Steven Sotloff, a”h

Although his background was suppressed while he was captive, after his murder, news reports mournfully acknowledged that Steven Sotloff, a”h, was Jewish ­— an American raised in Miami who attended a Reform day school and made aliyah in 2005. A fellow captive, who was released, reported that Sotloff surreptitiously fasted on Yom Kippur and prayed facing Jerusalem.

As a journalist, Sotloff took exceptional risks to uncover the truth; 70 journalists have been killed in Syria alone, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

As Jews, we feel every innocent death, Jew or non-Jew; journalists in combat zones know of the risks.

Jews have been on the front lines of Arab butchery for centuries and know that ISIS, Hamas, Hezbollah and all the other iterations of Islamist terror are one and the same.
This was an attack on Western mores, with Israel the canary in the coalmine. Now the terrorist groups are lined up and waiting ­to see whether the world supports Israel in its fight against terrorism, or instead condemns Israel and gives ISIS, Hamas and Hezbollah a free pass.

Meanwhile, we are saddened and angered by Sotloff’s murder. May his courage be an inspiration, and may his memory be a blessing.

See related story: Miami day school photo pictures slain journalist Steve Sotloff in first grade