Elchanan Shkolnik is a graduate of religious-national Torah education. He completed his 12 years of compulsory education at the Talmud Torah and a high school yeshiva in Kfar Hasidim. He later continued his studies at the Yeshivat Hesder of Akko (Acre) and the Itamar Higher Yeshiva. Elchanan Shkolnik is g graduate of a combat unit. Later, he dedicated many years to youth guidance in various settings and played a key role in coordinating and establishing social movements.
In early January 2022, Elchanan Shkolnik was appointed the new coordinator of the young leadership of the Otzma Yehudit party, led by MK Itamar Ben-Gvir. Ben-Gvir welcomed him, calling on the youth to join the movement "to save the State of Israel." The young leadership's mission within Otzma Yehudit is "to develop its members into better and more pious leaders and individuals."
Elchanan Shkolnik expressed his commitment, stating: "For the past three years, I have been working around the clock within Otzma Yehudit for the sake of the people of Israel, under the full guidance of the Grand Rabbi Dov Lior."
Elchanan Shkolnik at the Otzma Yehudit youth stand at the Nahala rally in Jerusalem (Photography: Idan Yaron, February 27, 2025)
Regarding the Samaria sector, Shkolnik stated that the Central Command of the IDE, Yehuda Fox, instructed battalion fighters to distribute candy and banknotes to local children in Nablus, with messages reading "We love you," along with comic books portraying the IDF positively. The fighters opposed this directive.
Shkolnik views Nablus as a unique case, distinct from Gaza. He notes that there is no unified government or cohesion between the population and terrorist groups – terrorists operate there, but alongside them are uninvolved civilians. The atmosphere in Nablus, he claims, is notably different.
Amidst these discussions, a moving story emerged, reflecting the complexity of both the IDF and Israeli society during wartime.
Full Disclosure: I have known Elchanan's father, Yoram, for many years. In my book The Skolnik Saga: Ideological Murder of a Tied Terrorist (2017) – the product of three years of in-depth conversations – I detailed the murder of a Palestinian terrorist in captivity, committed by Yoram Shkolnik.
In a TikTok video discussing restrictions imposed by the Prison Service on Palestinian security prisoners (according to a directive of Minister Itama Ben-Gvir), Elchanan Shkolnik remarked: "My father eliminated a terrorist in 1993. I asked him, 'Dad, tell me, did you get fruit in prison?' He responded that during the eight and a half years he spent there (for no crime of his own, since he killed a terrorist – therefore, I reject the term 'murder' despite the court's ruling), he was starved and denied any fruit or preferential conditions."
Elchanan Shkolnik on a family visit during reserve service in Nablus (Photo courtesy of
Elchanan Shkolnik)
Regarding the Samaria sector, Shkolnik stated that the Central Command of the IDE, Yehuda Fox, instructed battalion fighters to distribute candy and banknotes to local children in Nablus, with messages reading "We love you," along with comic books portraying the IDF positively. The fighters opposed this directive.
Shkolnik views Nablus as a unique case, distinct from Gaza. He notes that there is no unified government or cohesion between the population and terrorist groups – terrorists operate there, but alongside them are uninvolved civilians. The atmosphere in Nablus, he claims, is notably different.
Amidst these discussions, a moving story emerged, reflecting the complexity of both the IDF and Israeli society during wartime.
Full Disclosure: I have known Elchanan's father, Yoram, for many years. In my book The Skolnik Saga: Ideological Murder of a Tied Terrorist (2017) – the product of three years of in-depth conversations – I detailed the murder of a Palestinian terrorist in captivity, committed by Yoram Shkolnik.
In a TikTok video discussing restrictions imposed by the Prison Service on Palestinian security prisoners (according to a directive of Minister Itama Ben-Gvir), Elchanan Shkolnik remarked: "My father eliminated a terrorist in 1993. I asked him, 'Dad, tell me, did you get fruit in prison?' He responded that during the eight and a half years he spent there (for no crime of his own, since he killed a terrorist – therefore, I reject the term 'murder' despite the court's ruling), he was starved and denied any fruit or preferential conditions."
