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An Israeli Mom Teaches Her Daughter About Terror

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by Yehudit Lindblom
 
Late Thursday night, long after our local mall was closed, a terrorist attacked a mall security guard with an axe.
 
Last night, before bed, I mentioned the victim's name in our evening prayers with my kids. My 5-year-old explained that her classmate told her that an Arab hit Tzvika ben Batia in his neck really hard and hurt him. I told her that her classmate was right, but it wasn't just a regular Arab -- it was a terrorist, an evil person. (I used the term "rasha," which she already knows from learning about Purim.) I explained that not all Arabs are bad. I explained that some Jews are good, and some Jews are bad, and some Arabs are good, and some Arabs are bad.
 
This morning, I made the mistake of watching the security video of the attack. I knew it would be brutal. Sometimes, I force myself to watch these types of things, because I want to be reminded of what we're up against. But then I watch, and I am torn between wanting to attack monsters, wanting to throw up, wanting to cry, and wanting to melt into a puddle.
 
Every single day, my instincts battle against each other -- I have learned to follow my instincts, but it's hard when instincts go in two directions -- My instinct to respect people and not judge an entire population on the acts of some is battling against my fierce instinct to protect my people at all costs.
 
I love this land, and I love my people. I love my daughter, and I don't want her to grow up hating. I realize the irony is that I'm trying to teach my daughter not to automatically hate those who are raised hating us.
 
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