As news of Jews confessing to murdering an innocent Arab boy in cold blood comes in, I’m immediately thinking of the phrase all Jews utter when one of our own has been murdered in cold blood:

“Hashem Yinkom Damo” - Hashem should avenge his blood.

We say this, because true justice, and rightful revenge can only be carried out by Hashem who is Dayan HaEmes - the true judge.

The very notion that a Jewish boy or man could be responsible for setting a young innocent Arab, a child, aflame, sends shivers down my spine. The Torah, when giving us the universal commandment of ‘Al Tirtzach - Do Not Murder’ makes no distinction in whom this applies to, nor in the severity of the punishment that needs to be applied.

Only a week ago, our hearts were broken by the news of the cold-blooded murder of our very precious three young brothers Eyal, Gil-Ad and Naftali. The pain is immense. But murder, and revenge was, is and always will be antithetical to the essence of a Jew. Justice for our three brothers will come in the form of capturing or eliminating those directly responsible. Not, in killing innocent people who had nothing to do with it.

A Jew does NOT kill. A Jew cries to Hashem. A Jew does not murder innocent people. A Jew begs Hashem for help. And most certainly, a Jew does not overlook the most basic of our commandments, precisely when the commandment has been transgressed by a Jew.

There is never an easy way to deal with such crimes that are committed by our own. There is no good feeling involved in seeking justice that requires putting our own behind bars. But how can we tell Hashem we’ve had enough of senseless killings, if we allow it to exist in our midst?

To exact revenge, to take the law in one’s own hands, is to be arrogant in the face of Hashem, the one true judge, who alone is the One who exacts revenge on behalf of all innocent people that have been violated.

May Hashem grant us a reality where we see the words “Oseh Shalom Bimromav, Hu Yaseh Shalom Aleinu, V’al Kol Yisroel” - The maker of peace in His high element, He will bring peace upon us, and on all of Am Yisroel - come to fruition, and to that we all say Amein!

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