This is a truly inspiring story. They young man committed an atrocious and hate-filled crime, putting swastikas on gravestones and desecrating the monuments to the dead.

Instead of harshly condemning him, the affected Jewish community in Auckland instead invited him to a Shabbat dinner and are offering to pay his university fees.


New Zealand Jewish community offers assistance to teen who desecrated cemetery - Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper

This is an awesome story of forgiveness and compassion. May God bless the leaders who responded this way. Instead of seeking revenge, they did what Jesus would have His followers do... although they do not even know Him. They put many Christians to shame.

We often discuss and commemorate the injustices inflicted by Israel on the Palestinian people, and some of us speak out and act against these crimes. It is important to do so. We should not stop doing so until Palestinians and Israelis live as equals, without one ruling over and oppressing the other as is the situation now.

At the same time, let us remember always that the actions of Israel's leaders do not represent all Jewish people across the world.


Let the crimes of Israeli leaders, soldiers and settlers not be the only things that represent Judaism and Jews to us. Let the actions of this community also, if not more so, be what we remember and consider.