Elchanan Shkolnik on a family visit during reserve service in Nablus (Photo courtesy of
Elchanan Shkolnik)
"Candy for Children"
Elhanan Shkolnik, Nablus (Facebook, October 31, 2023): "This is not a coming-out-of-the-closet post, but I would like to share something personal that has been occupying my mind for the past week... I know it may upset a lot of people, and it would have been much easier for me to move on with my life without posting this here.
It was another moonless night. A column of fighters marched silently toward an unknown village in the Nablus sector. The target – a sensitive and accessible Hamas terrorist (charged with weapons possession and terrorism). The house was searched, but nothing was found. A squad entered the adjacent house, where a woman, a relative of his, sat with five small children, all watching in horror at what was happening. The kitchen was in ruins – cupboard by cupboard, a light push, and the wood crumbled in on itself. Abandonment dominated everything. Extreme poverty loomed from every side.
Feverishly, we searched for weapons, carrying out the mission we were sent to complete. Everyone was looking, but in a daze, I stopped. I gazed at the children and their mother with a piercing look. My weapon was cocked, my finger trembling on the trigger guard, ready for any scenario.
The mother and children looked down in fear, shrinking away. In my mind's eye, the five children became my sisters, and the young mother – my older sister.
Gritting my teeth, I forced my thoughts back to the October 7 massacre. Anger welled up inside me as I recalled the bloody testimonies of murder, rape, and looting committed against my brothers and sisters.
I looked back at them. Their terrified gaze was reflected in their hollow pupils. There was no evil in them. I made sure of this with a prolonged look.
We finished searching the house and prepared to leave. A strong struggle took place inside me. I put my hand involuntarily into my pocket. I paused for a moment. I counted six candies. I placed them in front of the woman. She bowed slightly and slowly, then I turn toward the door.
The young mother returned my gaze with gratitude, nodding slightly. A spark of humanity passed between us. I closed the door gently, and a storm gripped me.
I am aware that many of my followers may express disgust and may not understand what I went through – especially given my political background and known opinions. But I am at peace with myself. I know that I did the right thing. We are not like them. Who knows? Maybe they will forever remember, despite all the brainwashing they endure, that there was a soldier different from the monster they had been told about. Who knows? Maybe I saved five future terrorists."
Supportive and Compelling Responses:
N.K. [initials of respondents]: "We need to be the opposite of these evildoers and show them that we have not lost our humanity. You did the right thing."
K.B.: "It means that despite everything you personally go through (family, as well as in reserve service), political opinions aside, and despite what the people have endured for generations – your heart still prevails. You are not them."
D.M.: "You wrote it yourself – 'We are not them!' That's the whole story. Continue carrying out your tasks with the utmost professionalism and humanity and take care of yourself."
A.R.: "Thank you for sharing. You are a good person, a Jew. That's who we are – humans first and foremost."
A.T.: "You are a Jew, and secondly, you are a human being with humanity. That's what distinguishes us."
M.K.: "Crazy internal dissonance! You did what your heart told you to do, and most importantly – you followed an order. Look for weapons of murderers! Not murdering children!"
Y.K.: "I believe that's what you should have done. Even if their relatives are terrorists, and maybe they will be too when they grow up, it's a good thing that, in the end, you'll come back to yourself or to another Jew who will be in need."
Y.H.: "You're a human being, that's all. You have a heart and feelings. We're not them. You have nothing to apologize for. On the contrary, we're not animals. Our opinions stem from the need – and, especially, the desire – to survive and live. We're not like them, and it's a good thing that's the case. Now I know that this is not only the strongest army in the world, but also the best army in the world. And leave me alone with the moral crap."
