No catastrophe can break our spirit

At this difficult hour, our thoughts are with the bereaved families who are hurting and crying bitterly for their departed loved ones. At this time it can be said, “Thy breach is great like the sea: Who can heal thee-” (Lamentations 2:13). The prophet Jeremiah could not find any other words to describe terrible pain.

I was horrified to learn that the sword of these cruel murderers made its way to Toulouse, and that death appeared in their windows and struck parents and children of Israel – pure and innocent – as they went to school in the morning. My heart aches for the dead, and my guts wrench for the wounded.

Not a day nor an hour goes by, nor is there a place in the world where someone does not rise up to kill us. We send our prayers to He who dwells in the heavens, our merciful father, who gives comfort to his people in the building of Zion and Jerusalem, to provide consolation and healing and comfort the bereaved during this time of heavy mourning.

The truth is that our words cannot begin to convey the extent of our horror at this criminal and abominable act. There are no bounds to the cruelty of despicable murderers who dare to kill pure young children whose only sin was being Jewish.

I call upon French President Nicolas Sarkozy to do everything in his power to ensure that Jewish families are able to send their children to school and into the streets without fear. I also call upon governments around the world to increase security around Jewish institutions within their respective countries.

My brothers and friends, residents of Toulouse, at this difficult time we are with you and we feel your bitter pain, but we also urge you from the bottom or our hearts to go on with your righteous daily lives, step up your blessed endeavors, so our enemies will not think that they have the upper hand. May all the inhabitants of the world know that no catastrophe can break the immense spirit of our people, who carry the torch of faith and good measures in this world.

I pray that these righteous souls that have been taken from us will stand in prayer and cry out to God to end our suffering, as the people of Israel are eternal. Very soon, He will gather the Jews from all four corners of the world and bring them to our Holy Land and we will witness the coming of the merciful messiah. We will then fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy: And the ransomed of the lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 51:11).

May it be God’s will, Amen.