I recently received this inspiring email and am sharing it with permission of writer A.Ozious.
Assignment in Jerusalem
by A.Ozious
June 3, 2009
All photos by Abigail of this trip:
Community of Avigyel
Hazon David
Federman Farm
Maale Rechavam
are at http://myromancewithisrael.blogspot.com/
The Struggle for Growth
When we visit the communities in Judea and Samaria, we go to strengthen them. Yet, we leave having been strengthened.
This week, two full buses ventured out in the late afternoon to visit communities who are on the chopping block for destruction due to the demands of the United States . At the same time, Israel has a Defense Minister who is faunching at the bits to fulfill his personal vendetta against all settlements in Judea and Samaria .
Ehud Barak started his reign as Prime Minister with the destruction of Maon Farm some years back. Maon Farm was Barak's sacrifice on the altar and was to be a prelude for more to come. Yet it proved crucial in determining his ability to lead the nation, and he ultimately and miserably failed as a Prime Minister. Now, hiding in the shadow of PM Netanyahu, Barak is determined to go at it with more gusto than ever before, threatening to use as much force as required and promised that anyone who opposes his command will serve prison time.
A list of some 27 communities to be wiped off the face of the map has been publicized lately and we live with the expectation that this is the calm before the storm. So, with this in mind, we set out to visit some of our friends.
First stop was one of the so-called "illegal outposts", the community of Avigyel, south of Kiryat Arba which has a number of new homes being built for the young families which live there.
To get to Avigyel, we had to pass along the main road leading to Beersheva where Arabs have confiscated national land and are building huge numbers of illegal homes of which everyone turns a blind eye to. The money for the illegal EMPTY homes, which are being built in preparation for absorbing the so-called "return of the Palestinian refugees" is coming from Europe, the EU, and other belligerent orginations who support a Palestinian State and the total annihilation of a Jewish State. The Arab villages are spread out over massive areas with 2-5 story houses, whereas IF Jews are allowed to build, they are limited in the amount of space and size of the facility built.
As the world screams about the normal expansion of Israel , nothing is being said about the illegal building of massive structures by the Arabs. And Jews are 'silenced as the lambs' by the media and what is politically correct.
Next stop on the agenda was the Hazon David Synagogue in Kiryat Arba, constructed at the place where two Israelis were murdered, victims of a random butchering by terrorists. The shul was torn down by the Israeli government, but the community erected a tent beside the rubble of the building. Every morning and evening worshippers stop to pray.
While we were there, police came to gawk at what so many were doing there, and as one person replied when asked what their problem was: "They are here to protect the Arabs from US!"
We could not resist stopping to hear Noam Federman speak about the Federman Farm which was demolished by police forces several months ago. Under the dark covering of night, the police descended upon two families who lived on the farm, the Federmans and Tors, stormed into their homes, violently tore the children from the mothers' protection and scattered them to parts unknown.
When it went to court, even the judge decided in favor of the parents, asking: "Who wouldn't fight back if they were alarmed by intruders in the middle of the night without any forewarning!"
Yet, since the demolishment of their home, the Federmans, who returned to live in a tent, have experienced the same intrusion on several occasions when the police have once again repeatedly shredded their living facilities. With gusto and determination, Noam returns to rebuild on the land he loves.
Our last stop was one of my very favorite places, Maale Rechavam, a community nestled in the Judean hills. Although the place is unique in beauty because of its location, the thing that makes it so special is the individuals and their vision for this austere location.
The vision is rooted in the man who it is named after, Rechavam 'Gandhi' Ze'evi, our beloved MK who was ruthlessly gunned down by terrorists in his hotel. He had a passion for the Land of Israel , and was faithful to pass his love on to the younger generation.
Upon the foundation of a deep-rooted love for the Land, the Halamish brothers, Dani and Yitzhak, established the Maale Rechavam community. Both brothers served time in prison for false accusations from Arabs who descended on them in the fields and threatened them. The security guard fired a shot into the air and the crowd was dispersed. Even though it was proven in court, the incriminating lies of the Arabs won out, and the judge put the boys in prison. Regardless of the appeals of Dani's young wife, Lior, her pleas were to no avail.
I recently had to uproot a beautiful rose bush and relocate it. I dug real deep trying to not disturb its roots, but even at that, I heard the tiny roots being torn as I pulled it up as carefully as I could. At that point, I just collapsed and started crying.
I have a heavy heart about our present situation in Israel. Even though I know in all reality that ALL nations including the US has diplomatically turned against Israel. And I know that its prophesied to come to this moment for Hashem to deal with the nations. And I know that Israel will come at the head and not the tail. I still hurt inside for the People I love. People and their families who have suffered more than their share to fight from within to build and to plant the Land of Hashem.
That rose bush being torn out by its roots, hit too close to home in the reality of what happened in Gush Katif, and what possibly might happen in the Shomron and Judea unless there is a divine intervention, God help!
Every day I go out to check on the rose bush which has been replanted in better soil and given such close individual care. But I don't know if it's going to recover from the brutality of loosing its home where the roots were comfortable, thriving and growing.
My intimate feelings and struggle is not really about the rose bush, it's about Jews who have fought with the soil to make it produce the beauty we enjoy in Israel today, not for themselves but to fulfill Hashem's vision of restoring the Land to its former glory.
