Sadness

Following is a link to news of a terrible attack which occurred last Friday:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4041237,00.html

and another: 

http://www.aish.com/jw/me/Itamar_Massacre.html

The story concerns a family by the name of Fogel, who were brutalized in their home by terrorists who have yet to be caught.  Murdered in this shameful onslaught were the mother, father, and three children, ages eleven, four and three months old. Three months old!!! That someone could be sick and twisted enough to murder an innocent family is bad enough.  Killing children reaches far beyond sick and twisted, delving into senselessly cruel, heartless, and evil.  Not that those words don't apply to the murderer of the entire family.  I just feel like it takes a special type of evil to murder a child-what type of rationale do you suppose this person or people employed as they were stabbing the three month old baby to death? Or slicing the throat of an eleven year old? The four year old was discovered clenching his little fists; he was too young even to attempt defense of himself, and it's heartbreaking to think that a child not even old enough to understand the politics behind this horrible attack was violently taken from this world by a person arrogant and cruel enough to believe he had justification to do so.  Looking at a picture of the family's house, I can imagine all of the daily goings on that might have taken place there each day: hurried breakfasts before school, lively Shabbat celebrations, laughter between husband and wife at those little jokes spouses share only with one another, happy days and bad days.  I imagine homework at the kitchen table and the camaraderie of a large family (I, too, come from a family of six children).  Now, there's a gaping hole in the fabric of life, with the three surviving children left to cope with what has happened and with the issue of the blind hatred behind it. 

I want to hate the people behind this attack.  But I know, deep down, that this is not the answer.  A good friend of mine advises that the only road to victory over the people who perpetrate hatred crimes such as this is living a fully Jewish life.  Hating these people will only foster a deeper hatred within me, which will eventually grow and poison my soul, providing no constructive outlet.  Practicing the joy and love that comes with Judaism, studying Torah, proving to the people who hate us that we're not going anywhere, passing the faith down to my daughter, learning about and living by the laws of Halakha, are constructive ways of dealing with the pain and sorrow I feel every time I read about this horrific event.  It won't make the horror disappear, but it might make a difference.

Streams of water can't put out love, 
Nor can rivers sweep it away.
Song of Songs 8:7