Do We Celebrate the Death of Our Enemy?
There is a famous midrash about the moment in which the Israelites have crossed the Sea of Reeds to escape the Egyptians who are now drowning before them. As the Israelites sing about their freedom and celebrate the deaths of their enemy, we read that God turns to the ministering angels and explains, “My handiwork are drowning in the sea, and you are reciting a song before Me?” This midrash reminds us to never lose ourselves in the celebration of another’s death. No matter the evil of our enemy, we are never to revel in human demise.
Yesterday, after the Israeli Defense Forces killed Hamas terrorist and October 7thmastermind Yahya Sinwar, many of us felt like celebrating. Sinwar was a ruthless and cold murderer who promoted a theology of hate and violence. He was the epitome of human evil, and his death is most certainly a positive development.
Yet the purpose of eliminating Sinwar was not to celebrate death, but rather to advance a world which sanctifies and protects life. We celebrate Sinwar’s demise not because we love death, but because we cherish life.
Sinwar’s reign created chaos and turmoil not only for Israelis but also for Palestinians. Just as Israel was most likely to move forward with a peace plan at the turn of the 21stcentury that would have made Palestinian lives better, it was Sinwar who unleashed the second intifada. Just as Israel was most likely to normalize relations with other Arab nations which would have made the lives of many in the entire middle east better, it was Sinwar who brought forward the carnage of October 7th.
Throughout his life. Yahya Sinwar embraced death and encouraged others to embrace it alongside him. By eliminating Sinwar, Israel created the possibility of a different kind of world which sanctifies life at all costs.
We were all shocked by the videos of Gazans celebrating October 7th and cheering on the kidnapping of hostages. The culture that allows for such demonstrations was heralded by men like Yahya Sinwar. As we laud his absence, let us also acknowledge the importance of affirming and sanctifying life. A world without Sinwar is a world more likely to care about protecting human life.
May we soon see the day when all hostages come home and the day when a life-affirming Palestinian leadership finally emerges.
