Watching the scenes from CNN has been heartwrenching, but I must pay respect to our special police forces and soldiers.
They have behaved calmly and resolutely. When the settlers have screamed at them they have listened and embraced them. They are hugging the settlers. And crying with them. The soldiers and police are weeping with the settlers. You can't help but cry. Remember that the soldiers are all unarmed.
But they are obeying their orders as I firmly believe they should do. A quote from one Rabbi who is opposed to the disengagement:
| "....we have to follow orders. We cannot refuse. If the order comes we must immediately evacuate to avoid any possible conflict between a soldier ordered to evacuate and one who is to be evacuated. We feel the pain, we cry, but we do not refuse orders." |
And a quote from a soldier
| "I’m going in to enforce the law. I don’t want to hurt anyone and don’t expect problems. I’ll go in, speak, hug, and cry, and I’ll help to pack. If need be, I’ll carry my brothers on my shoulders. I’ll absorb everything they have to say, in the hope that the power of my compassion overcomes their fury." |
The settlers as well deserve praise. They are making the ultimate sacrifice yet the evacuation so far has on the whole been non-violent. There have been isolated incidents of violence but this is not representative of the whole. King Soloman once said "Gam Zeh Ya'avor." (Even this will pass).
Everything has been fully transparent. The press have had unconditional access everywhere.
For those who believe in the power of prayer, Tehillim 20 and 91 should be read as often as possible.
"Ya'ancha HaShem BeYom Tzara..." (May Hashem answer you on this day of distress.)
(Quotes from Rabbi and soldier via Bennie Penzik Vignettes.)
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