              The Goldstein Family of Kiryat Arba
         Pays Tribute to Rabbi Meir Kahane, Z"tl, H"yd
                                
                      by Gary M. Cooperberg-
                                
       Kiryat Arba-Hebron- Lag b'omer 5752, May 21, 1992-


       To see this tall young man, dressed very casually, with a knitted kipa, payot, and a
large pistol on his hip, you would not be surprised to learn that he is a resident of Kiryat Arba. 
You would, however, do a double take if you were to learn that he is a doctor.  He happens
not just to be a doctor, but an excellent doctor who has saved many lives in Israel.
       Dr. Baruch Goldstein caused a stir a few years back while he was serving with the
IDF in Lebanon.  A wounded Arab terrorist was brought to him for medical treatment. 
Baruch looked incredulously at his commanding officer and announced that he doesn't treat
terrorists.  The commander threatened to have Baruch arrested.  Baruch calmly told him that
he is an observant Jew.  According to the teachings of his rabbi, Rabbi Meir Kahane, when an
Arab comes to murder a Jew, it is an obligation to kill that Arab.  Although, in this case, the
mitzvah had not been fulfilled, he most certainly could not justify nursing the murderer back to
health! 
       Dr. Goldstein stood ready to accept whatever penalty might result from his standing
by Jewish principles and did not back down to the threats.  The army chose to back off and
simply had Baruch transferred to a position in the Gaza Strip.
       Baruch Goldstein, like so many other Jews from the United States and elsewhere,
came to fully appreciate the privilege of being Jewish thanks to his contact with Rabbi Meir
Kahane, z"tl, H"yd.  When one recognizes such a special gift as this, he tries, in vain, to
properly express his gratitude.  
       Baruch was always involved with the Kach Movement.  In his role as doctor, the
government had sent him by helicopter to help in the evacuation of Yamit.  
       Once he arrived he stunned the army by immediately joining the people from Kach
who had locked themselves in an air raid shelter and threatened to commit suicide should
Yamit be given up.
       Although his job is one that does not allow him the time necessary to become fully
active politically, he saw the need to keep Kach involved in the local government of Kiryat
Arba.  Baruch sits on the town council here to represent the view of the Kach movement.
       The murder of our beloved rabbi was a personal tragedy to all who knew him.  It
was an event which no one dreamed possible.  It brought tears to the eyes of strong men who
loved this special man who not only was a unique leader of Jews, but a personal friend to
countless people.
       Baruch Goldstein is no stranger to death and tragedy.  He has seen far too much of
it in his line of work.  Yet the loss of his teacher and friend left a gaping hole in his heart that
will never be filled.  
       In a gesture of tribute to Rabbi Kahane, Baruch petitioned the Kiryat Arba local
council to dedicate the new tourist park at the entrance to the town in the name of our
martyred leader.  Due largely to the tremendous respect in which Dr. Goldstein is held in this
community, there was no objection to his petition.  The date for the dedication was set for Lag
B'Omer.
       Not satisfied that this ceremony would be enough of an honor for his beloved
teacher, Dr. Goldstein, together with his parents, Yisrael and Miriam Goldstein, who also live
in Kiryat Arba, commissioned the writing of a new Torah Scroll to be placed in the Cave of
Machpela and dedicated to Rabbi Meir Kahane.
       And so it was, on Lag B'Omer, as the sun shone brightly in Hebron, that the Mayor
of Kiryat Arba officially announced, before the crowd of well wishers from all over the
country, the dedication of the park at the entrance to Kiryat Arba in memory of Rabbi Meir
Kahane, z"tl, H"yd.
       After the dedication ceremony, the last few letters completing the sefer Torah were
inscribed.  The first, in honor of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the next several as a blessing for the
speedy recovery of several seriously ill Jews, and the last in honor of friends, including
members of the Kahane family, neighbors and local dignitaries.
       Never can I remember a more joyous parade from the town of Kiryat Arba to the
Cave of Machpela.  Singing and dancing with the sefer torah the entire way and then filling the
Machpela building with Jewish celebrants feverishly dancing and raising their voices in joy and
Jewish pride.
       The pure love for his teacher was expressed via a full range of emotions seen in the
boyish face of Dr. Goldstein; from his uncontrollable bursting into tears as he praised and
remembered the Rabbi at the dedication ceremony; to the veritable beaming joy emanating
from his smile as he carried the Torah Scroll to the Machpela building.
       And so, at long last, the name of Rabbi Meir Kahane, is eternally connected to the
City of Abraham, where it belongs.  And one of his prize students, Dr. Baruch Goldstein, has
indeed succeeded in thanking his friend and teacher in a way in which all of us could join with
him to guarantee that, indeed, Rabbi Meir Kahane, will be forever with us.   