14 comments:
A beautiful post:)
I wouldn't worry about the rose bush. Something tells me that it will survive despite the dangers.
OT but someone told me that the color rose represents royalty and Hashem's kingship in Kabbalah, which is also why many artists paint or draw the restored temple as white with a rose hue.
Then there's Shoshana Yaakov, representing all of Israel.
The rose bush will survive.
Is living in Judea and Samaria really worth risking $3 billion in aid, trade, and diplomatic support from the United States?
Yep.
Asked and answered.
And the reason is?
1. It's time we cut the umbelical cord with America.
2. The US is not a true friend.
3. This is our land. We see no need to make it Judenrein.
4. There is no room for a terrorist Islamic state chokeholding Israel after foolishly making such a retreat.
5. The Arabs can drink the waters of Amman and Rabbat Ammon.
1&2. Obama has still maintained Israel's security in rhetoric (see his speech in Cairo) and action (the military aid).
3. You have land just a few miles west full of Jews.
4. It is the IDF which is preventing a terrorist Islamic state, not the settlements. Guarding the settlements just makes it harder for the IDF to protect Israel by focusing manpower on people that want to live in the middle of hostile Arabs when they could live in Israel proper.
Shalom!
Michael, is it any easier to deal with the Arabs in the Gaza Strip now that there are no Jews there, other than possibly Gilad Shalit? Are there fewer soldiers serving now that they don't have to protect the Jewish communities of Gush Katif? Is the Negev safer than it was before the expulsion? Absolutely not. The range and force of the missiles launched from Gaza has consistently increased at a rate unknown when the IDF was in the Gaza Strip, even though it's been a long time since they were in the Arab cities on a constant basis.
In addition to our unequivocal right to be here, the communities in Judea and Samaria are a buffer zone for Gush Dan.
Concerning the "aid" from America, most of it goes right back to America in the form of weapons and other contracts which would greatly benefit Israeli companies. The military intelligence that Israel gives America is more valuable than anything that America even thinks she gives us. We also host the safest American bases in the Mid-east. The "thanks" we receive for that is pressure to retreat to borders that even the State Department has written are indefensible. We call them suicide or Auschwitz borders.
Hadassa
Let say Israel only dismantled the settlements in Gaza, but kept the soldiers there, would you have any objections to that?
Shy Guy and Hadassah-- you are right 100%. (Shy guy, your remarks are both concise and precise :)
Before the expulsion I begged people to come to demonstrate against this move, even if they were against the belief in "Eretz Yisrael Ha'shlema."
Had you spend Operation Cast Lead in Netivot you would witnessed the falsity of your words "It is the IDF which is preventing a terrorist Islamic state, not the settlements."
The settlers with their brave stubborn hold on the land in Yehuda and Shomron bear the brunt of Arab terror, is did the folks in Gush Katif.
(By mistake I hit publish instead of preview, so am correcting the typos! Mea culpa!)
Shy Guy and Hadassah-- you are right 100%. (Shy guy, your remarks are both concise and precise :)
Before the expulsion I begged people to come to demonstrate against this move, even if they were against the belief in "Eretz Yisrael Ha'shlema."
Had you spent Operation Cast Lead in Netivot you would witnessed the falsity of your words "It is the IDF which is preventing a terrorist Islamic state, not the settlements."
The settlers with their brave stubborn hold on the land in Yehuda and Shomron bear the brunt of Arab terror, as did the folks in Gush Katif.
Netivotgirl,
Are you saying settlers are better prepared at defending against Arab attacks than the IDF? If so, would you mind the IDF withdrawing itself and leave the settlements alone in the West Bank?
Give me one logical reason WHY we should give one inch, when even according to the "Road Map," the Palestinians haven't ceased neither promoting violence (in their schools and mosques) nor executing violence!!!!
Why give something for nothing? Because the big man in White House says "move it!" I am the big guy on the block and you gotta do what I say??????
Let's get real here!
Shalom!
That's very good question Michael. Sometime after I made that comment I realized that I should have mentioned why a civilian presence is necessary.
Ask any honest military expert. Army bases alone cannot hold on to territory permanently. At the end of the Independence War of 1948 the borders of the area of which the Jews maintained control were determined by where civilian communities were. It's just a reality. Another related reality is that it's impossible to gain or regain territory without sending in ground troops, after of course the other troops have finished their jobs.
The most important reality is that the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula are parts of Israel. No-one has the right to take them away from us.
Hang in there Netivotgirl - we'll yet be your neighbors again!
Hadassa
Michael you are an idiot (sorry to the others to be insulting but it's the truth). Perhaps you are too young or you were too clueless to remember pre-1967 Israel. There were many terrorist attacks and lives lost. From a strictly practical viewpoint (ie. not without even mentioning our indisputable right to the land),Judea and Samaria, are necessary buffers to invasion. A nation under attack with a width of 13 miles is indefensible. That's why Israel's victory in the 1967 war - which was never wanted, and which was paid for dearly in blood - was a miracle.
Others have answered why both settlements and the IDF are necessary for protection (again, this ignores our strongest reason for living in Judea/Samaria - because it's our homeland!). At this point, you're just being obtuse and arguing for the sake of argument. Please find something more constructive to do with your time.
Post a Comment