Of Joy and Sorrow and Vindication (Naomi Ragen)

A nice story this time.

Moshe Schorr
It is a tremendous Mitzvah to always be happy! - Reb Nachman of Breslov
The home and family are the center of Judaism, *not* the synagogue.
May Eliezer Mordichai b. Chaya Sheina Rochel have a refuah shlaimah
btoch sha'ar cholei Yisroel.
Disclaimer: Nothing here necessarily reflects the opinion of Hebrew University


Friends,

The story below, which I didn't write, really conveys so much of what life
is like for Israelis.
Such wonderful people, such special human beings.

Naomi
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Renewal
http://israelity.com/2008/12/12/renewal/
December 12, 2008

by DavidS

It's been said that everyone in Israel knows at least one - one family
touched by terror, that is. The truth is, things are far better than they
used to be on that front, certainly better than during they were six and
seven years ago, when there seemed to be a bus bombing or shooting attack
every week - and sometimes more often.
Terrorism aims to destroy lives - and often it does. But it's not just
lives: Families are never the same, even if the intended victim survives.
Communities change, kids relate to their surroundings differently. We hear
about the attacks, which make news for a few days, and move on; they often
can't. So when we see individuals and families who do manage to rebuild
their lives, we can only stand back and gape in awe at their superhuman
strength.

I had an "awesome" moment last night, when the son of a friend of mine got
married. I won't reveal their names, but I can tell you the story: While
driving home from buying school supplies for the upcoming term, Jacob and
Rachel (not their real names) were shot at by Arab terrorists. With them in
the car were three of their five children. The shooter got their car point
blank - killing Rachel, and leaving Jacob and their oldest daughter, Dina,
in a wheelchair. Rachel was several months pregnant at the time. Also in the
car were two boys - Shimon, 8, and Levi, 3. Not in the van were their oldest
son Reuven, 13 (he had just had his bar-mitzvah two months earlier), and
Sarah, 10.
Suffice to say that the family was shattered; the oldest boy became
rebellious, the second son took after him, and the youngest boy, in the car
when it happened, was basically shellshocked. Jacob tried as well as he
could, but it was difficult juggling his family and work obligations. The
community helped - a lot - but it just wasn't the same. Rachel was one of
those "super-moms" - always there for the kids, working to help others (she
was a nurse), with a golden personality, always smiling. This was a family
that had lost so much - and things looked bleak.

But the family experienced a rebirth - in large part thanks to Leah, whom
Jacob married three years after losing Rachel. The kids were wary at first -
she was a widow herself, and had three older kids of her own - and things
were rocky at first. But with love and patience, things worked themselves
out. The community helped a lot, too. Plus, the determination of Jacob - and
the kids - not to give the terrorists the victory they so sorely sought.
And now see Reuven at his wedding! He grew up to be a fine, sensitive,
scholarly young man, a veteran of the elite Duvdevan unit. The joy on his
face, and on the faces of family and friends, was unique. This wasn't just a
wedding; it was a vindication, a confirmation of life, a message to the
forces of darkness - Israel, and Israelis, are here to stay.

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