Ohef Sholom Temple - Norfolk, VA
RSS
  • About
    • Our Clergy
    • Our Staff
    • Our Values
    • OST Board & Foundation
      • Constitution & Bylaws
  • Visit Us
    • Library & Archives
    • Judaica Shop
    • Sanctuary and Chapel
    • Our History
  • Membership
    • Join Our Family
    • Membership Application
    • Pay My Dues
  • Youth & Family
    • Religious School
      • Facebook Group
    • Scholarships
    • Youth Programs
    • B’nai Mitzvah
      • Mitzvah Project Spotlight
  • Adult Engagement
    • Adult Education
    • Committees & Auxiliaries
    • Men’s Club
    • Sisterhood
    • Repairing the World
  • Life Cycle Events
  • Worship
    • Services & Programming
    • Virtual Worship
    • Sermons
  • Calendar
  • Give
    • Donations
    • Endowment
    • Memorial Plaques
    • Tree of Life Leaf
    • Tree of Remembrance Leaf
  • Connect
    • Social Media
      • Facebook Page
      • Facebook Group
      • Instagram
      • YouTube
    • Temple pOST Bulletin
    • Become a Candle Lighter
    • Become a Shalom Greeter
  • My OST

There is the loss of our innocence, replaced by feelings of fear and dread?

urjnetworkadmin August 12, 2011 OST Blog

Two recent horrific tragedies, the murders of Leiby Kletzky and Rabbi Elazar Abuchatzeira, continue to devastate the Jewish community. Many of us are filled with questions, not only about how this could happen to the victims, but about the identity of the perpetrators themselves. It is hard to remember a time in which a so called orthodox Jew murdered a fellow Jew in cold blood, let alone two such incidents in such a short span.

 

There are multiple layers to these tragedies and their impact on our people. Of course there is the loss of precious life, the potential that can now never be realized, and the impact of these individuals that will no longer be felt. There is the tragedy of the murderers and how they have forfeited their Godly spirit by having engaged in acts that are the epitome of evil.

But it occurs to me there is yet another tragedy and loss – there is the loss of our innocence, replaced by feelings of fear and dread. Leiby’s murder has inspired parents of young children around the globe to wonder should we let our children walk around alone? Beginning at what age? For what distance? At what time of day? Rabbi Abuchatzeira’s murder has already motivated Rabbis to ask questions such as “can I meet with people one on one anymore? Am I safe even around congregants and students whom I thought I knew well?”

Some may argue that asking all of these questions is a good thing and will yield greater safety in the long run. Others believe that harping on these questions will produce a culture of neuroticism, paranoia and unnecessary worry and fear. After all, these were isolated incidents carried out by deranged, psychotic individuals and in no way reflect a real danger. I personally don’t know which attitude is correct, but I do know that prior to a few weeks ago we were not struggling with these questions and that too is a great tragedy in my opinion.

As we rapidly approach Tisha B’av and please God conclude this inauspicious period of mourning and heartache, let us look forward to the time that the Navi (Prophet) predicts in which men and women will sit in the streets of Jerusalem and watch as children play freely in perfect safety with unbridled joy and happiness.

Shabbat Sholom

Wouldn’t it be great, if we could realize our mutual commitments to one another by bringing our entire BRS family on aliyah. BRS is not just a Shul, it is a community

Related Posts

OST Blog

Let’s be like Avraham and Sarah and change the world one person at a time.

The Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) is the umbrella professional organization of over 1,000 Orthodox Rabbis from North America and Israel.  In my capacity as Vice President, I had the privilege of participating in a one day officers retreat this week to discuss the current state of Modern Orthodoxy and to strategize a vision for a bright and inspiring future.

OST Blog

You only get one opportunity to make a first impression.

After months of planning and design, this week we finally unveiled the new BRS website – www.brsonline.org We are very proud of its great features including a FAQ section for people who live here, those looking to move and those visiting.  We have videos, podcasts, a blog, photo galleries, and much more.  We have also […]

OST Blog

We are a people only because of the book

Imagine the following scene playing out on CSPAN:  On a specific day of the year, the Supreme Court justices together with the member of Congress take copies of the United States Constitution and dance around the floor of the House of Representatives while singing, clapping and lifting the law books high in the air.   With […]

Recent Posts

  • JOSTY
  • Office Staff
  • Library/ Archives Committee
  • Environmental Stewardship Subcommittee
  • Giving with Gratitude

Archives

  • June 2018
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2010

Categories

  • OST Blog
  • Photo Galleries

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Contact Info

Ohef Sholom Temple
530 Raleigh Avenue
Norfolk, VA 23507

Phone: (757) 625-4295
Fax: (757) 625-3762

information@ohefsholom.org

  • Ohef Sholom Facebook Ohef Sholom Facebook
  • Ohef Sholom Instagram Ohef Sholom Instagram
  • OST Religious School Facebook OST Religious School Facebook
  • Ohef Sholom Friends Ohef Sholom Friends
  • OSTY/JOSTY OSTY/JOSTY
Yom Shabbat, 4 Sivan 5785
© URJ 2025