The government created laws to control opposition of Disengagement, figuring that the fear of jail was stronger than loyalty to Land. One of the themes at Monday's rally was pride in being arrested, an honor to be arrested. There was even a slogan, but I can't remember it exactly.
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=81849
Another technical problem, moo. No joke!
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=81865
Journalists on galei tzahal admit biased editing and reporting.
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=81865
Friday, May 13, 2005
Disengagement update and links
The government created laws to control opposition of Disengagement, figuring that the fear of jail was stronger than loyalty to Land. One of the themes at Monday's rally was pride in being arrested, an honor to be arrested. There was even a slogan, but I can't remember it exactly.
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=81849
Another technical problem, moo. No joke!
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=81865
Journalists on galei tzahal admit biased editing and reporting.
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=81865
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=81849
Another technical problem, moo. No joke!
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=81865
Journalists on galei tzahal admit biased editing and reporting.
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=81865
Thursday, May 12, 2005
more on #118 Memorial Day
I've had some interesting comments about what I wrote about Yitzchak Shamir and his staying at the Madrid Conference after the Arab terror attack that mudered Rachella Druk.
One person tried to defend Shamir, and I answered:
By not leaving after Rachella Druk and Yitzchak Rofeh were murdered he showed that he accepted terrorism. He gave it legitimacy by not showing uncompromising outrage. He preferred "hobnobbing" with the statesmen and diplomats to defending Israeli civilians.One of the worst things in Israeli policy is this acceptance of terrorism as a fact of life. The Americans reacted properly after 9-11.
One person tried to defend Shamir, and I answered:
By not leaving after Rachella Druk and Yitzchak Rofeh were murdered he showed that he accepted terrorism. He gave it legitimacy by not showing uncompromising outrage. He preferred "hobnobbing" with the statesmen and diplomats to defending Israeli civilians.One of the worst things in Israeli policy is this acceptance of terrorism as a fact of life. The Americans reacted properly after 9-11.
#118 Memorial Day
Musings #118
May 11, 2005
2nd of Iyyar
Memorial Day
When we moved to Shiloh almost twenty-four years ago, there was no cemetery here. We joined the few dozen families living on the hills where over three thousand years ago good Jews came on pilgrimages to worship G-d. Ancient pottery chards were found in the soil of the hills that sloped to the Tel, the Biblical city of Shiloh. We were all young, enthusiastic and innocent.
In those days we were able to walk freely all over Judea and Samaria, enjoy the beauty of the spring’s wild flowers and wander safely through neighboring Arab villages. School trips were to Biblical sites and unrestricted. Every year we took our second grade classes to re-enact the battles of the Macabees on the same mountains where the Chanukah story took place, in between Eli and Ma’ale Levona.
On rare occasions, the Arabs attacked vehicles by throwing stones. It was more annoying than dangerous. And we always knew that the later at night, the safer it was for us. There wasn’t electricity in the Arab villages. The generators were turned off at night, and the people slept. Neither during the British Mandate nor under Jordanian rule was the area developed with modern necessities such as and electric grid and piped, purified water. It was Israel that cared enough about the ordinary Arab resident to provide these services.
Yes, life was rather idyllic, though not always easy.
Everything changed that night, less than a year after the Gulf War, when three buses left Shiloh traveling to Tel Aviv, to the demonstration urging, encouraging then Prime Minister Yitzchak Shamir to be strong and not to give in to pressure while at the Madrid Conference. I was in the first bus. It was very crowded, over-filled with children and some adults. I sat with my two young sons. I was terrified that if, G-d forbid, the bus would roll off the narrow road down the mountains, we’d all be killed.
Suddenly, when we were approaching the “Tapuach Junction” north of Shiloh, the driver got a message. The bus behind of had been attacked, shot at. Bullets entered the bus, injuring and murdering. The driver was dead and my friend and neighbor Rachella Druk was dying. Ambulances and helicopters were sent to take the injured to the hospital, and we all waited at the scene of the terror attack. Then, somehow, we proceeded, reeling in shock, to demonstrate in Tel Aviv.
