{"id":47942,"date":"2015-10-08T12:08:37","date_gmt":"2015-10-08T17:08:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/?p=47942"},"modified":"2015-10-08T13:01:18","modified_gmt":"2015-10-08T18:01:18","slug":"paying-a-shiva-call-to-the-henkin-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/inspiration\/paying-a-shiva-call-to-the-henkin-family\/","title":{"rendered":"Paying a Shiva Call to the Henkin Family"},"content":{"rendered":"

The following article is part of Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb’s Weekly Newsletter.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Earlier this week, Chavi and I concluded a most enjoyable and inspiring Yom Tov season. It included the beautiful\u00a0davening<\/i> on Rosh Hashanah at Yeshurun Synagogue; Yom Kippur at the Jerusalem Gardens Hotel, during which I lead a joint OU\/Gateways program for four hundred participants; and Sukkos, during which I served as a scholar-in-residence for Gateways at that same hotel through Shabbos Chol Hamoed. The climax was Shemini Atzeres\/Simchas Torah, which we spent back in our apartment, davening<\/i> at Yeshurun for the evening hakafos<\/i>and at HaZvi Yisrael (popularly known as Chovevei because of its location on Rechov Chovevei Tzion). Details about these joyous days will follow later in this newsletter.<\/p>\n

However, the entire period, especially during the past several days, was marred by unspeakable tragedy and general tension and unrest in Israel, and in Jerusalem in particular. I have no need to provide all of the details in this newsletter, because so much is reported regularly in the media. However, I must point out to you something that you should already know: the media reports are full of minor and major inaccuracies and often contain blatant distortions and outright falsehoods.<\/p>\n

Closest to me personally were the murders last Thursday night and last\u00a0Motza\u2019ei<\/i> Shabbos of Rabbi Eitam and Naama Henkin, who were shot and killed in front of their four children (many media reports spoke of six children, which is just a minor example of media inaccuracy); Aaron Bennet or Benita, the 22-year-old who was stabbed to death and whose wife, also stabbed, is struggling for her life, and whose infant child is recovering from gunshot wounds; and Rabbi Nechemia Lavi, shot and killed while rushing to rescue the Bennet family. Numerous other Jewish individuals were wounded, some quite severely, by rock throwing and stabbings.<\/p>\n

One must be absolutely outraged by the responses of so-called world leaders to these tragic events. Without exception, these attacks were unprovoked attempts to murder innocent civilians, or police or soldiers who were trying to maintain peace and order. Most egregious was the statement by the UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who condemned the killing of Palestinians but failed to even mention the Jewish victims of terror. A friend of mine who monitors the Palestinian media read to me the Palestinian account of the stabbings of Bennett and Lavi. They were reported as acts of self-defense against the attack of a \u201cmob of frenzied settlers.\u201d The fact that a two-year-old was one of the members of that \u201cmob\u201d was ignored.<\/p>\n

There is no sign that this wave of murderous hatred will soon abate. As the brother of the murdered Rabbi Henkin mentioned in his graveside eulogy, \u201cIt is not terror that we are facing. Terror is not the enemy. The enemy consists of human beings who are fanatically devoted to an ideology of hatred and for whom human lives, all human lives, but especially Jewish lives, are of no value.\u201d The enemy is a religious ideology, and a very widespread ideology, which seeks to dominate the world through murderous evil. The world must recognize this and call it by its name. It is this enemy that must be fought, not abstract \u201cterrorism.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the bad news. The good news is that, with the exception of Israeli politicians\u2014left and right\u2014who insist upon taking political advantage of the situation by criticizing the government and each other, the Israeli public is reacting bravely and courageously. Examples of this include the commitment to celebrate the chagim<\/i> to the fullest, despite the deep sadness and justifiable anger. The hakafos<\/i> on leil<\/i> Simchas Torah, on the very spot where the stabbings occurred the previous night, was attended by large throngs, dancing and singing songs of commitment to Torah and Tzion. Such simchas<\/i> Yom Tov was displayed throughout the Holy Land. I personally had the privilege of attending hakafos<\/u><\/i> leil<\/i> Simchas Torah at the Yeshurun Synagogue, which is mymakom kavua<\/i>, or \u201cpermanent\u201d shul<\/i>. The shul<\/i> was filled wall-to-wall and included dozens of people who were quite apparently not regular attendees at such events. Chazzan Asher Heinovitz led the singing with an enthusiasm, which even surpassed his typical characteristic vitality. Walking home from Yeshurun, I passed the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem, where even larger crowds were in attendance.<\/p>\n

