Thank you for your editorial on the passengers who subdued the terrorist co-pilot and saved the pilot, crew and passengers from almost certain death ("Passengers Defeat a Would-Be Hijacker," Oct. 1). The editorial referred to the popular Israeli folk song, "Life is a Narrow Bridge" -- words initially written by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, the father of modern Chasidism, and adopted as lyrics to music composed by Orthodox Rabbi Baruch Chait. But, as originally written, "Life is a narrow bridge and the important thing, do not make oneself afraid," reflects an important but subtle difference to "do not be afraid." Fright is a natural human emotion, but the action to not make oneself afraid derives from a sense of personal agency.
From afar, the fact that the plane landed safely seems like a miracle and relates to a theme from the recent Yom Kippur service that God makes the decision whom to seal in the "Book of Life" for the coming year. But a few passengers, crew and off-duty pilots who landed the plane safely overcame their fear and exercised their courage and sense of duty, and helped to make this miracle happen.
Howard Brandes
Los Angeles
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Your editorial proves once again that Israel lives in the toughest neighborhood on the planet, where Israelis are outnumbered by neighbors who want them dead. This incident is only the latest proof that little resolution has taken place in today's Middle East.
Overtaking a crazed co-pilot and landing safely is another story of Israeli resourcefulness and heroism we've come to expect. Trying to kill an enemy many times smarter than you is an almost impossible assignment. Would that the zealots and fools who keep trying could recognize that simple truth, and stop.
Richard Klitzberg
Princeton, N.J.
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