When World War II veteran Delbert Belton was beaten to death last week in a parking lot in Spokane, Wash., the city reacted with shock and disbelief at such a random act of brutality.
Belton was beaten in his car and his wallet was stolen while he waited to be picked up by a friend to go bowling. The attack, which left the 88-year-old with serious head injuries, occurred on Aug. 21 in north Spokane.
He died the next day.
The alleged suspects are just teenagers. One turned himself in on Thursday; the second wasn’t taken into custody until Monday morning. Bail is set at $2 million; both face charges of murder and robbery. The 16-year-olds will most likely be tried as adults.
“Spokane is not New York City; it’s a relatively small region,” said co-director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Spokane County, Rabbi Yisroel Hahn.
“So when this happened, it upset a lot of people. When such violence takes place, people often want to react with anger. We have a deeper approach; we believe that the only response to random acts of violence—like beating an 88-year-old man for basically no reason—is to increase in mitzvahs, and do random acts of goodness and kindness.”
Belton, who stood just over 5 feet tall and went by the nickname “Shorty,” was injured in 1945 when he was shot in the leg during the Battle of Okinawa, one of the bloodiest clashes of the Second World War. After the war he returned to Spokane, where he had been born and raised, and worked at an aluminum plant until his retirement in 1982.
His murder has rocked this city in the northwestern part of Washington state and made national news for its utter senselessness.
“In response I asked people to add in their mitzvahs—their good deeds—for seven days straight, and to ask two friends to join them in their effort,” says Hahn, who moved to Spokane from New York with his wife, Chaya Sara, in 2007.
“In life we’re all hit with random negativity, and it’s important for us to learn how to react to such a thing. We can’t just let something like this go by; we have to respond.”
“We have about 20 people who signed on to do acts of kindness, whether it’s checking up on an elderly neighbor to see how they’re doing, maybe reconnecting with family that you’ve lost touch with or distributing food to the homeless. Each random act of kindness will affect others positively, who will then be influenced to do something positive of their own.
“You won’t see the whole effect, but the reaction is great,” says the rabbi. “There’s a real difference being made, and that’s very important on a local level.”
Baruch HaShem for such men and woman who leave their homes to be a light to a place with such a need. I encourage all to follow such an idea as the Hahn’s. For a little light enlightens a great amount of darkness.
Wow so special!
Proud cousins
Tragedy.
This was the results of weak government.
‘The 7 Noahide Laws,’ NOW!
Civilization NOW!
This couple is a example of shluchim that do the rebbes work. With real mesirus nefesh there are no big donors there no people that will take him to ring the opening bell, money is not easy there, kosher food, education, and still they believe and do, and always a smile on their face.
of the cause is good.The recognition of ever present dangers in your environment and the appropriate lawful measures of self defense,all available deterrence and common sense is also required.
i’M TOUCHED AND INSPIRED.
it is so painful to hear about. The only healing that will come from this is the acts of kindness, that is a great move on the shaliach’s part.