Dov Lipman on Jews Stabbing Arabs: What's Really the Message?

In his article in the Jerusalem Post today, Dov Lipman has indeed expounded a learned essay. We are treated to excerpts and references to Babylonian Talmud Tractate Sanhedrin 39, last week’s Torah portion, the Passover Seder, the Hallel prayer, Commentaries, Kaf HaChayim Orach Chayim 685:29, High Holiday prayers, and Proverbs 24:17. From all this, Lipman concludes that attacking people simply because they are Arab or look like Arabs is foreign to Judaism. Hmm. No argument here.

But is this really Dov Lipman's message to us in these agonizing times? But wait! There is more to come. Lipman writes:

I conclude with the words penned by MK Yair Lapid after a Jew took revenge for the recent stabbings by stabbing random, innocent Arabs in Dimona last week.

“Whoever does this doesn’t understand what Judaism is, and what it means to be a Jew. Whoever does this damages Jews, damages the state, and damages our security. Because there is one principle which we have always guarded, even in the most difficult of times: We will not be like them.

We will not be like the terrorists. We will not adopt their disgusting and murderous values.”

Ah, I think that I am getting the message now. This eloquent statement by that eminent Judaic scholar, Yair Lapid, on the essence of Judaism has convinced me. Yes! I definitely should vote for Yair Lapid for Prime Minster in the coming election.

Hey, Dov, have I figured it out?