He was there to participate in services marking the Jewish holiday of Purim. But when Arab worshipers on the other side of the partition began to taunt the Jews, Dr. Goldstein seemed particularly distraught, other settlers said.
"The Arabs were screaming out during our prayers that the Jews should be slaughtered," said Yehuda Burdman, a settler. "The fact that he could not even say his prayers greatly upset him." A 2,500-Year-Old Story
The next morning at about 5, Israeli Army investigators said, Dr. Goldstein walked out of his ground-floor apartment here dressed in the captain's uniform he wore as an army reserve doctor. He carried an Israeli-made Galil rifle and at least four ammunition clips with 35 bullets apiece.
It was the dawn of Purim, a raucous holiday celebrating the deliverance of Persian Jews from a plot to destroy them in the fifth century B.C. and the fierce revenge they took against their enemies. Dr. Goldstein's friends, as perhaps he hoped they would, compared him today to Mordechai, the hero of the Purim story.
The doctor, who was well-known to soldiers and settlers, arrived at the Cave of the Patriarchs at about 5:30, entering through a side entrance and passing by soldiers, who did not challenge him. He moved swiftly toward the door of the mosque, where hundreds of Arabs were saying their Friday morning prayers in observance of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of penance.
Muhammed Abu Saleh, a guard at the mosque door, said that Dr. Goldstein had demanded to enter, saying he was the duty officer, and that when Mr. Abu Saleh objected, the doctor knocked him down with the butt of his rifle.
"When I saw him, he was running toward the hall where everyone was saying prayers," said Khatem Kafisha, who had been taking off his shoes near the door. "He could have shot any one of us who was outside, but it was clear he only wanted to open fire on the worshipers so he could hit as many people as possible.
"He didn't say a word."
Dr. Goldstein slipped a clip into his assault rifle, put on what witnesses described as protective ear cups to deaden the noise and opened fire on the Muslims kneeling in tight rows, heads bowed to the ground. He stood near near the back wall of the mosque, out of range of closed-circuit television cameras that are monitored by Israeli soldiers at the shrine.
The doctor fired 111 rounds from three and a half clips, army investigators said.
Worshipers reported hearing long bursts of gunfire. Some also said loud explosions shook the mosque, but Israeli officials said there was no evidence that grenades were used. The massacre was over in about two minutes.
As the dead and wounded lay on their blood-soaked prayer rugs, survivors stampeded for exits and jittery Israeli soldiers fired several rounds into the ceiling in an effort to restore order, according to army investigators. Survivors rushed to help the wounded, and a worshiper knocked Dr. Goldstein to the ground with a fire extinguisher. He was beaten to death by the enraged crowd, some using metal bars that were part of a partition in the shrine. A Private Burial
"The crowd finished him off," said Mr. Abu Saleh, the guard.
The doctor was buried late this afternoon with a private ceremony in Qiryat Arba. The army was concerned that burial in the Jewish cemetery in the center of Hebron could set off a clash with Arab residents. News reports said one funeral home in Jerusalem had refused to prepare the body.
Dr. Goldstein had been deeply distressed by recent Palestinian attacks against Jews, several of whom died under his care, according to his friends and neighbors. Several friends described him as unusually edgy in recent days, even refusing to visit patients.
"Last week we called him because our four-month-old was running a temperature," said Baruch Ben-Yaacov, a settler who lives in a small Jewish enclave inside Hebron. "He was unusually brusque with us. He said there was no need for him to come see the baby. This was very unlike him, and the next day he came back and apologized. He was under a lot of stress and it showed."
