By Rabbi Yitzchok Schochet
Two immediate sensations overcame me when listening to news of Osama Bin Laden‘s death this morning.
The first was a twinge of sadness as I flashbacked to that ineffable event when more than three thousand people lost their lives.
I, like countless others, vividly recall where I was at that precise moment. I suddenly felt myself transported back in time, clutching my then two year old daughter and watching the planes crash into the World Trade Centre.
Now, 10 years on, I was surprised myself when I felt this wave of emotion wash through me as I was listening to this “end of chapter.” I’m quite sure many others will have felt these same pangs.
The American media will probably scramble first thing this morning to get in touch with families who lost loved ones on that tragic day. For most it will open old wounds though it is probably also an essential part of a healing process.
The other feeling was one of uneasiness as I listened to reports of scenes of jubilation at Ground Zero.
Sure, death was the only appropriate punishment for this arch-terrorist. The religious rationale for capital punishment is that taking the life of another is perceived as a crime so hideous that the murderer has effectively forfeited their right to exist as no practical punishment can suffice.
Still, the ancient Sages enjoin us, “do not rejoice when your enemy falls.” This quote, which originates with King Solomon in Proverbs, has several different explanations offered by commentators.
To offer one of my own, I think what the wisest of all men was suggesting is that while you can feel relief knowing that Pharaoh, Stalin, Hitler, Bin Laden have been terminated, true jubilation has no place in a world where evil continues to exist.
We can declare victory in this battle, but the war is yet to be won. It is only when all evil will be eradicated from this earth that we can revel in that ultimate joy.
Until then, we can learn an obvious lesson from this historic moment. An unimaginable amount of time, energy, money and manpower spanning a decade, has gone into bringing the world’s most wanted man down. Imagine what we could do if we exerted similar resources to eliminate some of the other evils that pervade our world – such as poverty, war and hunger.
We don’t need to be CIA operatives or Navy seals. We just need to follow a directive from our Commander in Chief to seek to perpetuate more goodness and kindness in the world through the simple acts of reaching through hearts and touching souls.
While the search for Bin Laden took them into the deepest terrains and mountainous hill of Pakistan he was hiding only 800 meters away from the country’s Capitol. Salvation is so much nearer than you think.
We look forward to the day when we will be able to utter the same words as those soldiers who emerged from the compound in Abbotabbad: “Mission accomplished.”
— Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet is the rabbi of the Mill Hill Synagogue in north west London and one of the foremost spokesmen for Anglo-Jewry.
#39 is joking
Sotah Daf 13, the daf of the evening of Obama’s announcement
http://www.come-and-hear.com/sotah/sotah_13.html
please tell me you are joking!
The whole world should Thank G-d.
I see R. Shochet lit the touchpaper that has become the hottest topic on news stations everywhere. What R. Shochet did say was “true jubilation” has no place where evil still exists. The way I understand it: You can rejoice and be happy up to a point. But real jubilation… I would also point out from the Biur HaGra on the words, ‘uba’avod reshaim rinah’ that this is in reference to praising Hashem for making you a little safer. Not just mere merriment that someone is dead. And that is the issue here. Bottom line: While Jews may celebrate their… Read more »
#12 – I agree with you regarding those who are still out there to eradicate us. One wonders whether across the globe there will be an increase in response to the death of this evil man. Obviously the cautions taken in major US cities would infer that thinking.
No chiddush here. No chiddush anywhere. Ain kol chadash tachas hashemesh. Still a well written and enlightening piece.
How can anyone ignore these beautiful quotes: “We don’t need to be CIA operatives or Navy seals. We just need to follow a directive from our Commander in Chief to seek to perpetuate more goodness and kindness in the world through the simple acts of reaching through hearts and touching souls.” And this one: “While the search for Bin Laden took them into the deepest terrains and mountainous hill of Pakistan he was hiding only 800 meters away from the country’s Capitol. Salvation is so much nearer than you think.” He writes a powerful message of geulah and Moshiach and… Read more »
it says that when my hands work, the jewish people, were about to drown Hashem was upset the angels were singing. No time for that right now, i gtg save them. Simple pshat in the gemara.
I don’t think the Rebbe would have any problem with his Chassidim gleaning lessons from the Torah. Just a hunch.
i agree with 22, as a lubavitcher the rebbes sichos are of utomost importance….dont waste time with the rest!!
Im sure you give your parents and siblings much nachas! Well written and intelligent article! Dont becomae nisapel from the nasayers…most dont come close to writing half as good asn article.
frightening comment
Are you saying that Chabad does not stand for Mishlei, Chazal and Megilla?
Now that Revenge has been taken, Justice has been served and America has prevailed, will Obama bring our troops home?
G-D Bless America. <3
So what DOES the Rebbe say in the sichos?
Irrelevant to veata al bamoiseimoi sidroich which is a victorious celebration ( and it’s all good as an afterthought…..big bedieved.)
you nailed this one with pin point precision. Tnx for the inspiration!
I think what their doing is correct!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And also an interesting Yavetz which concurs with what the author suggests. Either way, it’s just a perspective and all he is saying is that you celebrate all you want but don’t rest on your laurels. Not sure why anyone would want to disagree with that.
everything that happens in the universe has something
to do with Klall Yisroel. Even the recent Earth quake in Japan
you name it The messages are always for us to do the
best we can in serving Hashem
…You will never rejoice, because there is always more to be done.
On the one hand you are right one must never be content with their accomplishments, and always look to do more, but at times we can also celebrate accomplishments from the past.
Simcha will bring the geula! Of course we should rejoice, rejoice that this a major indication that the geula is upon us and rejoice to bring the complete redemption immediately! MOSHIACH NOW!
