Their Blood Should Not Be Spilled in Vain

Rav Sternbuch Speaks about the Massacre of Four Tzadikim in Har Nof and
Its Message To Us
Written by Rabbi Daniel Yaakov Travis
Appeasing Midas Hadin
Recently the residents of Har Nof Yerushalayim experienced the horrific massacre of
four tazdikim who were residents of the community. It is difficult to eulogize these
kedoshim, who were brutally murdered in the midst of tefilah. We have experienced
the harshest Divine decree; woe to us who have sinned and brought this upon
ourselves.
Those of us who live in Har Nof are devastated by what has taken place. We can still
hear the piercing screams of the children who for many hours did not know if their
parents were dead or alive, crying Aba, Aba, we want you back! Hours later they
received the answer; Hashem had carried out the harshest decree on their fathers.
It is impossible for us to understand the ways of Hashem who took these four
tzadikim from amongst us. We stood with them daily side by side, and saw that their
constant dedication to Torah, tefilah, chesed, and all avodas Hashem. How can we
possibly fathom why Hashem chose them to be taken?
However, it is not for us to judge Hashems ways, as the Navi tells us His thoughts
are not like ours, and His ways are not like ours, for as high as the Heavens are
above the land, so too Hashems ways and thoughts are beyond our
comprehension (Yeshayah 55, 8 - 9). Hashem is a just G-d, righteous and straight.
The goal of this article is help us fix up the transgressions which may have led to
this horrific incident taking place.
If we analyze what happened it is clear that it was because of our actions, and that
strict Divine justice was punishing us for our sins. This is the way of midas hadin; it
does not let transgressions go without punishment. When the Jewish people sin,
midas hadin asks to take retribution on all of the Jewish people, but Hashem in His
infinite mercy is not willing to unleash the full force of His wrath on us. Instead he
appeases it with the death of tzadikim who act as a choice offering in our place.
Asarah Harugei Malchus, ten righteous tzadikim, were brutally massacred in the
time of Rebbi Akiva. At that time Hashem took the holiest of the nation, kedoshim
like Rebbi Akiva and the other gedolim of that time. We too have experienced
Hashems punishment us for our sins, for He has taken from amongst us tzadikim
for korbanos. These four kedoshim who were killed are each a korban olaah, and it
is their blood which has stopped the midas hadin from taking vengeance on all of
Klal Yisrael.

Hashem is Calling Out to Us

In order to put what happened in perspective, we must analyze the backdrop of
what took place.When the name of Hashem is mentioned on you, the nations of
the world will fear you (Devarim 28,10). Chazal reveal to us that this refers to
tefillin that are worn on the head.
When the attack took place all the members of the shul were wearing tallis and
tefillin. They were in the midst of davening shemonah esreh, standing in front of the
Shechinah. They were in a shul, which is a mikdash meat, a small Beis Hamikdash
were Hashems Prescence rests. Amongst all this kedusha and Divine protection,
how is it possible that such a tragedy could take place?
We no longer have prophecy, and there is no way to discern exactly what Hashem
wants from us. However we know that Nothing happens in this world unless there
is first a heavenly decree (Chulin 7b). Hashem has shaken up the Jewish people
and the purpose of such tragedies is to wake us up and to make an intensive
cheshbon hanefesh. If we do not take action now and change our ways, Rachmana
litzlan, other calamities could follow.
If you serve Me flippantly (bkeri) and do not listen to Me, I will afflict you seven
times as much as for your previous transgressions (Vayikra 26,21). If we attribute
what happened to chance and not as an impetus to bring us to teshuva, then
Hashems anger will increase exponentially, and we will need even more korbanos
to appease midas hadin. Every Jew must take what happened to heart, and return to
Hashem, and we will then see He is the Merciful one who atones for transgression
and does not destroy, withhold His rage and does not reveal all of His anger
(Tehillim 78,39).
During World War One, when tens of thousands of Jews were killed by the Kossacks
in the Ukraine, the Chaftez Chaim called out to all the Rabbanim of Europe to make
a day of fasting for all of the Jewish people. All of the rabbanim signed on this
request, with the exception of Rav Chaim Brisker. Rav Chaim explained that there is
no point in making such a fast unless it is prefaced by teshuva. Therefore the first
thing that needed to be done was to call together all of the rabbanim and decide
which areas of Klal Yisrael needed strengthening, and what the Jewish people were
capable of doing.
Investigate your ways and return back to Hashem (Eichah 3,40). We too
must follow the directive of Rav Chaim, and investigate which aspects of
Klal Yisrael are in need of repair. We cannot possibly understand what
Hashem is asking of us, and we can only mention a few areas which are in
need of strengthening.
Before doing so we must make two fundamental points. Although Torah learning is
the mainstay of Klal Yisrael, after experiencing such a tragedy and offering such