(1) While Israel was staying at Shittim, the people profaned themselves by whoring with the Moabite women, (2) who invited the people to the sacrifices for their god. The people partook of them and worshiped that god. (3) Thus Israel attached itself to Baal-peor, and the LORD was incensed with Israel. (4) The LORD said to Moses, “Take all the ringleaders and have them publicly impaled before the LORD, so that the LORD’s wrath may turn away from Israel.” (5) So Moses said to Israel’s officials, “Each of you slay those of his men who attached themselves to Baal-peor.” (6) Just then one of the Israelites came and brought a Midianite woman over to his companions, in the sight of Moses and of the whole Israelite community who were weeping at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. (7) When Phinehas, son of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, saw this, he left the assembly and, taking a spear in his hand, (8) he followed the Israelite into the chamber and stabbed both of them, the Israelite and the woman, through the belly. Then the plague against the Israelites was checked.
(7) David said to Solomon, “My son, I wanted to build a House for the name of the LORD my God. (8) But the word of the LORD came to me, saying,‘You have shed much blood and fought great battles; you shall not build a House for My name for you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight.
כִּי לֶקַח טוב נָתַתִּי לָכֶם. תּורָתִי אַל תַּעֲזבוּ:
עֵץ חַיִּים הִיא לַמַּחֲזִיקִים בָּהּ. וְתמְכֶיהָ מְאֻשָּׁר:
דְּרָכֶיהָ דַרְכֵי נעַם וְכָל נְתִיבותֶיהָ שָׁלום:
הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ ה' אֵלֶיךָ וְנָשׁוּבָה. חַדֵּשׁ יָמֵינוּ כְּקֶדֶם:
For it is a precious teaching that I have given to you, do not abandon it!
It is a Tree of Life to those that hold fast to it,
all who uphold it may be counted fortunate.
Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace.
Return us, Hashem, to You and we shall return. Renew us as you have done of old.
(1) When you take the field against your enemies, and see horses and chariots—forces larger than yours—have no fear of them, for the LORD your God, who brought you from the land of Egypt, is with you. (2) Before you join battle, the priest shall come forward and address the troops. (3) He shall say to them, “Hear, O Israel! You are about to join battle with your enemy. Let not your courage falter. Do not be in fear, or in panic, or in dread of them. (4) For it is the LORD your God who marches with you to do battle for you against your enemy, to bring you victory.” (5) Then the officials shall address the troops, as follows: “Is there anyone who has built a new house but has not dedicated it? Let him go back to his home, lest he die in battle and another dedicate it. (6) Is there anyone who has planted a vineyard but has never harvested it? Let him go back to his home, lest he die in battle and another harvest it. (7) Is there anyone who has paid the bride-price for a wife, but who has not yet married her? Let him go back to his home, lest he die in battle and another marry her.” (8) The officials shall go on addressing the troops and say, “Is there anyone afraid and disheartened? Let him go back to his home, lest the courage of his comrades flag like his.”
(ז) במה דברים אמורים במלחמת הרשות אבל במלחמת מצוה הכל יוצאין. אפילו (יואל ב, טז) חתן מחדרו. וכלה מחופתה.
(7) ...But in a war of self-defense [literally, "an obligatory/commanded war] all go out, even a bridegroom from his room and a bride from her wedding canopy.
(1) The word that Isaiah son of Amoz prophesied concerning Judah and Jerusalem. (2) In the days to come, The Mount of the LORD’s House Shall stand firm above the mountains And tower above the hills; And all the nations Shall gaze on it with joy. (3) And the many peoples shall go and say: “Come, Let us go up to the Mount of the LORD, To the House of the God of Jacob; That He may instruct us in His ways, And that we may walk in His paths.” For instruction shall come forth from Zion, The word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (4) Thus He will judge among the nations And arbitrate for the many peoples, And they shall beat their swords into plowshares And their spears into pruning hooks: Nation shall not take up Sword against nation; They shall never again know war.