The highlight of Simchas Torah day for me was the davening<\/i> and dancing (andkiddush<\/i>) at the synagogue closest to our apartment, Chovevei. The President of Israel, Reuven \u201cRuby\u201d Rivlin, frequently attends services at Chovevei. He was there on Yom Kippur and again early on Simchas Torah morning, accompanied by security personnel. He was honored with Chassan Torah<\/i>. At the end of the Torah reading, he and the Chassan Bereshis<\/i> and Maftir<\/i> joined hands in a lively dance. I was invited by name and called up to join them in the dance\u2014a most appreciated privilege. As I was ascending the bimah<\/i>, several people shouted, \u201cYou will never have the opportunity to dance with the president of the USA, so enjoy dancing with the president of Israel.\u201d When I took hold of President Rivlin\u2019s hand, he echoed that sentiment and said, \u201cCome dance with the president of Israel. The president of the USA doesn\u2019t dance with the Torah.\u201d I was about to respond, \u201cMaybe the next U.S. president will dance with me,\u201d but I immediately suppressed that remark, realizing that I would be halachically<\/i> precluded from dancing with the current Democratic front-runner.<\/p>\n

There were many other highlights of the festival season for me. They included delicious meals prepared by Chavi, in which we were joined by friends, grandsons, and distinguished guests, such as Chief Rabbi David Lau and his family. We also enjoyed the company of friends old and new at the Jerusalem Gardens hotel. They included Rabbi Nosson Kamenetsky (author of the well-known Making of a Gadol<\/i>) and his wife, and Rabbi Yehuda Silver and his wife, Gail (who are cousins of our dear mechutanim<\/i>, Yosef and Edie Davis). For theleil<\/i> Simchas Torah meal, we were the guests of OU Chairman of the Board, Tzvi Friedman. And at other occasions, we reunited with old friends, such as Rabbi Marvin and Malkie Hier, and Dr. Mort and Rosalie Rapoport.<\/p>\n

I confess that I most enjoyed the opportunity to deliver a wide variety of lectures and shiurim <\/i>that I gave between Shabbos Shuva and Sukkos. They included a Shabbos Shuva derasha<\/i> and a derasha<\/i> to members of the RCA, both held at the OU Israel Center; shiurim<\/i> on the second perek<\/i> of Maseches<\/i>Sukkah<\/i>; a lecture on the personality and thoughts on Sukkos of R\u2019 Zadok HaCohen of Lublin; a presentation on the subject of our communities priorities, \u201cinreach\u201d versus outreach; and a very well attended and well received lecture entitled \u201cKoheleth<\/i>: What Would he Say About Contemporary Jewish Problems?\u201d<\/p>\n

Immediately following the chagim<\/i>, I had the chance to pay a shiva<\/i> call upon Rabbi Yehudah and Rebbetzin Chana Henkin in their home in the Kiryat Moshe neighborhood of Jerusalem. They are the parents of the murdered Rabbi Eitam Henkin and in-laws of Naama. I had met Rabbi Yehuda several times over the years and am very familiar with his writings and teachings. I have worked very closely with Rebbetzin Chana, who is the dynamic founder of Nishmat and the inspiring teacher of that most admirable group of women whom she trains to become Yo\u2019atzot<\/i> Halachah<\/i>. Seeing them sitting bereft upon mourners\u2019 chairs was quite an emotional experience. Rebbetzin Chana recognized me by name as soon as I entered the room and motioned to me to visit Rabbi Yehuda first (as he was seated in another section of the apartment).<\/p>\n

I did not visit the Henkins alone, but as part of an Orthodox Union delegation led by Executive Vice President Allen Fagin, OU Israel Director-General Rabbi Avi Berman, and Mr. Norman Schmutter, a good friend with whom I have worked on OU activities. I introduced myself to Rabbi Yehuda as representing the entire Orthodox Union and its many synagogues and that, in a sense, I was delivering condolences to him from the entire American Jewish community. I said that we all shared his pain and were saddened by the loss of his multi-talented son. I mentioned that I was familiar with several of his son\u2019s Torah essays and thus felt that I shared in his loss.<\/p>\n

Rabbi Yehuda responded, \u201cIf you didn\u2019t know him personally, it is impossible for you to fully appreciate his loss.\u201d I heartily agreed.<\/p>\n

Our small delegation then proceeded to offer condolences, again on behalf of the Orthodox Union and its constituency, to Rebbetzin Henkin. She expressed her deep gratitude for our visit.<\/p>\n

The Henkin\u2019s modest apartment overflowed with menachamim<\/i>, comforters, including leaders of the political left and right, prestigious rabbis and scholars, and numerous students of the murdered victims. Prominently present were the leaders of the Israeli Druze community, including the father of murdered Druze policeman Zidan Sayif (who was killed trying to rescue the victims of the Har Nof Massacre).<\/p>\n

I know that I have gone on much longer in this newsletter than is customary, perhaps even too much longer. But I must continue and mention that the \u201clight of our eyes\u201d during the entire Yom Tov was the frequent presence of our two grandsons currently in Israel. Avi Weinreb, a lone soldier and a commander in the Israeli Defense Forces, was able to leave his base for some Shabbasos and part of Sukkos and had several meals with us. His cousin, Avi Friedberg, a student at the Gesher program of Aish HaTorah in the Old City of Jerusalem, joined us occasionally as well. Avi F. brought us additional nachas<\/i> today as we learned of his inclusion in the Dean\u2019s List of Yeshiva University\u2019s Sy Sims School of Business. He finished his first year at YU before coming to Israel to advance his Torah studies.<\/p>\n

