It would be obscene to say that a Jew lost to terrorism in one incident is worse than a Jew lost to terrorism in another incident. Still, the pain digs deeper if that Jew, lost to terrorism, was lost to a Jewish terrorist. Since no perpetrator in the terrorist incident in Tel Aviv last Saturday, Aug. 1, has yet been apprehended, we cannot and may not say that was the case. To the extent that the perpetrator was viewed, he (or she) did not appear to be an Arab. If so, here we have assimilation at its worst: assimilation of the Arab terrorist technique of political expression through murder.
Police are still investigating whether the attack was a Jewish or Arab terrorist act, or the result of a personal quarrel. Be that as it may, the victims were attending a homosexual center. Unless a perpetrator is apprehended and it turns out that he (or she) was an Arab terrorist or on a personal vengeance mission seemingly, unlikely the victims were targeted for their sexual orientation. The idea that political expression on this question or any other is legitimately violent and murderous is a gross misunderstanding of the Torah, a critical destabilization of democracy, an invitation for retaliation and a desecration of the good name of the Jewish people not to mention, the infliction of untold suffering on the families and friends of the victims.
Short of the identification of the murderer, we will not speculate, as many in Israel have done, as to the murderers motives, his environment, his religious orientation. Until such time as the murderer is found, to point fingers only deepens the divisiveness that the deed itself represents. This much, however, is clear: If the murderer was someone who opposed homosexuality on principle, the murderer did unfathomable damage to his own cause. If the murderers intended effect was to make a philosophical statement, or to intimidate and defeat, he achieved just the opposite of what he wanted.
The murderers act is qualitatively different from others who, by their behavior, also intend to make a statement. Around the issue of sexual orientation, what is needed is not statements most of all, not murderous or other violent ones but civil discourse, rational discourse, and Torah.
Meanwhile, if the murderer was Jewish, it is clear that the waves of Arab terrorism have had a terrible effect, lowering the emotional and mental bar for some. Apparently, they have created in their minds an OK, a permission, for murder; a radical violation of the Torah and a grotesque political philosophy. For that, deep introspection is in order.