A.B.: "You're a human being, my friend. You're just a human being. When you break down all the chaos that's happening here, some people are simply interested in living. Continue your holy work with this sensitivity, where your life, the soldiers' lives, and ours are the highest value."
S.N.: "This is the difference between us and the terrorists. Every supporter of Otzma Yehudit would behave exactly like you."
ASH"T: "The most correct, true, and humane thing to do! I wish those children would burn that candy into their memory and, from there, choose a life full of joy, color, and sweetness instead of a life of hatred, evil, and violence. No matter how immense the pain and anger for what they did, we are not them! We are human, full of dreams for a good life and a beautiful future. We are a people full of compassion and love. No matter how hard we try, we cannot be the heinous murderers full of hatred like them. If they had been raised properly and educated with normal textbooks instead of brainwashing, they would not be like that. If you educate for evil, hatred, and lies – this is the result!"
M.K.: "Congratulations. You are a special person. It is not easy to combine operationalism, righteousness of the path, and fighting the enemy with the recognition of human beings who are sometimes caught in the middle against their own will – and sometimes not. You did it in the most beautiful way one can think of. Be strong and courageous!"
M.M.: "Well done! Humanity and compassion have never killed anyone."
B.S.: "You acted correctly, wisely, and in a way that does not contradict your political position. There is no contradiction between being right-wing, even extremist, and being a human being."
Y.S.: "The most humane there is. The most Jewish there is. I wish you and us never to lose that."
D.N.G.: "You are a pure Jew!"
N.H.: "The soul of a Jewish homie lives within you."
H.S.A.: "Wow! I simply have no other words to describe this post! I think you did the right thing, despite everything."
M.L.: "You were emotional, bro!"
Dismissive and Negative Responses
A.P.: "I am familiar with this reality – the operational tension and the emotional burden. But during combat, we must harden our hearts. Emotions must not influence operational decisions. A mix of emotions during war can cost soldiers their lives. This does not mean we should be needlessly cruel, but the operation must be carried out as if there were no children, no families, and no emotions involved. If you feel it is too much for you, step back and ask to be replaced. It is completely legitimate to struggle with the emotional burden. It is certainly difficult."
A.P.: "We are merciful men, but only as long as it does not compromise the operation. Never forget what they think of you."
A.P.: "The mother might be a victim of her terrorist husband, or she might be covering for him. Unfortunately, women have been known to shield terrorists in the past. I don't know the truth in this case. I hope she is not a terrorist."
D.S.: "On the one hand, you have proven yourself a Jew with a soul of light and goodness. On the other hand, unfortunately, the future of Jewish-Arab relations will not be determined by a single woman with five children. She has no power to make peace, even if she desires it. Her children have no power to resist becoming terrorists, even if they wish to. Their leaders decide for them – leaders who see peace with Jews as treason. These children are raised to hate Jews and to kill them."
B.A.: "All of that, and yet two Mercedes cars in the parking lot. The children were scared, just like the Hamas terrorists were scared. But fear is not what stops them from committing crimes. They will forget the candy by the next day at school when others incite them against the Zionist enemy."
S.A.: "You are right about the emotional turmoil, but reason must prevail. This is the enemy. I imagine the same thoughts ran through the minds of the Convoy of 35 (Hebrew Lamed He, which stands for "thirty-five" – a convoy of Haganah and Palmach fighters sent during the 1947-1948 War in Mandatory Palestine on a mission to reach by foot and resupply the blockaded Kibbutzim of Gush Etzion. They were spotted before they could reach their destination – allegedly by an Arab shepherd, whom they graciously let go – and killed in a prolonged battle by Arab irregulars and local villagers). But war is 'us or them.' The children you gave candy to will grow up to be the martyrs of the next generation. Don't be fooled."
T.: "The children who received candy 20 years ago are the same 25-year-olds who slaughtered our children less than a month ago [October 7]. A child raised in an environment of hate – where Itbach al Yahud (Slaughter the Jews) is taught in kindergartens and summer camps – cannot be bought with candy."