korbanos, it is not sufficient to merely strengthen ourselves in Torah learning. Rather

we must make a thorough cheshbon hanefesh, and try to understand where our
weakness lay, and what we can do to fix them up.
Furthermore, we must remember what Rav Nissim Gaon writes in his Viduy said on
Yom Kippur Katan, Ribono shel Olam, there is not enough time in my life to admit
and ask forgiveness for all the transgressions that I have committed Even if we
focus on certain sins, there is no way that we can point a finger to exactly why
Hashem has brought this upon us.
Pursuing Peace
One area which sorely needs to be worked on is distancing ourselves from
machlokes. The situation in Eretz Yisrael has gotten so bad that some people refuse
to marry other Jews, will not count other Jews as part of a minyan, will not rely on
other Jews to be witnesses for kiddushin, and separate themselves from other Jews
in all areas of Jewish life. Even great talmidei chachamim have been sucked into this
machlokes, and the situation continues to become more and more dire.
Before trying to understand how we can rectify this tragic situation, an important
issue must be clarified. Shas is full of disputes, and Chazal tell us that the
machlokes between Beis Shamai and Beis Hillel is the prototype machlokes lshem
shemayim (Avos 5,17). How can we tell if a machlokes is lshem shemayim and
should be encouraged, or it is not lshem shemayim and must be ended?
Chazal tell us that the quintessential machlokes which is not lshem shemayim is
the machlokes between Korach and his eida. At first glance it is difficult to
understand why Korach was not leshem shemayim. Korach was one hundred
percent convinced that he was correct and that Moshe Rabbeinu was wrong. For this
reason Korach was willing to put his life on the line and undergo the test of whose
incense would be accepted. Korach must have been sure that he would be chosen
to be the Kohan Gadol or he would not have been willing to submit himself to a
potentially life threatening test.
There are other proofs that Korach was an extremely holy and sincere person.
Although Korach and his congregation were swallowed up, their machtos were
preserved as a coating around the mizbeach. The Medrash Tanchuma (Korach 12)
adds that Korach had ruach hakodesh.
The Arizal reveals that Korach will be the Kohen Gadol in the Third Beis Hamikdash.
His greatness is hinted to in the last letters of the pasuk Tzadik ktamar yifrach,
which spell out Korach, indicating the greatness of Korach will become apparent in
the end of days. After all of these are proofs of his righteousness, so how can Chazal
label Korachs dispute with Moshe Rabbeinu as the ultimate machlokes which is not
lshem shemayim?