Yitzchak Shamir wasn’t strong, steadfast, and didn’t defend his country. Two wonderful people were sacrificed for nothing. I’ve always felt that if my friend had been murdered for a reason, it was to give Shamir the message to leave. He could have easily told the world: “Ain im mi l’daber.” “There’s nobody to talk to. They’re terrorists.” The world would have understood. But he didn’t; he tried to “negotiate.”
Meanwhile, back in Shiloh we dug Rachella’s grave and inaugurated our cemetery. And for the living, we established a new neighborhood, Shvut Rachel. Unfortunately Rachella isn’t alone in the cemetery. She has been joined by quite a few others. Some lived full, long lives and died natural deaths, but not only isn’t she the only terror victim, we also have a “military section.”
Today we had a memorial ceremony at the cemetery. The main “speakers” were sisters of some of the young dead heroes. I wasn’t involved in the planning, so I can’t tell you the official reason for such a program. But remember; we’re in Shiloh.
It was in Shiloh, thousands of years ago, that Chana composed her prayer to G-d, the same prayer still said today. Chana prayed, beseeched G-d for a son. She didn’t want the son for her own selfish reasons. She wanted a son who would serve G-d. And a few years later when Chana brought her son to Shiloh, she told Eli, the Priest, “This is the son I asked for.” And she left Shmuel (Samuel) with him to learn how to serve G-d.
The Biblical Chana knew what her role was. She was just impatient to get going; that’s why she came to Shiloh to pray. Most of us are just ordinary people and we don’t know what G-d wants from us. May we learn to understand G-d’s instructions and have the strength to follow them, even when they appear difficult.
Chag Ha’atzma’ut Same’ach,
Batya Medad, Shiloh
Copyright©2005BatyaMedad, Contact me for publication permission; private distribution encouraged.
Shilohmuse@yahoo.com
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/
http://me-ander.blogspot.com/
http://www.shilo.org.il
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, California 94305, USA
May 11, 2005
2nd of Iyyar
Memorial Day
When we moved to Shiloh almost twenty-four years ago, there was no cemetery here. We joined the few dozen families living on the hills where over three thousand years ago good Jews came on pilgrimages to worship G-d. Ancient pottery chards were found in the soil of the hills that sloped to the Tel, the Biblical city of Shiloh. We were all young, enthusiastic and innocent.
In those days we were able to walk freely all over Judea and Samaria, enjoy the beauty of the spring’s wild flowers and wander safely through neighboring Arab villages. School trips were to Biblical sites and unrestricted. Every year we took our second grade classes to re-enact the battles of the Macabees on the same mountains where the Chanukah story took place, in between Eli and Ma’ale Levona.
On rare occasions, the Arabs attacked vehicles by throwing stones. It was more annoying than dangerous. And we always knew that the later at night, the safer it was for us. There wasn’t electricity in the Arab villages. The generators were turned off at night, and the people slept. Neither during the British Mandate nor under Jordanian rule was the area developed with modern necessities such as and electric grid and piped, purified water. It was Israel that cared enough about the ordinary Arab resident to provide these services.
Yes, life was rather idyllic, though not always easy.
Everything changed that night, less than a year after the Gulf War, when three buses left Shiloh traveling to Tel Aviv, to the demonstration urging, encouraging then Prime Minister Yitzchak Shamir to be strong and not to give in to pressure while at the Madrid Conference. I was in the first bus. It was very crowded, over-filled with children and some adults. I sat with my two young sons. I was terrified that if, G-d forbid, the bus would roll off the narrow road down the mountains, we’d all be killed.
Suddenly, when we were approaching the “Tapuach Junction” north of Shiloh, the driver got a message. The bus behind of had been attacked, shot at. Bullets entered the bus, injuring and murdering. The driver was dead and my friend and neighbor Rachella Druk was dying. Ambulances and helicopters were sent to take the injured to the hospital, and we all waited at the scene of the terror attack. Then, somehow, we proceeded, reeling in shock, to demonstrate in Tel Aviv.
Yitzchak Shamir wasn’t strong, steadfast, and didn’t defend his country. Two wonderful people were sacrificed for nothing. I’ve always felt that if my friend had been murdered for a reason, it was to give Shamir the message to leave. He could have easily told the world: “Ain im mi l’daber.” “There’s nobody to talk to. They’re terrorists.” The world would have understood. But he didn’t; he tried to “negotiate.”
