Burying the dead — thinking of the living

There is a time for sadness, and a time for joy.

King Solomon writes (Kohelet – Ecclesiastes chapter 3) that there is a time for many different things.

Burying the dead is a time for sadness. But it is also a time for thinking about life, and to take valuable lessons to heart. As King Solomon wrote: “And the living should take it to heart.” (Kohelet – Ecclesiastes 7; 2)

The dead were murdered by Hamas. But we enabled the murderers. We gave away Gaza. Hamas took it over, mobilized, and attacked.

It’s time to take to heart a crucial lesson. It’s time to confront, and learn from, our past mistakes. ‘Never again’ should lead to action, to firmly resolve that we don’t repeat past mistakes.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe often warned Israel about the danger of giving away land.

We did it anyways. And now we bury the dead.

We must retake Gaza. And we must ensure, that ‘never again’ becomes not just a slogan, but a firm commitment to keep the land and defend it.

Indeed Israel’s current government is determined to destroy Hamas, and to strongly defend Israel.

As we look forward to the days of Redemption with Moshiach, a time when evil will be gone, and only joy and rejoicing will fill the streets of Jerusalem, we need to do our part, to stand strong and protect Israel.

We need to wake up from self-delusioning stupors, and to realize, once and for all, that Jews have the right to defend themselves, and to defend the land given to them by G-d.

We need to consider how the dead died. To realize what caused it, and to do our utmost, that it never happens again.

We need to do it, for our sake, and for the sake of our children. And for the sake of those who died.

And when we do what we need to do, we open wide channels to receive the Almighty’s blessings, ensuring that our efforts succeed.

May the Redemption come very soon, may the dead soon become revived, and may we be able to look back and say, that we did the right thing.

May we very soon see the time, when there will be only happiness forever.