September 24: Sweeter honey

The honey will taste just a little sweeter at our Rosh Hashana table this year.

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letters (photo credit: REUTERS)
Letters
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Sweeter honey
Sir, – Nothing in this world ever happens by coincidence, those of faith believe. Just two days before the advent of Rosh Hashana, two stunning events, tailor-made for the holiday, occurred almost simultaneously: The Hamas terrorists who kidnapped and murdered Naftali Fraenkel, Gil-Ad Shaer and Eyal Yifrah were finally found in Hebron and killed by the IDF, and the trial of the Arab Bank in New York came to a dramatic close, with the bank being found guilty of 24 counts of funneling money to terrorists and their families as payment for murdering hundreds of Americans.
Taken together, these two seminal events strike a major blow against terrorism.
They affirm that our security services will work unceasingly until the killers of our people are found and punished.
Furthermore, those who fund and finance terrorism will be brought to the dock of justice and made to pay a steep price for their crimes.
As someone who lost a son to terrorists – our eldest boy, Ari, was killed in a firefight with Islamic Jihad and Hamas gunmen in 2002 – and as one of the 100 plaintiff families in the Arab Bank suit, I can tell you firsthand that this is a major victory for the forces of good and a significant setback for the forces of evil.
Of course, it will not bring our son or any of the thousands of terror victims back to life. It will not fill the void that exists in every family picture and at every holiday table.
But it removes the insult that adds to our injury when perpetrators of these outrages go free or suffer no consequences whatsoever for their sins.
It reaffirms our faith in our government and system of law, and in the principle of divine justice.
It helps us sleep a little better at night.
Peace – the ultimate blessing we pray for on Rosh Hashana – is directly proportionate and totally dependent upon how vigorously we seek out and destroy those who wage war on the innocent. The honey will taste just a little sweeter at our Rosh Hashana table.
STEWART WEISS
Ra’anana
The writer is a rabbi, director of the Jewish Outreach Center of Ra’anana and a Jerusalem Post Magazine columnist
Man of the year
Sir, – The Jerusalem Post often reports on the skyrocketing prices of homes and food. It seems that everyone is out to gouge the next guy – except for one.
Rami Levy’s supermarkets are known for their reasonable prices. Even the New Year has not been met with higher prices – as in many food stores – but with New Year sales.
We once saw a program with Mr. Levy where he, in contrast to his fellow store owners, stated that he does not raise prices at holiday time. In fact, he lowers many of them. For this, he deserves to be your Man of the Year.
BARRY LYNN
Efrat