http://indymedia.org.il
The Talmud and More
author: Judith
I believe that Rita's piece was not intended to be a history lesson, but a purely spiritual expression. She also stated that this was for "all people everywhere". It is very sad to see how angry people become when they read something that supports the likes of Jeremiah, who was stoned to death for speaking on behalf of Gd, because he was seen as a traitor. He was torn apart inside because he knew that he would be rejected by his people,but still he spoke. And to be so facetious as to talk of APA form, as per Shirl, and the little jabs..How embarrasingly petty. Rita never claimed to be writing for a psychological journal. I work in the tourist industry, but i am not writing this as a travel agent. She seemed to me to be writing from a concern for a loss of perspective, and of what it means to be a real 'mensch'. And it is sad to see how right she is.
To quote Talmud: "Aid an enemy before you aid a friend, to subdue hatred." Tosefta, Baba Metzia 2.26
"God said, 'Resemble Me; just as I repay good for evil so do you also repay good for evil". --Exodus Rabbah 26.2.
Thank you Rita, for reminding us that we have hardened our hearts which prophets warned against time and again. Thank you for reminding us that "survival without meaning is not living". Thank you for reminding us that violence only leads to violence, and that remembering history means nothing if we don't learn from it. Our Prime Minister who negotiated for peace was not assasinated by a Palestinian, but by a Jew. Interesting how things have gotten so much worse for us in every way since then. Why isn't anyone talking about this? If this murder was carried out by a Palestinian, well....I am finished now...Shalom