The Murder of PM Rabin

An element of the pain, for any Torah loving Jew - and all the more so one who studies the Torah - is that this terrible tragedy was perpetrated "in the name of G-d" by a student of Torah. It need hardly be stated that this wanton act is one that was diametrically opposed to His desires. Let it be said with no equivocation, no reservations, and no hesitation: This act of killing another Jew is condemned in the strongest terms.

What we have seen is not the authentic face of the Jewish people, the descendants of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov. We are a nation built on Torah and on acts of kindness to our fellow man. The action that we have witnessed has no connection whatsoever with these foundations.

There are those who learn from the Torah: those who immerse themselves in it, and allow it to guide them in the course of their lives. And there are those with political agendas who search for selective quotations to justify positions of their own devising. The murderer who killed Prime Minister Rabin did so with a warped sense of Jewish nationalism which was bred from those who use the Torah for political agendas. That is not why HaKadosh Boruch Hu gave us the Torah. To use the Torah to justify the murder of Yitzchak Rabin is to corrupt the Torah through ignorance and misinterpretation.

Every Jew must mourn the destruction that is sweeping through our nation, especially in the State of Israel. It is the job of political leaders to prevent polarization and divisiveness. In this they failed miserably. The right called the architects of the Peace Process "traitors," while the left called the right "enemies of Peace" and issued explicit statements of no concern for those who live in the territories - including those who moved with the encouragement of previous Labor governments and Yitzchak Rabin himself. An environment was created where each group viewed ideological opponents as "the enemy" and previously unthinkable acts were considered legitimate or even imperative. It is easier to throw blame than to digest the true nature of what happened. The finger-pointers must direct their fingers towards their own hearts.

The Torah has no place for words of inciteful rhetoric. The Torah teaches us how to argue, how to differ and even how to admonish. "You shall not hate your brother in your heart, thou shall admonish your neighbor and not bear a sin" (Leviticus 19:17)

Now we understand. If words of admonishment are accompanied by hate, then ultimately it shall lead to terrible sin.

All Jews should mourn the deterioration we are witnessing before our eyes. May we have the insight and strength to correct the problems and bring G-d to reverse the downward spiral. Our Sages teach us that a unified Jewish people have the power to withstand even the most serious indictments in Heaven. May we find the strength and the leadership to bring about true unity.

The Rabbis, Teachers and Staff of Project Genesis