On September 11th, 2001, people fighting a meaningless fight attacked America, in a senseless and cowardly terrorist act carried out against the American people. The point seems to be death and destruction and nothing else. Apparently, these individuals are willing to die to advance the political agendas of leaders who hide in cowardice. I would ask; if this type of senseless death and destruction is a path to Allah or the afterlife, as they have been led to believe, why then do their leaders hide from it?

We have all been affected by this horrible murderous act. The tragic loss of thousands of innocent people should serve as an awakening call to all of humanity, especially to every legitimate and decent democracy of this world, that we will not negotiate with evil. Rather, we must recognize it for what it represents -- a dangerous and deadly threat.

The Western leaders, who until now failed to distinguish between the righteous and the evil in the Israeli struggle against the Palestinian Authority, must now act appropriately and decisively; first of all to deal with those who would kill innocent people, and second; to reinforce those values that hold life sacred.

As the President of the United States said, "We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts, and those who harbor them." I hope and pray that those words will ring true and that those responsible AND their allies will soon realize what a foolish and terrible mistake they have made. Hopefully, these acts will not go unpunished.

America will continue doing business as usual, but with a seething anger and outrage towards these enemies of freedom and their allies who dance in the streets with them. All those responsible for the senseless deaths of innocent civilian men, women and children, in America AND in Eretz Yisroel (Israel), will be held accountable wherever they are and justice will be served.

In the meantime, We at TORAH TOTS, together with all of Klal Yisroel, would like to express our deepest sympathies and our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the men, women and children who perished in this tragic and horrendous way. We grieve the loss of life and innocence that arises from wanton hatred. May G-d give them the strength they need to continue.

And to all those who have been wounded in this barbaric act, we pray that G-d send them a Refuah Shleima - a complete and speedy recovery.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone, many of whose lives have been changed forever. We have suffered a tremendous loss as both a nation and a society, but we will persevere. It is important that we stay focused on positives, and looking to G-d and His Torah can help us accomplish that.

Reuven A. Stone
Menachim Z. Shimanowitz

We offer the following Psalms in prayer for all who were affected by Tuesday's tragedy:

Psalm 20:
"Lamnatzeach - A Psalm by David. May the L-rd answer you on the day of distress; may the Name of the G-d of Jacob strengthen you. May He send your help from the Sanctuary and support you from Zion. May He remember all your offerings and always accept favorably your sacrifices. May He grant you your heart's desire and fulfill your every counsel. We will rejoice in your deliverance and raise our banners in the name of our G-d; may the L-rd fulfill all your wishes. Now I know that the L-rd has delivered His anointed one answering him from his holy heavens with the mighty saving power of His right hand. Some rely upon chariots and some upon horses, but we rely upon and invoke the Name of the L-rd our G-d. They bend and fall but we rise and stand firm. L-rd deliver us; May the king answer us on the day we call."

Psalm 23:
"A Psalm by David. The L-rd is my shepherd, I shall not lack. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He revives my soul; He directs me in paths of righteousness for the sake of His Name. Even if I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and your staff they will comfort me. You will prepare a table for me before my enemies; you have anointed my head with oil; my cup is full. Only goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the L-rd for many long years."