Meanwhile, back in Shiloh we dug Rachella’s grave and inaugurated our cemetery. And for the living, we established a new neighborhood, Shvut Rachel. Unfortunately Rachella isn’t alone in the cemetery. She has been joined by quite a few others. Some lived full, long lives and died natural deaths, but not only isn’t she the only terror victim, we also have a “military section.”
Today we had a memorial ceremony at the cemetery. The main “speakers” were sisters of some of the young dead heroes. I wasn’t involved in the planning, so I can’t tell you the official reason for such a program. But remember; we’re in Shiloh.
It was in Shiloh, thousands of years ago, that Chana composed her prayer to G-d, the same prayer still said today. Chana prayed, beseeched G-d for a son. She didn’t want the son for her own selfish reasons. She wanted a son who would serve G-d. And a few years later when Chana brought her son to Shiloh, she told Eli, the Priest, “This is the son I asked for.” And she left Shmuel (Samuel) with him to learn how to serve G-d.
The Biblical Chana knew what her role was. She was just impatient to get going; that’s why she came to Shiloh to pray. Most of us are just ordinary people and we don’t know what G-d wants from us. May we learn to understand G-d’s instructions and have the strength to follow them, even when they appear difficult.
Chag Ha’atzma’ut Same’ach,
Batya Medad, Shiloh
Copyright©2005BatyaMedad, Contact me for publication permission; private distribution encouraged.
Shilohmuse@yahoo.com
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/
http://me-ander.blogspot.com/
http://www.shilo.org.il
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, California 94305, USA
Calling All Jewish and Israeli Bloggers
I'm hosting Havel Havelim next week. It's a magazine type round up of interesting Israeli or Jewish blogs from the previous week. Since today we're celebrating Yom Ha'atzma'ut, Israeli Independence Day, that's the theme. Read this week’s for an idea.
Please send suitable links, with a line of explanation and title indicating topic, to shilohmuse at yahoo dot com, before Shabbat.
Thanks and Chag Sameach!
Please send suitable links, with a line of explanation and title indicating topic, to shilohmuse at yahoo dot com, before Shabbat.
Thanks and Chag Sameach!
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
and about (G-d forbid!) Disengagement
Here are some of the latest links from a couple of sources
Isn't this incitement, sedition?
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=81736
They haven't a clue.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1115705340541&p=1078027574097
Is this a hint?
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=81743
Bibi seems to be jockeying for position to try to take over again. He and Sharansky are trying to show that they're pragmtic, meaning, against Disengagement but accepting it.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1115705340538&p=1078027574097
Isn't this incitement, sedition?
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=81736
They haven't a clue.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1115705340541&p=1078027574097
Is this a hint?
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=81743
Bibi seems to be jockeying for position to try to take over again. He and Sharansky are trying to show that they're pragmtic, meaning, against Disengagement but accepting it.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1115705340538&p=1078027574097
mourning
The whole country's mourning. Israelis connect independence with those who sacrificed their lives for the country. Here are some links:
Memorial Day
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=81666
a bereaved mother's reflections
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1115705338658&p=1078027574097
helping bereaved families
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1115705338658&p=1078027574097
about the family of a soldier murdered in a terror attack
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1115705340556&p=1078027574097
Memorial Day
http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=81666
a bereaved mother's reflections
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1115705338658&p=1078027574097
helping bereaved families
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1115705338658&p=1078027574097
about the family of a soldier murdered in a terror attack
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1115705340556&p=1078027574097
Davka! in Italian
Someone contacted me to inform me that "Davka!" was translated into Italian and distributed to a list of thousands. I know that my Musings are used by many publications, both online and print, and greatly appreciate being notified.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Anti-disengagement rally
Last night I went to a very stirring anti-Disengagement Rally. I'm not going to write from my notes, because it will take too long. I prefer just jotting the memories that are strongest.
First of all, even though at first the turn-out seemed weak, there was a nice, big crowd of all ages and "dress styles." Those familiar with Israeli society will understand. The dominant colors were orange and green. But even Women in Green founder Ruth Matar was decked out in bright orange, though Nadia, who spoke towards the end, had on her green cap and was #2 in the cheering.