N.H.: "We are human. They are animals. That is why we think differently. As for the 'candy' – after the October 7 massacre, I see no goodness in them. Those who slaughtered our children, raped our daughters, and desecrated their bodies do not deserve any 'sympathy.'"
D.A.: "My dear, this time you were gravely mistaken."
J.A.: "You are a real fool. Stop pitying them."
M.S.: "'He Who is Compassionate to the Cruel Will Ultimately Become Cruel to the Compassionate.' The same children we gave candy to 15 years ago are the ones who massacred the Jewish people. No matter what you offer them, they will hate you and wish for your suffering. No one in Gaza gives our children candy. The Israeli people have a tendency to pity those they should not and to be cruel to those they should protect."
D.L.: "I respect you, but all you've done is feed candy to future terrorists. As they say: the children of 2014 are the terrorists of 2023. If you think that, in the future, one of them will say, 'The soldiers destroyed our house, but one gave me candy, so I won't commit an attack,' then you do not understand who we are fighting."
A.B.: "Your humanity is clear. That is not new. The question is, what is your role in this situation? To comfort the woman and children, or to leave them in fear?"
R.R.: "Your compassion shows the depth of your soul as a Jew. Even after the horrors they committed, you remain human. I understand your feelings, but despite the difficulty, do not forget: 'Remember what Amalek did to you… blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.' These children will grow up to be martyrs and terrorists."
A.S.: "The education these children receive and the ideology they absorb are stronger than your candy."
Internal Correspondence Between Negators and Elchanan Shkolnik: A. – A Companion for Girls in Sherut Leumi (an alternative voluntary form of national service, as opposed to the mandatory military conscription prevalent in the country.): "A friend [A.H.] shared the post you published. We had a brief discussion about it, and I want to share my thoughts with you.
First, I want to thank you for protecting us with your body. However, for our sake, I believe you are truly confused. The Creator, who knows precisely who is good and who is not, has said, 'He showers compassion on all his creation' [Psalms 145:9]. But we do not know. Right now, we are in a state of war. This is not the time to bring candy to anyone who is in any way, even subtly, connected to the enemy of the people of Israel – those who rejoiced after the massacre committed against us. The reality is that 90% of them will become terrorists. This is the education and culture they grow up with. There is a difference between morality and mercy.
We must adopt a policy of adino haetzni [a term referring to Tachmoni, one of King David's warriors, known for being both a brave man and a wise scholar. Some attribute the phrase to King David himself. Talmud: When he studied Torah, he was delicate as a worm. When he fought in battle, he was tough as wood (Moed Katan 16b).] The children in question have been told by their mother that there is a war with IDF soldiers. If they see a tough IDF soldier, but then that soldier gives them candy, it creates distortion. This is not the time for such gestures during war.
The Psalms say: 'You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty' (Psalms 18:27). In present terms: With Arabs, you speak in Arabic. This is not cruelty. On the contrary, we are the sons of the Creator, and we were commanded to fight those who belong to the enemy camp. This includes not showing kindness to a terrified child who is currently on the other side. The people of Israel sent you to fight. Take an example from King David and his wars – he did not show pity to anyone who belonged to the enemy camp.
Indeed, while there is a command that a 'fourth side' of a besieged city must remain open as an evacuation corridor, those who choose to stay declare themselves as enemies and must be treated as such. You may argue that the children do not choose their fate, and that Hamas prevents them from leaving. That is true, but no one is forcing you to kill them. However, this is a war, and awareness must be instilled in them that IDF soldiers are not to be trifled with. They are being educated to become terrorists. The question is, what will they remember about IDF soldiers during their training? Will they remember them as kind or as figures to be feared?
What is better for the people? King David, at times, was very harsh with his enemies, to ensure they would not dare to rise against Israel or defy the will of God. This war is about restoring the desecrated glory of God.
