Israel - A renowned Sephardi-hareidi rabbi has answered the question of how Jews should respond to the deaths of those who have wilfully murdered other Jews. Rabbi Ben-Tzion Mutzafi wrote in reply to a halakhic [Jewish legal] question that it is actually "a mitzva [positive command]" to feel vindicated when proven terrorist murderers are killed.
The question was posed by a friend of Yitzchak and Talia Imes, a Jewish couple from Beit Chaggai who were murdered several weeks ago by terrorists, leaving six children orphans. Two passengers, one of them a pregnant woman, were gunned down as well.
The terrorists who plotted the brutal attack, senior Hamas members Mamoun Natsha and Nashet Naim Carmi, were killed in a clash with IDF troops on Friday.
"Is it forbidden, is it a mitzva, or is it merely permitted to be glad at the killing of the terrorists who murdered our friend Yitzchak Imes, may his memory be for a blessing, his wife, and two Jewish hitchhikers?" the questioner asked. He was alluding to the Jewish belief that even enemies are G-d's creation and therefore even their deaths might be mourned, as the Midrash says G-d told the angels when the Egyptians perished in the Red Sea and they wished to sing a song of praise to Him.
Rabbi Mutzafi responded that to feel good that murderers have received their due is not only a mitzva, but a great mitzva. He based his response on a verse from Proverbs, which states: "When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; and when the wicked perish, there is joy." [Proverbs 11: 10]