Number one recipient of cheers was MK Dr. Arye Eldad, who merited a standing ovation.
Other stars of the evening were Naomi Ofan and four little kids. Her husband is the first patriot arrested, administrative detention, for his dedication to Our Land. http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=81640 She made it clear that they see it an honor, and one of the major messages of the rally was that arrests won't break us. Massive arrests is one of the things that will choke the system.
Certificates of honor were given to those already arrested and released. This was an "honor roll" very unlike any I'd ever seen before. Old friends of ours, proud and loyal Betarim, came well-equipped with a camera to photograph their young son being awarded.
Another recipient of cheers was "Idan" the army officer and Personal Combat champion, who refused to train soldiers to attack civilians. http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=81346 The army had been trying to brainwash him that he was alone, and the Disengagement was popular and a fait complet (however it's spelled? I studied Spanish.) He was on the phone and listened to the cheers of support.
Overall, the organization and methods were superb. Kol hakavod to all those involved.
and most important, the youth
The future is not afraid of the challenge!
First of all, even though at first the turn-out seemed weak, there was a nice, big crowd of all ages and "dress styles." Those familiar with Israeli society will understand. The dominant colors were orange and green. But even Women in Green founder Ruth Matar was decked out in bright orange, though Nadia, who spoke towards the end, had on her green cap and was #2 in the cheering.
Number one recipient of cheers was MK Dr. Arye Eldad, who merited a standing ovation.
Other stars of the evening were Naomi Ofan and four little kids. Her husband is the first patriot arrested, administrative detention, for his dedication to Our Land. http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=81640 She made it clear that they see it an honor, and one of the major messages of the rally was that arrests won't break us. Massive arrests is one of the things that will choke the system.
Certificates of honor were given to those already arrested and released. This was an "honor roll" very unlike any I'd ever seen before. Old friends of ours, proud and loyal Betarim, came well-equipped with a camera to photograph their young son being awarded.
Another recipient of cheers was "Idan" the army officer and Personal Combat champion, who refused to train soldiers to attack civilians. http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=81346 The army had been trying to brainwash him that he was alone, and the Disengagement was popular and a fait complet (however it's spelled? I studied Spanish.) He was on the phone and listened to the cheers of support.
Overall, the organization and methods were superb. Kol hakavod to all those involved.
and most important, the youth
The future is not afraid of the challenge!
Sunday, May 8, 2005
Havel Havelim
It's that time of the week again. A new Havel Havelim has been published by Devarim. Take a gander.
And next week is by yours truly. Suggestions of suitable Jewish and Israeli blog posts should be sent to shilohmuse at yahoo dot com by Friday before Shabbat. Include a line of explanation with the link, and indicate if it's about Yom Ha'atzmaut celebration, memorial day mourning or history of the establishment of the state or anything else Jewish or Israeli happening this week. I'm sure bloggers will be busy; the question is how much time for blogging.
And of course a thank you to Soccer Dad for getting the ball rolling!
And next week is by yours truly. Suggestions of suitable Jewish and Israeli blog posts should be sent to shilohmuse at yahoo dot com by Friday before Shabbat. Include a line of explanation with the link, and indicate if it's about Yom Ha'atzmaut celebration, memorial day mourning or history of the establishment of the state or anything else Jewish or Israeli happening this week. I'm sure bloggers will be busy; the question is how much time for blogging.
And of course a thank you to Soccer Dad for getting the ball rolling!
#117 DAVKA!
Musings #117
May 6-8, 2005
27-9th of Nissan
Davka!
Davka, this year I’m hanging flags, Israeli flags, on my house. Davka this year, when my country is treating me like a potential rebel and traitor. Davka this year, when my simple opposition to the government’s policies is considered incitement. Davka this year, when the prime minister’s policies are endangering the security of ordinary citizens. And davka this year, when the army and police are being trained to battle innocent civilians protecting their homes and families.
