What Happened to Massada?

Massada is a mountain fortress in Israel most famous for the valiant struggle the Jews put up against the Romans. Although they knew that the Romans would eventually overcome them, they nevertheless fought like lions to protect their land so that it remains in Jewish hands. All the defenders of Massada died there; they committed suicide as the Romans were breaking through their last defenses. For them captivity wasn't even an option, they fought till they could fight no more.

The lesson of Massada, although I only mentioned it very briefly here, is very important in Judaism. It is a lesson that former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried explaining to former US President Bill Clinton when they visited Massada together during the festival of Chanukah. It is a lesson all soldiers in the IDF learn, as well. At the end of their training they climb to the top of Massada via the snake path. Once there they pledge that Massada will never fall again! (Shniya Metzada lo tipol!) Have they forgotten the lesson and their pledge so soon?

Yesterday I watched in horror at the expulsion and demolition of Amona. The Israeli soldiers and police acted brutally and ruthlessly as they viciously beat and attacked protestors, some of whom are still in critical condition today. Where does a Jew get the hatred within him to beat other Jews who are unarmed and aren't doing anything wrong, other than demonstrating in a "democratic" country? Instead of fighting terrorists, they are fighting Jews. On one of the walls in Amona someone wrote, "Who needs Hamas? We have Olmert!"

These innocent Jews did the same thing their ancestors did in defending Jerusalem, Massada and all the other cities in Israel from the Romans and other invaders. Had Olmert and his henchmen been around those days, no doubt they would have collaborated with the Romans and would have helped their enemies conquer all the cities of Israel. Is this what we fought for in 1948? Was there ever a war in history that the Jews fought for the cause that the Israeli government now stands for? The videos that I saw were so horrific, they could have been from sixty years ago, when Nazis beat Jews with their clubs and chased them out of their homes forcing them to live behind walls. Unfortunately, I can't show you the videos that I saw, but if you search for them online I'm sure you'll be able to find them. However, here is a small clip of what happened there. If this is not atrocity, what is?

Email me if you want the link to download this video.