(ו) בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּשֶׁעָבַר וְעָשָׂה הֶעָוֹן שֶׁחַיָּב עָלָיו מִיתַת בֵּית דִּין. אֲבָל הָרוֹדֵף אַחַר חֲבֵרוֹ לְהָרְגוֹ אֲפִלּוּ הָיָה הָרוֹדֵף קָטָן הֲרֵי כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל מְצֻוִּין לְהַצִּיל הַנִּרְדָּף מִיַּד הָרוֹדֵף וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּנַפְשׁוֹ שֶׁל רוֹדֵף:
(ז) כֵּיצַד. אִם הִזְהִירוּהוּ וַהֲרֵי הוּא רוֹדֵף אַחֲרָיו אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא קִבֵּל עָלָיו הַתְרָאָה כֵּיוָן שֶׁעֲדַיִן הוּא רוֹדֵף הֲרֵי זֶה נֶהֱרָג. וְאִם יְכוֹלִים לְהַצִּילוֹ בְּאֵיבָר מֵאֵיבְרֵי הָרוֹדֵף כְּגוֹן שֶׁיַּכּוּ אוֹתוֹ בְּחֵץ אוֹ בְּאֶבֶן אוֹ בְּסַיִף וְיִקְטְעוּ אֶת יָדוֹ אוֹ יִשְׁבְּרוּ אֶת רַגְלוֹ אוֹ יְסַמּוּ אֶת עֵינוֹ עוֹשִׂין. וְאִם [אֵינָן] יְכוֹלִין לְכַוֵּן וּלְהַצִּילוֹ אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הֲרָגוּהוּ לַרוֹדֵף הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ הוֹרְגִין אוֹתוֹ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא הָרַג שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כה יב) "וְקַצֹּתָה אֶת כַּפָּהּ לֹא תָחוֹס עֵינֶךָ":
(ח) אֶחָד בִּמְבוּשָׁיו וְאֶחָד כָּל דָּבָר שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ סַכָּנַת נְפָשׁוֹת. אֶחָד הָאִישׁ אוֹ הָאִשָּׁה. עִנְיַן הַכָּתוּב שֶׁכָּל הַחוֹשֵׁב לְהַכּוֹת חֲבֵרוֹ הַכָּאָה הַמְּמִיתָה אוֹתוֹ מַצִּילִין אֶת הַנִּרְדָּף בְּכַפּוֹ שֶׁל רוֹדֵף. וְאִם אֵינָן יְכוֹלִין מַצִּילִין אוֹתוֹ אַף בְּנַפְשׁוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כה יב) "לֹא תָחוֹס עֵינְךָ":
(ט) אַף זוֹ מִצְוַת לֹא תַּעֲשֶׂה שֶׁלֹּא לָחוּס עַל נֶפֶשׁ הָרוֹדֵף. לְפִיכָךְ הוֹרוּ חֲכָמִים שֶׁהָעֻבָּרָה שֶׁהִיא מַקְשָׁה לֵילֵד מֻתָּר לַחְתֹּךְ הָעֵבָּר בְּמֵעֶיהָ בֵּין בְּסַם בֵּין בְּיָד מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא כְּרוֹדֵף אַחֲרֶיהָ לְהָרְגָהּ. וְאִם מִשֶּׁהוֹצִיא רֹאשׁוֹ אֵין נוֹגְעִין בּוֹ שֶׁאֵין דּוֹחִין נֶפֶשׁ מִפְּנֵי נֶפֶשׁ וְזֶהוּ טִבְעוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם:
Every Jew is commanded to save a person being pursued for his life, even if it means killing the pursuer, and [even if] the pursuer is a minor. Thus, if warning is issued and he continues to pursue, the pursuer can be killed even without his acknowledging the warning. But if the pursuer can be stopped by disabling part of his body, by striking him with an arrow, a stone, or a sword...then that should be done. And this is a negative commandment: not to have mercy on the life of a pursuer.
[AND BY THE WAY...] For this reason, the sages ruled that in the case of a pregnant woman in a dangerous labor, it is permissible to dismember the fetus in her womb - whether with a drug or by hand because it is like a rodef pursuing her to kill her. However, once his head has emerged one may not touch him, as we do not set aside one nefesh [soul] for another, and this is the natural way of the world.
Matthew 5:38
If he comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first.