“We are Brothers”

by HaRav Dov Begon
Rosh HaYeshiva, Machon Meir

The following condolence letter was written to the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Mercaz Harav, Rav Ya'akov Shapira, shelita, by the secretary of Kibbutz Ein Shofet, Yaniv Sagi, after the Mercaz haRav Massacre (6 March 2008 || ל׳ באדר א׳ תשס״ח):

Dear Rav Shapira,

At this moment, you are taking leave of the eight students murdered last night. My heart is with you, and I would like to express my personal condolences, and to be a mouthpiece also for the public over which I preside as secretary of Kibbutz Ein HaShofet.

Deep ideological differences exist between us, but we are brothers. Your pain is ours. Your sorrow is our sorrow. I am writing this letter out of a sense of profound partnership, a sense that what unites us is greater than what separates us, based on a perspective of "the tribes of Israel, united," one that transcends the disagreement between us.

I would like to convey our condolences, through you, to the bereaved families, the students, the teachers, and the rabbis. It is important that they should know and feel that your mourning is not sectarian. It does not belong only to the Religious Zionists. It is the mourning of the entire Jewish people weeping for its sons who have been taken.

The more we find within us the resources to deepen and magnify the partnership over the disagreement, the more we will succeed in uniting the tribes of Israel. By such means we will succeed in bringing about a better future.

In this moment of tragedy, it is important to me to stand by your side. Continue in the path of Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook, who saw so much importance in the connection and link between the faith community and the Labor-Zionist community.

Yaniv Sagi,
Secretary of Kibbutz Ein HaShofet

We are set to read Megillat Esther, in which Esther called out to Mordechai, when the sword of destruction loomed over the Jewish people, "Go, gather together all the Jews in Shushan" (Esther 7:16). The gathering together and unification of the Jews is the apt response to the utterance of wicked Haman and Achashverosh, "There is one people scattered and dispersed among the nations" (Esther 3:8).

All the Jewish People, in all their various streams, must make the effort to unite and to gather together, as one man, with one heart. This will enable us to face up to our cruel Arab enemies, who are trying to steal our land.

The murderer who killed the eight holy and martyred students of Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav and the Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva High School some 16 years ago, is just one of so many enemies of Israel who chose to strike at the very heart of the nation, the source of its spiritual and moral strength – those engaged in Torah learning, and its standard bearers.

Our answer to our enemies must always involve strengthening our Torah learning everywhere, and to unite and to return to our roots, including settling all the portions of the land of our life's blood. When the Jewish People are in Eretz Yisrael, it brings light and goodness to the entire world. By such means, may we merit great salvation and great comfort, speedily in our day.

Looking forward to complete salvation,
With Love of Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael,
Besorot Tovot,
Shabbat Shalom,
Purim Sameach.