Over eleven years ago, when the Oslo Accords were announced, I took a small piece of white fabric and on it drew two blue lines and a Jewish Star. Then I ripped it, like a mourner tears his clothes. http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2004/10/my-ripped-flag.html#comments I wore it for a long time, every place I went, even to my son’s Bar Mitzvah. When I pinned that homemade flag onto my blouse I was certain that it would catch on as the perfect way of demonstrating our pain at the abandonment of our Land, but it didn’t. Most people considered the ripping of our national flag too traumatic, too drastic.
This year we suddenly have a lot of flags. One of the big Israeli banks has been giving them away for free with the newspapers. And as some of you may know, we get more newspapers than anyone.
The note with the flag instructs us “to decorate our homes with flags, so we will all have a happy holiday.” That’s not why I’m hanging flags. I’m hanging Israeli flags davka because the government and media are treating me like a rebel who is causing a civil war. http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=80009 They’re treating us as if we’re seceding from our nation. The truth is that we are fighting for the integrity of our nation, to keep it whole and strong. We are not rebels; we are patriots. The truth is that it’s incitement to use the language, terms, innuendos that Sharon, his followers and the media use against us. http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=80066
The children raised in YESHA are today’s best soldiers. They receive Citations of Excellence, volunteer for the most dangerous missions. In the early years of the state, it was the kibbutz youth that achieved disproportionately high rank in the Israeli army. Today’s kibbutz youth have other priorities. Today the gauntlet of Zionism has been picked up by those raised in YESHA.
This Shabbat there was a guest in Shiloh, Rabbi Yigal Kamenetsky, the Rabbi of Gush Katif. He spoke to us Shabbat afternoon, the hour when most people are usually napping, but the building was packed. I must trust my memory to report what he said, since it’s forbidden to take notes on Shabbat. He told us some amazing things about the constant miracles in Gush Katif. First of all, as crowded as the Arab city of Gaza is, the area of Gush Katif was deserted, desolate, not even the minimal desert plants and wildlife. The Arabs considered the area cursed, haunted and weren’t willing to live there.
Today Gush Katif is a miracle. Plants grow under conditions that the experts all insisted were doomed to failure. Bli eyin hara’a, the blitz of bombs the Arabs launch at Gush Katif rarely injures anyone. According to the laws of nature and statistics, all of this is inexplicable. Instead of celebrating this or at least appreciating it, the Israeli government is plotting Gush Katif’s destruction.
According to HaRav Yigal, there is a reason for this. The people in government, the media are battling with us for the identity of the “Israeli.” The Zionist movement had dreamt of a “new Jew,” strong and fearless, who worked with his hands, with a “kova tembel” (workers cap) on his head, work clothes, blue eyes, sun-bleached hair, a Jew who wasn’t restricted by old-fashioned Jewish Law.
All of a sudden, after over fifty years of statehood, they looked around and realized that their children and grandchildren had thrown out their kova tembel and instead were decorated with “piercings,” planning their next trip abroad. The proud Israeli farmer of today is in Gush Katif, and there are tzitziyot (ritual fringes) streaming out from under his shirt and a kippah under his work hat. To make matters even worse, this coming year more than fifty percent of the first grade classes will be in the religious (and chareidi) education streams. The demographic trend is clear, and it’s not what the “Zionist establishment” planned.
Throughout our history there were other instances when there was a struggle, a conflict between the spiritual and the “rational,” and the spiritual, the religious has always won. And this time we will again, G-d willing. Those who want to wipe us of out of history will be the ones to disappear.
The blue and white flag is ours, and it will decorate my home. Let no one doubt the loyalty and patriotism of religious Jews, because Israel is still our country, despite its faults. No one can take that from us.
Chag Ha’Atzma’ut Sameach,
And Let Us Be a Truely Independent Nation,
Batya Medad, Shiloh
Copyright©2005BatyaMedad, Contact me for publication permission; private distribution encouraged.
Shilohmuse@yahoo.com
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/
http://me-ander.blogspot.com/
http://www.shilo.org.il
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, California 94305, USA
May 6-8, 2005
27-9th of Nissan
Davka!
Davka, this year I’m hanging flags, Israeli flags, on my house. Davka this year, when my country is treating me like a potential rebel and traitor. Davka this year, when my simple opposition to the government’s policies is considered incitement. Davka this year, when the prime minister’s policies are endangering the security of ordinary citizens. And davka this year, when the army and police are being trained to battle innocent civilians protecting their homes and families.