Additionally, a note on Amalek: A Midrash states that before Sennacherib [the second king of the Sergonid dynasty, and one of the most famous Assyrian Kings mentioned in the Hebrew Bible) confused the nations, Amalek mixed with Ishmael to escape his wrath. You will return in peace in the name of God, and through you, salvation will come to the people. You will feel how the hand of God works through you to avenge the vengeance of the people."
Elhanan Shkolnik – Reply: "Dear National Service girls, I was excited to see that my post sparked a discussion in your service apartment – that was one of its main goals. The broader context here is the difference in circumstances and location. The activity took place in Nablus, not Gaza. Why is this important? First, the war started in Gaza, not Nablus. Second, the level of terrorism in Nablus is not comparable to that in Gaza, nor is the number of those involved in it. We have occupied the Nablus sector for a month, and the area remains relatively calm. The target of our operation was a Hamas member, and the presence of weapons in his house was the condition for his criminalization. If weapons were found, he would be guilty; if not, he was presumed innocent. We thoroughly searched his house and found nothing. To be cautious, we expanded the search to the neighboring house, where his sister-in-law lived with her children. Again, we left no trace of its original form but found nothing. Yes, this is a time of war, but the war was not there. The little children are not part of the current conflict. I have conducted many arrests in my life, and I can recognize when hatred has built up against us. In this case, the mother and children did not show hatred – only fear, not hostility. Their expressions indicated they clearly understood the balance of power. They saw that we were focused on our mission – searching for weapons, not harming them. They will remember the deterrence we projected and, more importantly, they will see that we are not like their portrayal of us.
Humanity is humanity. Children are children. The mother and children were uninvolved. If they were involved, that would be a different story. Many arrests I have made ended differently because the individuals were involved in terrorism.
The people of Israel did not send me to reserve duty. You did not send me. No one did. I volunteered myself. I put my first degree on hold, while my peers completed theirs, so that I could serve.
To the point: A child's gaze is an innocent gaze. This is not a child who grew up in Gaza; this is a child from a struggling family simply trying to survive. The mother is just another mother – waking up at six in the morning, working until six in the evening, providing for her children. Her brother-in-law is her brother-in-law. If there is no intelligence indicating otherwise, she is uninvolved. The assumption was that she did not want to be linked to terrorism, which is why the weapons were probably not hidden in her house – if there were such at all."
I see that many sources have been cited here. I would like to raise the issue of the prophet Jonah, who did not want to save Nineveh and was severely rebuked by God. Nineveh was so full of lewdness and murder that it was destined to be destroyed. God rebukes him for the castor oil plant, for which he did not labor for even a minute, and for the entire city, He did not have mercy.
I would also like to remind you of the story of our forefather Abraham – how he pleaded for the entire city of Sodom, the symbol of wickedness, evil, and sadism. Did our forefather Abraham deviate from straight morality? According to your calculation, it sounds like he did. The Torah describes how Abraham troubles the Lord of the universe by pleading that perhaps a few righteous people might be found so that the entire city would not be destroyed. I could also continue with the drowning of the Egyptians in the sea when God asks the people of Israel why their sons are drowning, and they are singing a song.
I don't want to argue, but it sounds like you're being dichotomous in your approach to the subject, coming from a classic Arielian greenhouse position. [Ariel is an ideological movement designed to "raise a generation of God's servants who work to increase holiness, observe Torah and mitzvot in perfection, work independently, live modestly, and be socially engaged in the way of Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak HaCohen Kook – a generation of active and caring leaders who create change in the Israeli nation to advance it toward building Ariel." This is the view held by most youth in the national religious community today.] That's fine, but just don't be so complacent and confident in your teaching.
The example of Nineveh shows that God does not destroy a city of wicked people with a single blow but rather waits for a response. In my case, these were children under ten years old.
