I WAS STARTLED BY THE ANGRY RESPONSE TO THE COMMENTS I PUBLISHED ON THE TEL AVIV BOMBING.
I REREAD THE PIECE A FEW TIMES AND COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THE CAUSE OF THE ANGER. THEN THE THOUGHT OCCURRED TO ME THAT SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE INTIMATED THAT I WAS CONNECTING IN SOME WAY THE PRESENCE OF THE STUDENTS IN THE NITECLUB ON THE SHABBAT AS SOMEHOW BEING THE CAUSE OF THE BOMBING.
G-D FORBID THAT I WOULD EVER MAKE SUCH A SUGGESTION EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY. THAT IS AN OBSCENE THOUGHT THAT HAS NO PLACE IN OUR THEOLOGY OR ”EMUNAH.“
IN RETROSPECT, THE TITLE WAS MISLEADING SINCE INDEED THERE ARE NO PEDAGOGIC LESSONS FROM THE BOMBING, RATHER INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THE NEWSPAPER STORY ON THE BOMBING THAT I USED TO MAKE A POINT NOT ABOUT THE BOMBING OR ANY CONNECTION TO THE STUDENTS.
I WAS SIMPLY POINTING OUT THAT THE NEWS COVERAGE OF THE BLAST HAD DESCRIBED THESE YOUNG DAY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ATTENDANCE AT THE NITECLUB. OBVIOUSLY HAD THERE BEEN NO TERRORIST ATTACK WE WOULD HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHO WAS IN THE BAR LATE FRIDAY NITE.
I LAMENTED AND STILL DO THE LACK OF FEELING FOR THE HOLINESS OF THE SHABBAT THAT APPARENTLY EXISTS, AND RAISED QUESTIONS REGARDING SUPERVISION AND THE QUALITY OF THE JEWISH STUDIES THAT COULD YIELD SUCH MASS DESECRATION OF SHABBAT.
THE CAUSE OF THE BLAST IS THE INTRANSIGENT HATE OF THE PALESTINIAN /IRANIAN/SYRIAN LEADERSHIP ETC. TO THE PRESENCE OF A JEWISH STATE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
IF THIS IS NOT WHAT UPSET THESE READERS, I INVITE THEM TO BE MORE SPECIFIC.
I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCORRECT IMPRESSIONS AND WILL CHANGE THE TITLE
