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Vanity Report from Israel -- A funeral today for one of the soldiers murdered yesterday
none | January 9, 2017 | John Adams

Posted on 01/09/2017 12:56:03 PM PST by JOHN ADAMS

I’m staying in Jerusalem for a few weeks and today I was in Alon Shvut, the town where one of the Israeli soldiers killed on Sunday had lived. His funeral was today. I went.

The boy was 20 years old.

All Israeli kids are expected to serve in the army, but to this young man the army had given a pass – a health exemption of some kind. He had to press hard to be allowed to serve. In his town, where the vast majority of families are religious Jews, and which is located in what is commonly referred to as a “settlement,” the vast majority of boys, and some girls, want to be combat soldiers. Every single person who lives in these towns knows someone who was killed; every day they drive past bus stops or stores or intersections where Arabs had tried to kill people, or had killed people.

Perhaps not surprisingly to the people on FreeRepublic, combat units in the Israeli Army are oversubscribed, so there was no hope that this young man would be admitted to one. (Though Israel being Israel, I have heard stories – I know of a family where one of the boys had asthma, and was told to absolutely forget about being in a combat unit, but he pressed and insisted and stamped his feet and was ultimately admitted to one.) But this kid had a desk job. Still, he not only litigated to get into the army; he also volunteered to stay in for another tour. He was in Officer Training School when he was killed.

The funeral was attended by over 4000 people. Hundreds of soldiers and officers – some very high rankers, and many, many enlisted personnel. Israel being Israel, and soldiers being soldiers, there were guns absolutely everywhere. Soldiers in uniform carrying, and young men in blue jeans; young men and young women; young women in pants and religious young women in skirts – all carrying guns, because that’s what expected here of young people.

The service was about 40 minutes long. The commander of the boy’s unit spoke; his rabbi spoke; the woman who was his immediate superior spoke; his grandmother, his mother, his father, and a brother (the boy was one of six kids). One of the many things that struck me was that there was not a single call for revenge; not a single angry word. Not a single demand that the Arabs, or any Arab, be punished, or exiled, or made to pay. At one point during the service the muezzin from the next town over could be heard. No-one commented; no-one said anything in anger.

The family said “Kaddish,” the Jewish prayer praising God that is recited by mourners to counter the danger that someone who has lost a relative might, in anger, denounce God, deny His power, or turn his back. No doubt most Freepers, are, as I am, a parent; the thought of saying that prayer for one’s child is a horror. Watching it done, with deep but gentle sorrow, answering “amen” along with 4000 other amens – that was a terrifying but unforgettable experience.

There were no calls for death or revenge or punishment or exile; but there were simple statements that “our enemies bring death; we bring life. They destroy; we build.” That quiet but unmovable commitment was a tremendous inspiration.

The next 11 days from the remainder of this hateful, anti-American, anti-Western, anti-Israel President will bring some additional horrors and insults for this community. But they will pass, as every other evil decree has passed. Perhaps, like many other evil decrees, Obama’s coming abominations will cause the death of more Jews. It won’t be the first time, and it won’t be the last. But the quiet statements of certainty I witnessed today make clear that he and his abominations will pass, and these Jews will still be here, living in their home -- in peace with their neighbors if their neighbors will allow it, and at war with them, reluctantly at war, if not.

When the ceremony ended the boy’s friends stood around his open grave, singing songs consisting of verses from the book of Psalms.

That’s what death looks like in a Jewish community in an Israeli settlement.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Israel; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: israel; terrorism

1 posted on 01/09/2017 12:56:03 PM PST by JOHN ADAMS
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To: JOHN ADAMS

We toured two months ago. What a beautiful country with wonderful people.We met may young male and female police and soldiers. Very mad and very sad.


2 posted on 01/09/2017 1:06:24 PM PST by Dr. Ursus
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To: JOHN ADAMS

Very eloquent. Thanks.

(Not anything we’d hear from the MSM...)


3 posted on 01/09/2017 1:06:40 PM PST by CondorFlight (I)
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To: JOHN ADAMS

Thank you for posting this, JOHN ADAMS.


4 posted on 01/09/2017 1:09:05 PM PST by jazusamo (Have YOU Donated to Free Republic? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: JOHN ADAMS

Wow. Thanks for sharing. It will never be too soon for Obama to be gone and our friendship with God’s people, Israel, is restored.

May God bless America and may God bless and protect Israel and may peace be upon Jerusalem.

What are you in Israel for? I’ve never been there but expect to sometime in the future.


5 posted on 01/09/2017 1:11:10 PM PST by Jim W N
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To: JOHN ADAMS

May God accept this wonderful young mans soul and comfort his family. It hurts to watch these young lives be extinguished


6 posted on 01/09/2017 1:12:17 PM PST by McGavin999
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To: JOHN ADAMS

Great post.


7 posted on 01/09/2017 1:12:33 PM PST by MarvinStinson
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To: JOHN ADAMS

Thank you so much for your report.
My heart breaks for this young man’s family.


8 posted on 01/09/2017 1:22:29 PM PST by mumblypeg (Chicago called. They want their village idiot back.)
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To: Jim 0216

You should come. It’s a beautiful, if somewhat crazy place, but it works. I’m here for some business, some pleasure (seeing friends and family) and some study.


9 posted on 01/09/2017 1:29:16 PM PST by JOHN ADAMS
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To: JOHN ADAMS

Soon.

Thanks and enjoy your stay.


10 posted on 01/09/2017 1:36:37 PM PST by Jim W N
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To: JOHN ADAMS

Bookmarking for later


11 posted on 01/09/2017 2:27:40 PM PST by Hegemony Cricket (The emperor < still > has no pedigree.)
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To: JOHN ADAMS

I have also been there and done this many times. Memorial Day in Israel was never for fun - we had families of too many fallen friends to visit.

Memorial Day in Israel is gut-wrenching. Sundown to sundown, the night and the following day are filled with stories of heroism, sacrifice and loss. Every town and neighborhood has their own events. The last one I went to was in a large neighborhood (subdivision really) outside of Rishon Le’Tzion. The reading of the names went on for more than 30 minutes - there must have been more than 100 fallen from that subdivision alone. TV and radio is filled with it, saturated in it, and at some point, you just want it to stop, you want to not listen or see it anymore. It just becomes too much. So you stop watching and listen.

It only took me about two minutes without the TV or radio to feel guilty as hell. Look what they did and what they endured and sacrificed and I can’t see or listen to it for one lousy day every year? What’s wrong with me? Turn that TV and radio BACK ON, you coward! So I do - turn it back on and listen and watch and absorb it all right through to the end at sundown when Independence Day is ushered in.

The sudden transition from sorrow and loss to celebration is extremely difficult but a good lesson. There is no freedom without courage and sacrifice.. But for them, I would not be here and I would not be free.


12 posted on 01/09/2017 2:49:52 PM PST by H Szenes
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To: JOHN ADAMS

Thank-you so much for your beautiful and touching report of what you saw and heard in Israel. You conveyed the sorrow, gentleness & kindness of spirit in these people, whom I love, with the impact of reality.

Thank-you again, for that.


13 posted on 01/09/2017 3:23:02 PM PST by PrairieLady2
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To: JOHN ADAMS
Thank you for your moving report.

The traditional verse recited to mourners: "May G‑d console you, together with all mourners of Zion and Jerusalem."

14 posted on 01/09/2017 4:58:58 PM PST by EinNYC
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