A couple of years ago, I was privileged to be on a long drive with a very dear rebbetzin, who doesn't mince words. In the course of our conversation, I was trying to make sense of the inability of decent, normal people to see the truth about the Arab-Israeli conflict. How could nice people keep rationalizing the behavior of suicide terrorists, who were blowing themselves up in pizza parlors and cafes and buses filled with civilians? I made some comment, trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, about how they were undoubtedly confused by the biased reporting in the media.
The rebbetzin focused very intently on the road as she drove.
"If you think it is ever excusable to blow up babies and grandmothers, for any reason, to advance any political cause, you are not confused. You are evil."
Wisdom means being able to cut through the "nonsense," directly to the truth. To put it nicely.
Thanks, Rebbetzin. I get it: Don't capitulate.
Dear terrorists: We Israelis have tried to appease the media and our Western friends for too long. It really is time for you to be stopped.
To everybody else: Shabbat shalom. May we share good news.
1 comment:
Thank you, Ruti, for telling this. It is helpful in combating the lying emotional sound bites used so well by so many, as those reverberate in people, often pushing other (real) information aside. Jihadists and many others know this better than Israeli public officials. Though it is better this time around than in prior wars, the enemy has had a long head start (started with "Paroh" thousands of years ago).
We need more like this to fight effectively for hearts. Thank the rebetzin for us next time you see her.
Shabbat Shalom.
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