Grief Beyond Measure at Children’s Slaughter

Re “Arab Neighbors Grieve With Kibbutzniks for Slain,” Nov. 12: As Israelis, we are witness to almost daily terrorist attacks. But the attack on Kibbutz Metzer on Sunday night was horrific, even by our standards. Yesterday we watched Avi Ohayon, father of Matan, 5, and Noam, 4, as he tried to make sense of this loathsome crime. He was interviewed on TV as he held two pacifiers belonging to these two innocent children.

He didn’t talk of blaming his government or the terrorists. He wondered what kind of person could shoot these two children as they lay sleeping with pacifiers in their hands. The scene was one of the most difficult I remember seeing during the past years. He said that he was far too young to say Kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the dead, for his sons. As I write, tears again well up in my eyes. This unforgettable sight will remain with us for a long time.

Shira Miller

Afik, Israel