So here is another Paradox .
Why did the terrorists hit the Chabad Center when there were much "softer" Jewish targets where they could have hurt many more Jews?
Targets like the Jewish Community Center or the Hazon Eli Foundation Center for Jewish Life.
My surmise is that it was not an accident that the Chabad Center was attacked. The terrorists knew that, if their intent was maximum pain to Israelis, Chabad was the natural target.
Most non-Israelis are probably not aware of how the Chabad Centers have become almost a "home-away-from-home" for young Israelis traveling abroad.
The paradox is that, almost certainly, more secular rather than religious Israelis make use of these facilities.
It's not the kosher meals that attract them. It's the opportunity to network with other like themselves who are doing their post-military service "Tiyul" (tour) abroad. They share information and get tips about where to go and what to avoid from trusted sources.
Most Israeli kids, at age 18, serve a full time stint in the armed forces - males for three years, females for two. At the end of the time it has become a tradition, for those who can afford it, to take up to a year off for the Tiyul before going on to college.
These days the Far East and South America seem to be the favored places. And wherever they go the local Chabad Center becomes a focal point for them.
It's interesting that even in USA, secular Israelis are more likely to go to a Chabad House to celebrate the High Holy Days than to a local American Reform or Conservative synagogue. Their religous country men when traveling abroad have less of a problem - they just go a local Orthodox Synagogue where the service and tradition will be very similar to that at home.
It seems that the issue for many secular Israelis is that somehow they better relate to the "black hats" of Chabad than the Americanized version of Jewish observance.
It probably stems in part from the fact that almost all religous rite-of-passage ceremonies in Israel - brith milah, weddings, deaths - are officiated by the "black hat" institutions. So even though non-observant, they are used to having them in their life.
In turn Chabad welcomes these young secular travelers. It sees it as part of their role in bringing people back to the traditon. Unlike many Orthodox synagogues, there is no "judgemental" reaction to non-observant Jews who are seeking some connection with their tradition.
It is this approach that accounts for their incredible success in establishing Chabad Centers worldwide.
Our grandson, Yahal, spent this past Rosh Hashana at Chabad in Bangkok. He said there were over 500 participants, mostly young Israelis, though he also met Australians, British and "a couple of Americans" (for the record Yahal did a pre-army tiyul, he goes in for three years next week).
His older sister, Maayan, finished her military service about eight months ago. She left last week for her big trip. to South America, with three girl friends. I'm sure she'll visit a Chabad House somewhere in the coming months - probably at Passover.
Unfortunately the terrorists did their homework well.
If one wants to get to a "soft" target with many Israelis, target the Chabad Center. Much easier than trying to attack the the Embassy or Consulate.
That's the reality of the world we live in.
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