With Intention

It was May of 2009

Spring was in full bloom

Joy of its arrival in the air

Justin-Jinich was just 21

She was shot several times by a man wearing a wig

It was planned

He would kill Johanna and any Jew

Justin-Jinich was just 21

She was beautiful and must have been smart

She was studying at Wesleyan

And was looking to graduate the next year

Justin-Jinich was just 21

Her mother a survivor

From the Shoa she did escape

But it all ends here for Justin-Jinich

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I can’t even begin to describe why this has touched me so much. I read the story as I prepared to go home for Shabbat dinner. It ruined my evening and I kept coming back to it for most of the weekend.

It is not like these things do not happen a lot in the world. However, this and a comment by a woman who questioned whether antisemitism really exists, really made this stick in my mind. So much so that I had many fantasies of bravado and chest beating to show how proud I am to be a Jew. I won’t repeat what was going through my mind.

I am sorry for the parents of this young lady. I hope they are able to move on in their lives. I hope that the murderer is blotted out of our memories from now and forever.

I am sorry that the commentor got me so riled up. May she open and her mind and learn a story good for all people - not a story so biased with hate and seething.