B'avod re'shoim reenah!
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Posted on 11/10/2004 1:51:06 PM PST by yonif
An interesting debate is being conducted in some circles in Israel as to precisely how happy one should be at Arafat's demise.
One Biblical verse that has often been quoted of late is, "When the wicked perish, there is jubilation" (Proverb 11,10). A statement by the Tekumah party - a faction of the National Union - notes that the Talmud cites this verse in response to witnesses who fear that their testimony might help put someone to death. The judges tell them, "You will not be liable for this blood; it is rather a merit for you, to purify the world from evil and to add light and joy, as is written, 'When the wicked perish, there is jubilation.'"
Tekumah also quotes Rabbi A. I. Kook, Chief Rabbi of pre-State Israel, as writing that the verse implies that even "evil itself, in its depth, longs for its own demise and rejoices in it." The Tekumah statement concludes, "If we recall the dark passion of the terrorists to kill themselves together with their victims, and Arafat's wish to be a shahid [martyr], we can begin to understand Rabbi Kook's words, and see the kindness that was done to Arafat with his passing from the world."
Others quote a different verse in Proverbs: "When your enemy falls, do not rejoice" (24, 17). Some explain, however, that this is referring to one's personal enemy, but not to "wicked people" in general, over whose downfall one should rejoice. Others explain that this means not to have public rejoicing in the streets.
Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, Dean of Yeshivat Ateret Cohanim in the Old City of Jerusalem and Rabbi of Beit El, writes that when considering the injunction not to "rejoice upon the fall of your enemy," it depends who the enemy is: "When the Purim story occurred, Mordechai did not act particularly compassionately towards Haman. When the latter cited this verse, Mordechai replied that it did not apply to him. The same with Arafat, who killed many Jews and left many widows, widowers, orphans and suffering wounded... It's true that G-d told the angels not to sing when the Egyptians were drowning in the Red Sea - but the Children of Israel did sing! We, too, are not angels - just as the Rabbi of Pisetzna, Rabbi Kalman Kalonymus Shapira, wrote during the Holocaust: 'Did an angel ever get hit? Did an angel ever get murdered? Did an angel ever get humiliated? We did! In Egypt, the angels didn't suffer - so they don't have to sing [afterwards]. But we did suffer, [and that's why we sang]...' For Arafat we say, 'when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.'"
The Pikuach Nefesh Rabbis Association, headed by Rabbis Yaakov Yosef (son of Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef), David Druckman of Kiryat Motzkin, and Yosef Garletzky, similarly states that the day of Arafat's death is one of "happiness and rejoicing for the Nation of Israel." The organization published a call to make the day one of celebration, and stated,
"We wish to uproot the mistake of those who mock those who are happy on this day as 'right-wing extremists," as those who do so, deviate gravely from the natural instincts and feelings of our people, who hate the enemies of the Jews and are happy at their downfall. 'So may all Your enemies fall, O G-d!'"
they should handle it the way arafats' people handled 9/11 - dancing in the streets
BTTT
I plan to boogaloo the night away.
My favorite is: "Vengence is mine, saith the Lord." Hope the terrorist feels the Lord's vengence too.
Ping.
How about a three day weekend?
There are enemies.....
And then there are enemies of God! Deep in my soul, I feel there is nothing wrong with celebrating the demise of Arafat.
If someone cannot cite New Testament verses stating otherwise, let the party begin!
As a Christian, I feel that it's unseemly to publicly express jubilation at the death of a sinner. However, as a fallen human, I recognize that the emotional relief people feel is legitimate.
So, no dancing in the streets, however, dancing the happy dance at home is probably okay.
Par-TAY!
I've thought about this a little myself, but c'mon; He is the prototypical Middle Eastern Terrorist, the one who started it all.
And he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?!?!?
IMNSHO jubilation is the proper response to the triumph of good over evil...
There is also this from God:
"why will you die, turn from your way and live for I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked"
Ezekiel 33:11
http://www.gospeltruth.net/1849OE/490620_god_not_pleased.htm
Ezekiel 33:11
B'avod re'shoim reenah!
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Next week I am going to Israel.
When Ibn Sharmuta is in the ground, I'm going to take my son out to dinner at the restaurant of his choice, and let him order whatever he wants.
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I can't pretend to know the mind of God, but I believe that there is a difference between giving thanks to Him for the passing of an evil man such as Arafat, and dancing in the streets. Yet considering what they have suffered at his hands, I can understand if the Israelis do so.
G-D will forgive any sinner who sincerely repents, even on his deathbed.
However this verse refers only to people who have sinned against G-D by not following His commandments (such as, not keeping the Sabbath, disbelieving the Truth of the Scriptures, and so forth).
People who have sinned against other human beings by committing murder, theft, indecency, cannot receive forgiveness from G-D until they have first begged forgiveness from the victims of their sins.
Jubilation is not a command, it is just a result, a statement of fact.
I feel sorry for the poor bastards in Hell who are going to be stuck with this piece of Shi'ite as their roomie.
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Thank you, Almighty God for bringing down the dark principalities, vain imaginations, and wickedness in high places.
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What a blessing and a favor The Lord has deliverd to us this day . .
The death of the wicked Yasar Arafat.
The defeat of John Kerry and his homosexual, socialist, anti-God and anti-family agendas.
The humbling and the bringing down of the dark Democratic power hold as found in Tom Daschle.
The resurrection of godliness in America with the largest single turnout of Christians and Jewish voters in American history.
The capture of Sadam Hussein.
The vengeance of Fallujah on Islamic mujahideen for innocent blood shed at their filthy hands.
Praise The Lord.
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