Rega Lifney Shabbat...

Shalom All,

Last week, an important event happened in our life: I sent Bar, for the

first time, to the local grocery store in Macabim. We needed some bread, the

basic food of life. "Go get some bread" I said "and use the change to reward

yourself with some candy". Off he went, very proud, clutching the few coins

in his hand.

The grocery store manager, a nice young man who has watched Bar grow since

he was born, called me after Bar left the store with the bread:

"I can't believe how much he has grown!" he said "and already coming on his

own to buy some bread!"

"Well, he's nine years old already" I laughed "big enough to run some

errands for his family". I knew that it was another stage in my childs

growth. A responsibility. A sign of Independence.

2 days ago, another 12 year old was sent by someone to run an errand. This

ten year old had no idea what exactly he was doing, He just knew that the

people who sent him promised him a reward after he did what he was told.

They gave him a bag and told him to deliver it into Israel. Fortunately, the

wires sticking out from the bag caught the attention of our security forces.

The ten year old child was sent as a living bomb into Israel. He wasn't sent

to bring anything that has a connection to normal, everyday life. He wasn't

sent to run a normal errand. He was sent, unaware and innocent, to kill and

be killed. Luckily, he was stopped on time. There was no factor of growth,

responsibility or independence in this child's mission. Just the cowardly

hatred of adults around him.

Adults who, when all is said and done, are failing their own children.

Redemption will only come when children are sent to bring nothing but bread

and candy. Until that day arrives, the words of the Israeli song will

continue to echo in our ears:

Take care of the world, child,

there are things you shouldn't see

Take care of the world, child,

if you see them you will stop being

the hero of the world, child,

with a smile of angels

take care of the world, child,

for we adults aren't able to do it anymore.

Shabbat Shalom

Liat