Mumbai Tragedy - a wake up call...

FAITH AMIDST TRAGEDIES


It’s terrible to see so much pain and death caused by this terrorist attack in Mumbai, India; it’s been hard for me not to take it personally. Seeing that selfless people suffer most of the times more than any other is very hard to comprehend.

I ache for all those that lost loved ones in this terrible assault: Indians, Westerners of any nationality, Israelis and Jews.

But, the death of Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg and his wife Rivka is a total representation of the peril times we live in and the contrast of the couple's good deeds – they were simply there for Ahavat Israel. They opened their hearts and house for all those in need, regardless of religion association or level of Yidishkeit.

How hard it is to give and most of the times, nothing in return receive in a humanistic perspective? But, empowered by an everlasting love for G-d and his ultimate good, they knew that only Ahavat Israel can bring the ultimate redemption.

At times like this, we might wonder, but how could G-d let this happen? First of all, it's not up to us to question our faith and sense of justice before the Almighty, who is righteous above all.

Yet, as humans we wonder. People always ask how come G-d allowed this or that. The fact of the matter is there is free will and each person is responsible for their own acts.

When the first murderer of humanity Cain killed his brother Abel who was a shepherd of sheep; G-d asked Cain where his brother was, and his reply was that he didn’t know, since he wasn’t his brother’s keeper ?

G-d responded: What have you done? Hark! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! And then, the Almighty G-d cursed Cain (Bereshit/Genesis 4:8).

Even before the killing, G-d himself told Cain that if he did right, there would be uplift, but if he wouldn’t do right, than sin would urge towards him.

As we can see, G-d had first paid heed to Abel and his offering – and due to his good work, he was killed. Thus, due to Abel’s righteousness, his blood cried out to G-d, and Cain was cursed.

So, people are countable responsible for their evil actions, even when it seems that they aren’t. There’s a true Judge that runs the Heavenly courts and give his verdicts.

The death of righteous people is very difficult in the Almighty’s eyes. He certainly suffers to see that mankind chooses evil. Yet, several times miracles happen and righteous people are spared.

In this particular case and in other cases as well, it shows that the world was not worthy of such unselfish people like the Rabbi and his wife – paradoxically, if there were more people with such love and sense of faith towards G-d, mostly like we wouldn’t have to see so much tragedy.

In resume, their unconditional love should inspire all of us – their death is a loud cry for more love for your fellow and a wake up call for those that seem only compassionate with terrorist’s ideologies. It’s a call of wakening to the West civilization, to democratic countries and for Jewish communities to unite and heed to G-d’s call for us to choose to do more good, until all evil is eradicated from our path.


Carine Silberstein