The Mercaz HaRav Massacre~06 March, 2008~Jerusalem

There is an article today in Shearim about the Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav Memorial today, with a link to an article written by the mother of Avraham David, one of eight boys killed in the terrorist attack, on the OU Site HERE. Do take the time to read her story.

I remember exactly where I was three years ago when the Mercas HaRav Massacre happened. After davening at the Kotel joined hundreds of Jews for the monthly Rosh Chodesh Sivuv Shearim, walking around the Temple Mount and stopping at each of its gates. There were hundreds of police and soldiers along the route for our protection. I remember my rabbi explaining all of the historical sites on the way--it was fascinating.

Suddenly everything changed. People were being herded against walls and there was an atmosphere of panic--we suspected it was another pigua (terror attack) and were able to slip out the  last gate and jumped onto a bus. Nothing was moving and everyone had their phones out trying to find out news. Soon we heard there had been an attack at Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav. My rav was very upset as a mutual friend of ours was there studying. Immediately he tried phoning. Our friend, normally very calm and laid back answered and frantically whispered. "I can't talk--they're shooting everybody!" He was with a group who had been upstairs. Armed only with prayer books they hid in the dark until help arrived. They survived, but the horror they witnessed stayed with them.

We would soon learn that eight very young boys were brutally murdered and eleven others  were injured--five of them critically. What was their crime? Was it because they were studying Torah, and because they just happened to be there, and because they just  happened to be Jews?

Even today, when I think of that night I ask Why? Why would anyone want to murder young boys studying Torah? Why would anyone hate so much to do such a thing? Why?

There is no answer. There is no reason, no explanation because this was an act of savage hate. A hate that has permeated the Middle-East since the rise of Islam--a people who raise their children to hate instead of to learn and grow, and love life.

You will not hear about this hate in the mainstream media--it is a subject that seems to be taboo with most journalists. Call it what you want--make as many excuses as you want, but it is there like a cancer, and like a cancer it grows. Golda Meir was once quoted as saying "Peace will come when the Arabs start to love their children more than they hate us". So far this has not happened. Meanwhile, the Jewish people will carry on.

Below are three videos. The first is the emergency call on the night of the attack. The 2nd is an interview with David Shapiro--the man who entered the Yeshiva and killed the terrorist. The third is details of the attack. Watch at 4:19 to see the joy and celebration in Gaza after the attack.

Here is the interview with David Shapiro--who hear the noise, ran to the Yeshiva, entered and shot the terrorist. Around 1:45 he tells how he went to a room where about 15 students had locked themselves in and knocked on the door. They asked him to identify himself and he did, with Shema Yisrael...

The Mercaz HaRav Massacre