It is well known that Hashem loathes machlokes. Therefore anyone who engages in
a dispute with another religious Jew is doing so with the understanding that even if
he is correct he is causing great anguish and distress to the Boreh Olam. Therefore
it is incumbent on the baal machlokes to make every effort to pull away from his
dispute, even if he is convinced that he is one hundred percent correct. Someone
who does not make every effort to try to end his machlokes, even if he is in fact
correct, has essentially shown that he is not lshem shemayim.
In this light, we find that although Moshe Rabbeinu had been instructed by Hashem
to take Aharon as the Kohen Gadol, he nonetheless made every effort to end this
dispute. He sent messengers to Korach to try and make peace, but his efforts fell on
deaf ears. Korach and his congregation did not take any steps to end their dispute,
and if anything just widened the gap between them. His refusal to make peace
enflamed Divine anger, and eventually led to the earth swallowing up him and all
his followers.
We can apply the story of Korach to our situation today. Hashem who loves peace
and abhors dispute certainly feels great anguish watching the rift grow wider and
wider amongst Jews in Eretz Yisrael. Each individual must make every effort to flee
from this dispute which is enflaming Hashems anger. Machlokes is fire, and we
have seen what happens when Divine wrath is enflamed. Hashem has taken these
korbanos from amongst us in order to bring retribution for the tzibor.
When we see such tragedies take place we must realize that these incidents are a
call from Above to stop the machlokes and to increase love and peace amongst the
Jewish people. Hashem took these tzadikim from us in order to shake us up and
come back to Hashem in teshuva. If we ignore this calling then we are liable to see
the fulfillment of the pasuk (Vayikra 26,21) If you attribute what happened to
chance and do not listen to me, I will afflict you seven times as much as before.
This message stands true on the individual level as well. The Beis Hamikdash was
destroyed because of sinas chinam, baseless hatred, and every generation that it is
not rebuilt is a sign that we have not repaired this transgression. Each of us must
make every effort to increase peace amongst other Jews, and end immediately any
machlokes we might have.
A day before this tragic massacre took place, who would have thought that Hashem
could allow such a thing could happen. It was definitely at least seven times worse
than the worst scenario of midas hadin that we could possibly imagine. Yet if we do
not take what happened to heart, and end all machlokes, then the Torah has
forewarned us that we are destined to see a tragedy seven times worse than what
we experienced here in Har Nof, Ranchmana litzlan.
The Sanctity of a Beis Hakeneses

These horrific murders took place inside a shul during tefilah while the victims were
wearing tallis and tefillin. How could these animals get into a shul and carry out
such atrocities during tefilah? We must consider the possibility that the source of
our transgression may lie in these areas.
The Baal Imrei Emes, the Rebbi of Ger, once explained why the Nazis were able to
wipe out a large portion of European Jewry, yet did not touch the Jews of Egypt, Iraq,
and other countries where Sefardim were living. The Gerrer Rebbi explained that
these communities are extremely careful in regards to the kedushah of a Beis
Hakeneses. This is considered to be a great merit in Shemayim, and for this reason
they were spared from punishment.
Similarly during the decrees of Tach and Tat (1648-1649), when large portions of
Klal Yisrael were wiped. A shaylas chalom, a question answered in a dream, was
asked why this had taken place. The response was that it was because the members
of these communities were not sufficiently careful in guarding the kedusha of a Beis
Keneses.
After this tragic incident, we must take these words to heart, and strengthen
ourselves in the areas of kedushas Beis Hakeneses and Beis Hamedrash. When we
walk into a shul, we should try and feel the Shechinah there, and this should reflect
itself in the way we act in these holy places. Perhaps Hashem enacted these
murders in a shul, in order to tell us that we need to strengthen ourselves in the
area of safeguarding the kedushah of a Beis Keneses.
Eretz Yisrael
Eretz Yisrael is The Land that Hashem is constantly watching, and His eyes are
focused on from the beginning of the year until the end of the year (Devarim
11,12). There is special Divine providence in Eretz Yisrael, and our entire existence
in Eretz Yisrael is miraculous. For this reason when the Jewish people captured Eretz
Yisrael from the Caananim, the walls of Yericho miraculously fell.
In order to merit this special Divine protection we must make every effort to guard
the special mitzvos of Eretz Yisrael. If we do not recognize the sanctity of the land
that we are living, Hashems Presence will depart, and we will no longer be
privileged to the miracles which are commonplace here. We will mention three other
areas of halacha, which unfortunately have been disgraced in Eretz Yisrael our
times.
Entering onto Har Habayis, the place of the Beis Hamikdash, in a state of impurity is
a transgression punishable by kares. For this reason, over one hundred years ago,
the Gedolim of Eretz Yisrael made a proclamation that no one should go up onto Har
HaBayis. Yet in our times, Jews have disregarded this warning, and have brazenly
entered the Makom Hamikdash. In doing so they have committed the severest
transgression, and at the same time enflared the anger of the Arabs, provoking

