Most of the country has been taken by the trial played out in front of us and broadcast on news outlets everywhere piece by piece. But nothing has stirred as much emotion as today's not guilty verdict.
To me, it epitomizes what America stands for and what makes it so great.
Do I think that Casey Anthony killed her daughter? Probably. Can I say so with certainty beyond reasonable doubt? Absolutely not.
I find it no coincidence this big news took place on the third of Tammuz, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Schneerson's seventeenth yartzeit (anniversary of passing).
What is a Rebbe? What sets him apart from an ordinary Rabbi?
Most apparently of course, his stunning knowledge of Torah and keen understanding of all subjects. The greatest military generals, the best medical specialists, political diplomats and Torah scholars alike left audiences with the Rebbe feeling like they had just conversed with a master in their particular field.
There are also the countless stories of how the Rebbe was able to foresee the future. Like during the difficult days of the six day war when he was able to dauntlessly, with absolute certainty, assure Jews in Israel and around the world that there would be great victory and that there was nothing to fear.
But more than his vision of Torah, of engineering or his vision of the future, perhaps the greatest insight of the Rebbe was his vision of souls.
He undoubtedly heard the pain, the joy or fear, in the man, woman or child standing before him seeking his counsel. He addressed each medical question with acute medical proficiency and each confused college student with a response that he could relate to. But what he really recognized was the soul.
To the deathly ill woman he prescribed lighting shabbos candles, while the man struggling to make a living was instructed to lay teffilin, another still, to check his mezuzahs. Incredibly, the spiritual ordinance remedied the physical ailment.
The Rebbe was a conduit between humanity and G-d.
It is written that one of the great functions of Moshiach is that he will have the unique ability to 'sniff and do justice'. That just with the 'sniff of his nose' he will know the guilty from the innocent by the 'scent' of their soul.
Although we still await the arrival of Moshiach, the Rebbe gave his disciples and all those who had the privilege of his company, if only for a few moments, an exclusive glimpse into what those days will be like.
The constitution of this great country we have been afforded to live in, was not just based on basic principles of freedom and independence, but a faith in G-d, uniquely American.
I'm no soul reader, without real hard evidence there is no way I can be sure of anything, one way or another.
Was justice served for little Caylee? Probably not.
That has to be taken up with G-d.
And that is what makes America the giant it is. It recognizes that we are no G-d and that there is a higher force. That although every finger points in the same direction, unless ascertained beyond any shadow of doubt, the suspected is determined innocent until proven guilty.
It honors that it takes much more than ordinary eyes to convict without proper proof.
It takes G-d to make conclusions.
It takes a Rebbe to see a soul.
Chayala wrote...
You are such a gifted writer.
I love all the articles you post.
You have such a great talent of being able to express your feelings on paper.
Keep it up!
We miss you guys ;)
Simcha Yoel Barag wrote...
Of course you are right about the Rebbe.
His extraordinary and even supernatural abilities are well known.
However with Casey Anthony it takes neither Hashem nor a Rebbe.
With Casey Anthony, twelve rational people who understood the evidence and were willing to follow the law as instructed by the court would have convicted her.
Instead they ignored the evidence, did not properly apply the law, and so reached a verdict reflective of their own fantasies.
They are like the meraglim, the spies, who did not fulfill their mission but went beyond it and fell into error.
Thus justice in America is poorer for it.
Fortunately, we have Hashem's promise that He will step in and impose justice. "I will not allow a guilty person to go unpunished."
Like with O.J., we have not heard the last of Casey Anthony.
Shavua tov.
Simcha Yoel Barag wrote...
Of course you are right about the Rebbe.
His extraordinary and even supernatural abilities are well known.
However with Casey Anthony it takes neither Hashem nor a Rebbe.
With Casey Anthony, twelve rational people who understood the evidence and were willing to follow the law as instructed by the court would have convicted her.
Instead they ignored the evidence, did not properly apply the law, and so reached a verdict reflective of their own fantasies.
They are like the meraglim, the spies, who did not fulfill their mission but went beyond it and fell into error.
Thus justice in America is poorer for it.
Fortunately, we have Hashem's promise that He will step in and impose justice. "I will not allow a guilty person to go unpunished."
Like with O.J., we have not heard the last of Casey Anthony.
Shavua tov.
Margaretta wrote...
homöopathische komplexmittel wrote...