Teshuvah & Ahavas Yisrael are the two highest ideals of the GYE Network. And Martin Gross showed us all that these two ideals are possible even in the abyss of pain and death.
To quote Nochum Kurinsky who was present at the execution (YW NEWS):
The curtain opened and there was Martin in the next room. He was only four or five feet from us, but he was strapped down and covered up until his neck. The only visible part of him was his arm, in which was an IV that would deliver the sam hamoves, the poison, and his face. In the room with him were a police officer and someone who stood with a paper and notebook presumably recording every detail of what transpired. The room also had a large clock behind Martin as well as video cameras and microphones hanging from the ceiling. Otherwise there were freshly painted walls, a sparkling clean floor, and a one way glass leading to a third room behind Martin.
Martin did not look at the crowd nor at the police officer next to him, he just stared up at the ceiling. There was silence in the room, the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. I for one was almost convulsing. The clock read 6:02.
The officer asked "Mr. Grossman do you have any final words?" to which Martin replied "Yes".
Martin began "I completely regret everything that I did on that night, both that which I remember and that which I do not". He then said, "I would like to say a prayer," the officer said okay.
At that point Martin says "Shema Yisroel adon- elokenu adon- echod" in a loud voice and then said something that I will never forget so long as I live.
"Ahavat Yisroel".
At that point I began to weep so loud that the guy behind me asked me if I would like to leave. There are no words to describe the way Martin died. Martin committed a terrible crime, one that will haunt a family as long as they live. But with those two words he showed that, "ein dovor ha'omed bifnei harotzon," nothing stands in the way of a man's will. Martin died proclaiming his affection for Yisroel his brothers and sisters throughout the world, more for G-d and his Torah as well. Martin died a repentant man, but more than that. Martin died a man that accomplished something that we as Jews have been trying to do for nearly 2,000 years. He brought us together with true Jewish unity - Ahavas Yisroel.
Who knew a child born to an abusive father and sick mother, a boy who could not make it through school, a young man who shopped for drugs in his mother's closet, a man who killed someone - and not just a person, but a young Park Ranger who was just doing her job, while he was high on a cocktail of drugs, could have such an incredible impact.
Martin died as a true bal Teshuvah Al Kidush Hashem, sanctifying G-ds name in public, the highest level a Jew can reach on this earth.
We can all learn from Martin that Teshuvah is possible under all circumstances, and that the adverse situations that we sometimes find ourselves in, can be used as a springboard to unite Yidden together with true Ahavas Yisrael (as 50,000 yidden did, by sending e-mails and other such attempts to save him). Our addiction and suffering serve also to unite us, as we can see happening on the GYE forum every day. And we must always remember Martin and know that Teshuvah is possible against all odds and under all circumstances.
May his soul rest in peace.