them to carry out more and more acts of violence, and even give up their lives to
take revenge against us.
The second mitzvah we must strengthen ourselves is mitzvas shemita. Hashem
gave us the mitzvah of shemita in order that we should place our trust in Him alone,
and in exchange He will protect us from our enemies. If we wish to maintain this
Divine protection, we must guard the observance of shemita in its true form, and
not rely on the heter mechira. The Steipler Gaon personally told me to fight the
heter mechira with all my strength, in order to guard the kedushah of the Land.
Finally we must decry the legislation which has been passed in Eretz Yisrael, which
will enable conversion without proper kabbalas mitzvos. The Shechinah does not
rest on the Jewish people when this happens (Kiddushin 70b), and this definitely
weakens the protection from our enemies. If we strengthen ourselves in these three
areas, then we will merit to constant Divine protection from our enemies.
Feeling the Pain of the Families
After Hitler, yemach shemo, came into power, Rav Baruch Ber Lebowitz was told
about the mass murders that the Nazis were carrying out in Klal Yisrael. After
hearing this news, Rav Baruch Ber asked that he should not be told any more about
the situation. He explained his request as follows:
If there was something he could do to rectify the situation he would certainly be
obligated to hear the news. However since there was no way he could help, it was
better for him not to hear. A person who hears about the tragedy of another Jew is
obligated to share his suffering until it pierces his very being. Rav Baruch Ber was
unsure if he could reach this level of empathy.
The moment that we heard the news of this tragedy, Hashem was checking us to
see how we would react. Whenever one of our brethren is murdered, Hashem look
at this as the greatest tragedy and as if hordes of Jews have been killed, as the
pasuk testifies and [Hashem sees what has happened as if] many have fallen
(Shemos 19,21 see Rashi). If we felt for the pain of the families and Hashem, and
trembled when we heard of this horrific act, then we passed the test.
Hesped and Tefilah
I must conclude with a short word of hesped about each of the niftarim. Rav Moshe
Twerski, a nin of the Great Gaon Rav Chaim Brisker, was a Gaon, a tzadik, a
medakdek in mitzvos, a masmid like one has never seen, who slept very little during
the week and even less on Shabbos, gave shiurim in yeshiva, and was killed on
Kiddush Hashem wearing tallis and tefillin.
The holy tzadik Rav Kalman Levine after staying up late hours learning Torah, would
wake up early, learn mussar, go to mikvah, say korbanos before tefilah, and daven
neitz in our shul every day. He would daven with deveikus. On Tuesday morning

after davening he went to ask a shayka, and was taken as an olah temimah in the
midst of Torah learning.
The holy tzadik Rav Aryeh Kapinsky who was completely absorbed in chesed and
given over to the community, learned Torah constantly and pursued tzedaka and
chesed, was taken as a korban while he was trying to save the lives of his fellow
Jews during the attack.
The holy tzadik Rav Avraham Shmuel Goldberg learned in kollel in England, came to
Eretz Yisrael and made Torah the main focus of life, and made his parnasa a side
endeavor. He loved Torah and would learn at every opportunity, loved and respected
talmidei chachamim, and was taken as a korban in his tallis and tefillin during
tefilah.
The Land of Israel will not cover the blood of these four holy tzadikim who were
murdered. Hashem should avenge their blood speedily, and put an end to our
tribulations. We should see the geula quickly and greet moshiach with peace of
mind and tranquility, and see the ultimate sanctification of Hashems name,
speedily in our days, amen.