Over eleven years ago, when the Oslo Accords were announced, I took a small piece of white fabric and on it drew two blue lines and a Jewish Star. Then I ripped it, like a mourner tears his clothes. http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2004/10/my-ripped-flag.html#comments I wore it for a long time, every place I went, even to my son’s Bar Mitzvah. When I pinned that homemade flag onto my blouse I was certain that it would catch on as the perfect way of demonstrating our pain at the abandonment of our Land, but it didn’t. Most people considered the ripping of our national flag too traumatic, too drastic.
This year we suddenly have a lot of flags. One of the big Israeli banks has been giving them away for free with the newspapers. And as some of you may know, we get more newspapers than anyone.
The note with the flag instructs us “to decorate our homes with flags, so we will all have a happy holiday.” That’s not why I’m hanging flags. I’m hanging Israeli flags davka because the government and media are treating me like a rebel who is causing a civil war. http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=80009 They’re treating us as if we’re seceding from our nation. The truth is that we are fighting for the integrity of our nation, to keep it whole and strong. We are not rebels; we are patriots. The truth is that it’s incitement to use the language, terms, innuendos that Sharon, his followers and the media use against us. http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=80066
The children raised in YESHA are today’s best soldiers. They receive Citations of Excellence, volunteer for the most dangerous missions. In the early years of the state, it was the kibbutz youth that achieved disproportionately high rank in the Israeli army. Today’s kibbutz youth have other priorities. Today the gauntlet of Zionism has been picked up by those raised in YESHA.
This Shabbat there was a guest in Shiloh, Rabbi Yigal Kamenetsky, the Rabbi of Gush Katif. He spoke to us Shabbat afternoon, the hour when most people are usually napping, but the building was packed. I must trust my memory to report what he said, since it’s forbidden to take notes on Shabbat. He told us some amazing things about the constant miracles in Gush Katif. First of all, as crowded as the Arab city of Gaza is, the area of Gush Katif was deserted, desolate, not even the minimal desert plants and wildlife. The Arabs considered the area cursed, haunted and weren’t willing to live there.
Today Gush Katif is a miracle. Plants grow under conditions that the experts all insisted were doomed to failure. Bli eyin hara’a, the blitz of bombs the Arabs launch at Gush Katif rarely injures anyone. According to the laws of nature and statistics, all of this is inexplicable. Instead of celebrating this or at least appreciating it, the Israeli government is plotting Gush Katif’s destruction.
According to HaRav Yigal, there is a reason for this. The people in government, the media are battling with us for the identity of the “Israeli.” The Zionist movement had dreamt of a “new Jew,” strong and fearless, who worked with his hands, with a “kova tembel” (workers cap) on his head, work clothes, blue eyes, sun-bleached hair, a Jew who wasn’t restricted by old-fashioned Jewish Law.
All of a sudden, after over fifty years of statehood, they looked around and realized that their children and grandchildren had thrown out their kova tembel and instead were decorated with “piercings,” planning their next trip abroad. The proud Israeli farmer of today is in Gush Katif, and there are tzitziyot (ritual fringes) streaming out from under his shirt and a kippah under his work hat. To make matters even worse, this coming year more than fifty percent of the first grade classes will be in the religious (and chareidi) education streams. The demographic trend is clear, and it’s not what the “Zionist establishment” planned.
Throughout our history there were other instances when there was a struggle, a conflict between the spiritual and the “rational,” and the spiritual, the religious has always won. And this time we will again, G-d willing. Those who want to wipe us of out of history will be the ones to disappear.
The blue and white flag is ours, and it will decorate my home. Let no one doubt the loyalty and patriotism of religious Jews, because Israel is still our country, despite its faults. No one can take that from us.
Chag Ha’Atzma’ut Sameach,
And Let Us Be a Truely Independent Nation,
Batya Medad, Shiloh
Copyright©2005BatyaMedad, Contact me for publication permission; private distribution encouraged.
Shilohmuse@yahoo.com
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/
http://me-ander.blogspot.com/
http://www.shilo.org.il
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, California 94305, USA
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