Last night, as a demonstration of our personal commitment to remain undaunted by terror, Chavi and I walked to the Kotel, where reinforced security measures are apparent. We intend to visit the Kotel again this Shabbos.<\/p>\n

This Shabbos, I will be delivering the English language lecture on Parshas Bereshis<\/i> at Chovevei. I will be speaking on the role of language in Creation.<\/p>\n

I close with prayers for the healing of those who have been wounded recently, for a nechama<\/i> for the bereaved, and for a swift, just, and comprehensive peace for the Jewish people. I wish you all a Shabbat Shalom<\/i> and a choref bari<\/i> (gezunten vinter<\/i>, healthy winter).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The following article is part of Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb’s Weekly Newsletter. Earlier this week, Chavi and I concluded a most enjoyable and inspiring Yom Tov season. It included the beautiful\u00a0davening on Rosh Hashanah at Yeshurun Synagogue; Yom Kippur at the Jerusalem Gardens Hotel, during which I lead a joint OU\/Gateways program for four<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":351,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[85],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47942","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-inspiration"],"yoast_head":"\nPaying a Shiva Call to the Henkin Family - OU Life<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/inspiration\/paying-a-shiva-call-to-the-henkin-family\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Paying a Shiva Call to the Henkin Family - OU Life\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The following article is part of Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb’s Weekly Newsletter. Earlier this week, Chavi and I concluded a most enjoyable and inspiring Yom Tov season. It included the beautiful\u00a0davening on Rosh Hashanah at Yeshurun Synagogue; Yom Kippur at the Jerusalem Gardens Hotel, during which I lead a joint OU\/Gateways program for four\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/inspiration\/paying-a-shiva-call-to-the-henkin-family\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"OU Life\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2015-10-08T17:08:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2015-10-08T18:01:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/inspiration\/paying-a-shiva-call-to-the-henkin-family\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/inspiration\/paying-a-shiva-call-to-the-henkin-family\/\",\"name\":\"Paying a Shiva Call to the Henkin Family - OU Life\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2015-10-08T17:08:37+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2015-10-08T18:01:18+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/#\/schema\/person\/0a8d01ac7c1bba22129c7fcac76d9899\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/inspiration\/paying-a-shiva-call-to-the-henkin-family\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/\",\"name\":\"OU Life\",\"description\":\"Everyday Jewish Living\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/#\/schema\/person\/0a8d01ac7c1bba22129c7fcac76d9899\",\"name\":\"Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2138f27294555b780d2927d3803d797cc992e6d9d603714d7b527b5be98a3074?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2138f27294555b780d2927d3803d797cc992e6d9d603714d7b527b5be98a3074?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/author\/rabbi_tzvi_hersh_weinrebou-org\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Paying a Shiva Call to the Henkin Family - OU Life","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/inspiration\/paying-a-shiva-call-to-the-henkin-family\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Paying a Shiva Call to the Henkin Family - OU Life","og_description":"The following article is part of Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb’s Weekly Newsletter. Earlier this week, Chavi and I concluded a most enjoyable and inspiring Yom Tov season. It included the beautiful\u00a0davening on Rosh Hashanah at Yeshurun Synagogue; Yom Kippur at the Jerusalem Gardens Hotel, during which I lead a joint OU\/Gateways program for four","og_url":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/inspiration\/paying-a-shiva-call-to-the-henkin-family\/","og_site_name":"OU Life","article_published_time":"2015-10-08T17:08:37+00:00","article_modified_time":"2015-10-08T18:01:18+00:00","author":"Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/inspiration\/paying-a-shiva-call-to-the-henkin-family\/","url":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/inspiration\/paying-a-shiva-call-to-the-henkin-family\/","name":"Paying a Shiva Call to the Henkin Family - OU Life","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/#website"},"datePublished":"2015-10-08T17:08:37+00:00","dateModified":"2015-10-08T18:01:18+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/#\/schema\/person\/0a8d01ac7c1bba22129c7fcac76d9899"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/inspiration\/paying-a-shiva-call-to-the-henkin-family\/"]}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/","name":"OU Life","description":"Everyday Jewish Living","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/#\/schema\/person\/0a8d01ac7c1bba22129c7fcac76d9899","name":"Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2138f27294555b780d2927d3803d797cc992e6d9d603714d7b527b5be98a3074?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2138f27294555b780d2927d3803d797cc992e6d9d603714d7b527b5be98a3074?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb"},"url":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/author\/rabbi_tzvi_hersh_weinrebou-org\/"}]}},"acf":[],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47942","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/351"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47942"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47942\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47954,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47942\/revisions\/47954"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47942"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47942"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47942"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}