Word has arrived from Israel, sharing the tragic news that the Bodies of missing boys, Gilad, Eyal and Naftali have been found. The pain is so great and deep. Baruch Dayan H'emet. Blessed is G-d who is the true judge.
Our hearts are broken for their families and for the entire House of Israel.
Our prayers have been important - for us and for their families; sharing such prayers together has brought Jews closer together as well. I am presently at the Rabbinical Council of America conference and the Chief Rabbi, Rav David Lau, just spoke movingly about this to us. He is returning to Israel shortly.
Take a few moments to recite the Av Harachaim prayer that precedes ashrei in the Sabbath musaf http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Av_HaRachamim . It is a prayer that G-d remember those who were martyred in G-d ' s name and that punish the perpetrators.
Hashem yikom damam.
This horrific act is not a crime against the Jews or Israel but against all of humanity. The seizing of innocent young people on their way home from school, snuffing out their lives and their futures is inhumane. We hope that our country and the nations of the world will join Israel in solidarity and mourning at this time and together confront the implications of this tragic event.
Many of you tied a yellow ribbon in unity with the boys and Israel. Although we are not physically present at this moment, we all mourn and I would suggest keeping the ribbon on through shiva, adding Psalm 121, offering your words of comfort to the families and building on the achdut, brotherhood, the Jewish people experienced during these past two weeks in the merit of Ayal, Gilad and Naftali.
May G-d give the families and all of us strength during this time and may we share semachot together soon.
With tears,
Rabbi Daniel Cohen
