A Note on Arafat's Death.

[richardf8]

The news of Arafat's death has been greeted by many of us with a collective sigh of relief. But I feel the need to say publicly something of which I have been trying to remind myself. Rumours have been flying as to cause of death, various wishes and speculations have occurred regarding his afterlife/place in the world to come. In other words, it's hard, after so many years of enmity, not to gloat at his death, to treat it as a cause celebre.

However. There is a story in the Talmud.

It is said that when the Israelites were fleeing Egypt, and the reed sea parted for them and then closed in upon the Egyptians, the Angels danced and sang at the Egyptians' deaths. The Lord chided them, saying "do not celebrate. Even though the Egyptians were wicked, they are still My creations, and it pains me to have to destroy them."

And even though Arafat was wicked, he was still God's creation. And perhaps George W. Bush's words on the matter, "God bless his soul," despite the outrage they have sparked, are the most appropriate. After all -- whose soul is in greater need of God's blessing than the man whose life was a curse?

So farewell Mr. Arafat, I expect the world might be a better place for your leaving it, but may you find in death the peace that evaded you in life.