience of daily listeners that you can find on the internet. “He was a young man filled with passion and values.
“First thing that impressed me about him was how he spoke about October 7. He was filled with compassion for the Jewish people and for the soldiers defending Israel. He bought protective vests, armored vests, for soldiers so they should be safer when they go into battle.
“The second thing that impressed me was, he felt inspired to go to college campuses to speak to the youth as he felt there was a decline even among the Christians in their support for Israel. He felt it was his personal mission to inspire the youth, so they should know the fulfillment of the greatest prophecies of the Jewish people for the only Jewish homeland.
“The third,” continued Rabbi Scheiner, “was when he told me he’s a Sabbath observer. I thought he meant that he keeps Sunday as a good Christian. But he said ‘my Sabbath is your Sabbath.’ I was shocked to learn when he told me that ‘I keep Shabbat the way you keep Shabbat as a religious Jew. I put away my phone, I turn off my computer, my television and for 24 hours I’m with my family, with G-d, with faith, and I disconnect from the world around me. Shabbat for me,’ Charlie Kirk said, ‘is from Friday night to Saturday night.’”
Charlie Kirk’s shattered widow, Erika, is determined to keep the memory of her husband alive. She vowed to keep scheduling appearances on college campuses around the country. Mrs. Kirk will be a political force to deal with. She was older than her husband, Charlie was 31, Erika will be 37 in November. She’s been in the limelight for years. She was crowned Miss Arizona 13 years ago and her fame will only grow.
The shooting of Charlie Kirk was easily avoidable. There were no security checks as people entered. That was a tremendous failure on somebody’s part. When you go to a ballgame today security checks what you’re bringing in either by bag or pockets on your clothing.
Former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz, a friend of Kirk, confirmed the lack of security on Fox News. Chaffetz said there were some security guards in front of where Kirk was speaking, but no security checks going in, and not much of a police presence.