A.H.: "Regarding Nineveh, I didn't understand what you meant. Under ten years old –and then? Keep in mind that, according to the Sages, Gentiles are suspected of bloodshed, without Ishmael being suspected of it at all. What does their age have to do with it? Ishmael was a 13-year-old boy. He wasn't bad. He was righteous at the time. That's what God says. Are you God, who knows whether these children are righteous or not? We are required to learn from the actions of our ancestors unequivocally, and God, the Creator of the world. 'For the LORD your God is a merciful God' [Deuteronomy 4:31], you are merciful too. But remember that to the extent that the Creator of the world is merciful, 'The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath' [Nahum 1:2]. In addition, unfortunately, it is not possible for us to reach the level of our ancestors. We are not perfect like them. We have the potential to be like them, but it doesn't seem that we are… Keep up the good work, and represent the IDF in a tough way, so that they don't mess with us in the future. In the end, the children of ten years ago are the terrorists who committed the massacre. Yes, there is Hamas activity in Nablus too – you didn't go there to have fun."
In General, vs. In Particular
Elhanan Shkolnik concluded by saying that his act does not represent any political sub-group or ideology. He refers to a specific situation at a specific time, in which he was required to make a personal-moral decision.
In general, distributing candy to Arab children goes against the dictates of his conscience: First, if you distribute candy to children collectively as a policy, you will inevitably give candy to the children of future terrorists as well; Second, He does not support "wild Western solutions" and does not try to curry favor with them. Candy will not buy children, nor will it make them replace a murderous ideology with a positive one-time gesture; Third, such an act could present us as weak, sycophantic, and defeatist. No one there would interpret it as a noble gesture.
In particular, the situation was entirely different: First, it was an isolated incident, not a systematic approach; Second, he did not hand out candy to those who were definitely the children of terrorists or child-terrorists; Third, the soldiers "broke the house" for those children; Fourth, they woke them up from their sleep; Fifth they made them and their mother cry; Sixth, he saw a look of fear in their eyes, not hatred.
"Prisoner's Identification Card" of Yoram Shkolnik
Shkolnik Senior's Response – "On Candy and Sympathy"
"I will begin by saying that I, the little one, am not a rabbi, politician, or soldier, so I do not have the authority or knowledge to decide on matters of life and death. Therefore, I think that my opinion has no real importance.
Moving on to the debate between Elhanan and the female guides of the National Service, I can only say: 'Both these and those are the words of the living God' [Babylonian Talmud, Eruvin, 13:2]. Abraham's attitude towards Ishmael was based on 'from the place where he is' [Genesis 2:17] – judging him according to what he was at that moment, not what he would become in the future. Sarah, on the other hand, foresaw the dangers to come and therefore wanted to expel Ishmael as a preventive measure. God sided with Sarah and told Abraham: 'Listen to whatever Sarah tells you' [Genesis 21:12].
In the army, everything is divided into three parts. We face an enemy who is Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian. Each of these elements is murderous, and the combination of all three is certainly so. Therefore, I do not accept the distinction between Gaza and Nablus. Similarly, I do not accept the claim that there is a fundamental difference between the Arabs of Gaza, the Arabs of Judea and Samaria, and the so-called 'Arabs of Israel.'
We did not start a war with the Arabs. For over a century, we have been subjected to murderous attacks and wars, with the enemy seeking to destroy us – men, women, and children. Given this reality, we have no choice but to fight back fiercely. Unfortunately, innocent people are also killed in war. This is a war of survival, not a war of choice. If we must choose between our lives and the lives of the 'uninvolved' among our enemies, my choice is unequivocal."
Despite all this, in everyday life, when I encounter an Arab (on the street, on the bus, as a craftsman, etc.), I adopt the rule of 'respect him suspect him' [Tractate Derekh Eretz Rabbah, 5]. I will not turn my back on him, but I will treat him with courtesy. I am aware that he most likely wants to murder me or at least is happy when others do so.
