The Jerusalem Inception - By Avraham Azrieli Page 0,45
other Jews.
When first light showed in the barred window, Elie closed his eyes and said, “I think God wanted us to meet. It is written: In a place where there are no men, be a man! You and I must be men. We must bring down the Zionists and renew our people’s faith in God!”
“We? How could we—”
“A man of faith can decide to smash the idols, just like Abraham the patriarch did.” Elie leaned closer and whispered, “I have made that decision. And so can you.”
“Me?”
“Why do you think God put us in the same cell? It’s His design!”
Redhead Dan nodded slowly.
“God wants us to stop the Zionists, to prevent the killing of Jewish babies.” Elie glanced at the door and spoke into the young man’s ear. “I can’t do it alone. I need two more men of strength and faith in the Master of the Universe.”
“But how?”
“You feel powerless?”
“Yes!”
Elie showed him a fist. “God created explosives for a reason! To give us power!”
The guards’ voices came through the steel door.
“Thursday at midnight, at the gate on Shivtay Israel Street. Be there, in God’s name!”
Chapter 19
On Wednesday morning, as the men had their tea and bread in the forecourt of the synagogue, Lemmy saw Redhead Dan limping up the alley from the gate. Many of the younger men hurried to welcome him, singing, “Connive and scheme—it shall not work! Conspire and curse—it shall not stand! For God is with us! God is with us!”
They accompanied him into the synagogue and over to his seat next to Yoram. The forced smile on Redhead Dan’s face contrasted with the bruises and the black eye. After a few moments, everyone returned to their open Talmud volumes, puffing on cigarettes.
At the conclusion of a morning of study, they recited the noon prayers and went outside to eat lunch and discuss the coming vote in the Knesset. Later that day, the proposed abortion law was scheduled to be presented to the assembly for a second call which, if passed, would allow the committee to submit it for a third and final call, when a majority vote would turn the proposal into law.
The religious parties in the Knesset had announced that they would abstain. Opposition leader Menachem Begin had yet to tell his caucus how to vote, but Prime Minister Levi Eshkol announced that the Labor party and its coalition partners would vote in favor of the proposed law. However, some in Neturay Karta speculated that many Knesset members would defy their party leaders and refuse to support the legalization of infanticide.
Lemmy stood with Benjamin, chewing on a piece of bread and listening to the discussions, which quieted down when Rabbi Gerster came out of the synagogue. He searched the crowd, saw Lemmy, and summoned him with a curled finger.
A half hour later, they arrived at the police compound at the Russian Yard on Jaffa Street. A policeman showed them into Major Buskilah’s office.
“I want to know,” Rabbi Gerster demanded, “why did you beat my disciple?”
“For the same reason I let your son go.” The major pointed at his belt, which rested on the desk with the holstered gun and truncheon. “Violence will be met with violence, peaceful protest will be met with peaceful measures.” He gestured at two metal chairs. “Please.”
Rabbi Gerster sat down, but Lemmy remained standing.
“I hope the lesson was clear enough for the other Talmudic scholars.”
“That violence must be met with violence?” The rabbi pointed at the truncheon. “This type of reasoning could go both ways, back and forth, worse and worse, until we lose control and spill blood.”
“There won’t be any violence on our side if your guys stop throwing rocks at people every time you disagree with something. We’re not Neanderthals any longer, you know?”
Lemmy stepped forward, but his father raised a hand, stopping him, and said, “Hurtling insults is a common prelude to hurtling rocks. I’m here to make sure we don’t have either.”
Major Buskilah nodded. “I’m listening.”
“If a Knesset majority supports the proposed abortion law, Neturay Karta will have to march in protest, bring out the word of God. But we will remain peaceful and hurt no one as long as we are not attacked by others.”
“I will communicate the request to those who make such decisions.”
“We seek Shalom,” the rabbi said, using the Hebrew word for peace, “but Torah requires us to denounce sinners. We’ll need safe passage and an opportunity to be heard without harassment.” He stood and turned to leave, but when his eyes