This was a bitter sweet Sukkot in Israel. We are commanded to rejoice and party. But it was accented with murder and terror to our fellow countrymen and Jews around the world.
The mood was quite subdued. But there were sukka parties. And I want to tell you about some that I went to.
I am reminded of the story of the blaze urban dweller who says there was a murder on 96 St. and one on 98 St. But why should he be concerned he lives on 97th St.
Sometimes when I read about what some of the Israeli pundits say about there being no problems in Tel Aviv I get concerned about what is the scope of their concern. Or even the concept of their own security. The reasons for a Jew's right to live in Hevron or Gush Katif (Azza) are the same as that for Tel Aviv.
We are commanded to be happy: "V'samachtah B'Hagehah" "And be happy in your festival". So I partied.
The first night at the home of a friend I was surprised to find that he had been to the funeral of Hillel Lieberman, who was murdered outside of Shechm. It was the first of the current spate of what the local press refers to as "lynch". The unarmed are captured, and then shot, beaten, throw from heights, burned.
Returning to Jerusalem the mourners were shot at by local terrorists. My friend returned safely and was happy in his sukka with me and his family.
The next day I was in an other sukka. And my host had also been to the same funeral and been shot at.
The happiness of the occasion was dampened by one guest starting to cry over the affair. It was hard for me to raise the halakic issue that we were forbidden to mourn and must be happy. My host latter lead this crier into singing and dancing until the lights went out by the prearranged timer.
The next two parties were more happy.
Moshe Katsav is the new President of the State of Israel. He and his wife Gila had a Sukkot reception at the President's official residence.
Later I went around the corner to my friend David Cohen.
He was sitting in his sukka with his wife, his father and mother, his sister, brother-in-law, their children, and the Sirotas.
As usual their children Michiel and Chen were interested in showing me something.
And this time it was how they could throw a ball.
Simple joys remote from the troubles that adults set upon themselves.
In the other side of town the police have no joy as they dodge the slings and arrows of outrageous misfortune.
And then in an act of mercy, treat the very person who just tried to harm them.
The BBC has an announcer who from time to time when religious issues bring up sticky issues says "Thank God I'm an atheist".
But I say thank G!d I am a Jew.
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