Nevertheless, in my dealings with Arabs, as private individuals, I make a distinction between actual terrorists and someone about whom there is doubt (although on the national level, the considerations are sometimes different, and even 'innocent' people are harmed as a side effect.
I believe that if we had behaved properly towards terrorists, many 'uninvolved' lives would have been saved. If there were no restrictions whatsoever on the opening fire orders, and it were permissible and even obligatory to shoot to kill at any nationalist event directed at us (without a 'suspect arrest procedure'); if over the years there had been a death penalty for terrorists, or at least harsh conditions in prison, as Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has instituted (instead of the summer camp that was in place all these years); if there had been no negotiations with terrorist organizations, and certainly not the release of terrorists, but an all-out war; and a long list of other steps that could have been taken, but politicians, military personnel and above all judges who are captives of defeatist concepts and a lack of knowledge of the enemy prevented this – then deterrence would have been more effective, the enemy would have sat quietly, and in any case we would not have been forced to go to war, in which even 'non-involved' people are killed.
It is precisely the 'moral' policy of the 'left' – which is intended to save human lives, and which cares so much about the Arabs they love so much – that causes the opposite effect: an endless continuation of the conflict, and therefore more and more bloodshed on both sides, including 'non-involved' people.
I make a distinction between a nationalist Arab, who expresses his hatred towards us in actions or words, and an Arab who we do not know what is in his heart, and who, at least outwardly, arouses sympathy [pleasure and feelings of identification with the other]. With such an Arab, I follow the rule 'respect him and suspect him.' There are so many Arabs who externalize their hostility, so it is a shame to use the quality of justice against those who are not like that, and it is better to direct the negative energies towards those whose position is beyond doubt, and to fight them with all our might. If we do this, deterrence will return, and those who sit on the fence will see our determination and prefer not to mess with us. It is precisely the confusion that we transmit in our fight against the terrorists that they interpret as weakness, not nobility, and encourages them to continue their war against us.
Therefore, in the face of every 'nice' Arab, I return kindness and courtesy; but woe to the person who chooses another path! Unfortunately, Arabs do not always value kindness. Therefore, this must be done with great caution. On the battlefield, it is essential to be doubly careful, and it is not always possible to be nice.
Handing out candy to children is humane and moving; it suits my traits and my worldview very well. We need to be 'our own kind:' gentle towards those who do not fight us and raise an iron fist towards our enemies."
In the end, I am glad that Elhanan, my son, knew how to make the distinction. I believe that in this particular case, I would have acted like him. This is the education I gave my children. I believe that this trait is very important to our humanity, because we do not want to descend to their level and become human monsters ourselves; all of this – on the condition that we fight the terrorists without compromise."
Shkolnik Junior on Shkolnik Senior
Twenty-four years ago, my father was released from prison, after eight and a half agonizing years. My father is, in my eyes, the most noble and beautiful figure in the world. The features of a king, his blue, piercing eyes, his whole being says respect/
My father is molded from three main principles: first, the love of God with every fiber of his soul; second, the love of the people of Israel that knows no bounds; third, the love of the land without compromise, without bias, and out of patriotism and abysmal Zionism.
My father has no shortcuts. The truth is a candle at his feet at any given moment. A simple man outwardly, but so deep inwardly.
My father has a systematic Mishnah [i.e., doctrine] for everything he does and thinks about. There are no shortcuts. No shortcuts. Everything is pure and deep thought.
One of the things I envy about him is that no one can testify after getting to know him that they do not love him, that my father did not show his decency towards him, and that he has never met a man so humble, honest and righteous.
I am so proud of my father, love him so much, and hope that God will repay each and every one who dared to hurt and harm the Messiah of the Lord ["Do not touch my anointed ones," Psalms, 125:15], for not doing wrong to him, just because he put his life in his hand ["And he put his life in his hand and struck down the Philistine," 1 Samuel, 19:5], and did a worthy deed [like David did in his time]."