See Marsha on the Gemarah there (viyichachashu oiyvecha – al yiday ta’anis). See also Meiri on the Mishna in Ovos and Rabbeinu Yoinoh, This article makes sense.
The good Rabbis makes some good observations. So you disagree with his analysis of joy, that’s your choice. The article is well written and he makes some excellent points. Abi to criticize.
everything is hashgacha protis,kal vcomer as great an event as last night’sgreat evilwas detroyed,yes that not are main avoidah and we ourselves didn’t do it but there certainly is a time and place for it.secondly look for a moment at the achdus created in this country for at least today. this is part of moshiach’s coming.
Makes a lot of sense.
you are missing the point of what chabad stands for. stop getting so involved in mishlei, chazal, megilla, etc and learn the rebbe’s a sicha. you’ll do a lot more good with that.
How much does 9/11 have to do with us?? How can you even think such a thing, let alone WRITE it. There were so many Yidden that were Murdered that horrible day. I myself watched, from across the East River, as the Towers collapsed. I suppose you are not part of the Human race, or the Jewish race, if you think that 9/11 has nothing to do with you. We have a “bit” of closure, and we should continue to Daven for the Geula, but we must never forget what happened! Grow up!
You’re losing your mind! We’ve spent billions of dollars to catch him, countless lives, and thousands have been murdered through his coordinated efforts. Of course it is a more joyful simcha when you marry off children etc. but there is certainly simcha that this savage animal bit the dust.
Very week logic if I may say in your “direct real threat” explanation was 9/11 not real is Al Qaeda not real? …plus this is not a numbers game all the Jews vs some Jews …
the prince gets married and the bad guy gets killed. sounds like a week in disneyland
Haman posed a real and direct threat – he had all the Jews under official gezairah of annihilation. not so here. As the gemara tells us about the mitzriyim drowning in the sea!!! Bottom line – work toward Moshiach like the Rabbi says. We won a battle but the watr of golus rages on. Yasher koiach Rabbi Schochet
When Haman was killed and the Jews were saved the megilla tells us “Layehudim haysah, Orah, Vsimcha, Vsason, Vikar.” And the whole celebration of Purim etc. etc. was implemented. This was BEFORE the Bais Hamikdosh was rebuilt, i.e. during Golus. Yet the rejoicing was limitless. Thus, jubilation in a worl where evil exists is entirely appropriate.
If we work as hard for moshiach to come we will not need to fight terrorist
Yitzchok, there is a gemarah in megilah recording a discussion between Haman and Mordechai Haman:why do you rejoice does it not say binfol oyvcha al tismach(when your enemy falls do not rejoice)Mordechai:These words were stated concerning a Jewish enemy but about you it says v’ata al bamaseimo sidroch….Megila 16a
check out tzvi freemans article on chabad.org
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1507393/jewish/Is-It-Okay-to-Celebrate-Bin-Ladens-Death.htm
I had the same reaction as the Rabbi – an unease at rejoicing over the death of an enemy , but also knowing that Hamas and Amidnejad are still there – the war is not yet won – killing Osama is a first step.
No chidush here
makes sense to me. he’s write about the quote from chazal and I like the way he explains it. Let’s bring Moshiach now
I think he makes beautiful points. He’s not saying don’t be happy only that there is still so much to do. I love the bit about salvation is nearer than you think and the mission accomplished. All well said.
in meseches megillah daf yud amud beis on the bottom its says when the mitzrim were drowning the malachim wanted to say shira hashem stoped them its hashems handy work thats drowning and thats why we only say half halel so maybe u could say half halel but not full
Maybe you should read a little further down in Mishle. The enemy’s fall that you are not supposed to rejoice over, refers to a personal rival, someone who is a business competitor or a person you have quarreled with. It by no means refers to an evil monster like Hitler, Stalin or Bin Ladin. Of such people, Mishle says “Ba’avod resoim rinah!” At the destruction of the wicked there is jubilation!
I think the sages meant “Dont rejoice…” regarding Jews. and I’m certain they werent thinking of mass-murderers like osama.
SO WRITE YOUR OWN ARTICLE
people! do you really think this is so appropriate for chof-ches nissan to be discussing a rasha merusha. how much does 9/11 have to do with us anyways? lets discuss kedusha and how to bring the rebbe’s work into b’poel mamash to bring the ultimate geula shleima
I too was a little put off by the jubilation witnessed early this morning at the white house and ground zero. But, I believe the main source of joy was not that he is dead, so much as that there can be closure to the entire American people. The horrors on 9/11 killed thousands but attacked all humanity and therefore, humanity rejoices, that we can try to put this behind us, at least momentarily, and feel again as “one nation, indivisible”. Moshe and B’nai Yisroel sang praise to Hashem for quashing our enemy and we still continue to thank Hashem… Read more »
but doesn’t the saying “do not rejoice when your enemy falls” refer only to personal enemies and not to enemies of the entire Jewish nation – as Merdechai answered to Haman after the latter asked the former how he was rejoicing over the beggining of Hamans’ downfall?
I don’t think it’s an understatement to say that Osama was an enemy of the entire Jewish nation.
The war on terror is essentially a war on ‘Poverty war and hunger’, a primary cause to these issues are authoritarian regimes that don’t care about their people and abuse them when they feel it is necessary. This is what terrorists are trying to continue, and this is the what the war on terrorism is trying to accomplish, to eliminate those who are trying to silence those who are trying to have their voices heard and to live a better life. I believe that it is a time to rejoice, we just killed a man who stood in the way… Read more »