Monday, August 20, 2007

In response to Shemittah-Sale Proponents Remain Silent No More

bs"d
 
In response to the Arutz7 article regarding Shemittah, here are my comments.
 
 
There is a simple straightforward way to do Shemittah.  It does not require selling the land or a separation from the Land  with a plastic or buying from non Jews or from Arabs as the Chareidim prefer.  It simply can be done by letting the field go fallow, and having lots of tiyulim and partying.  For this people would be required to take off from work and pool their resources.  It means an entire year where the whole country turns into one big kibbutz.  We loan each other what we might need to compensate for lack of income and nobody starves because the fields are open for the picking.  I do not understand why Sefichin, produce that grew on its own is forbidden by the Rabbanim.  It's source is from lack of trust of our fellow Jew that they will plant and call it Sefichim.  Those farmers will be exposed because when someone will ask them for a loan knowing that it does not need to be repaid, these farmers will still have the Kochi VeOtsem Yadi mentality and will refuse.
 
The success of Shemittah Karkaot will only happen with a willingness to do Shemittas Kesafim w/o the Pruzbul. 
 
 
The Torah is absolutely beautiful and Lo Bashamayim Hi.  It is within our capability to do it!




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Sunday, August 05, 2007

An open letter to the Gedolei Hador

Yehiyoo Leratzon Imrei Fi...
In this weeks Parsha, the Torah reiterated many times over that Hashem is true to His promise to the Avoth to give us Eretz Yisroel. It is not because we are necessarily worthy and even after Chait Haegel when Hashem wishes to disinherit Am Yisroel, Moshe Rabeinu uses the argument that Hashem will be true to His Promise to the Avot. In Parshas Ekev it continuously repeats the points that when we keep the Mitzvoth to DO them then Hashem will send us blessings. It is not enough to learn the Torah, we are obligated to do the Mitzvoth.
How can we do the Mitzvoth Teluyuot Baaretz when we willingly don't even make a statement that Eretz Yisroel is our Biblical Inheritance. The Rabbinic and Spiritual Leaders of Am Yisroel are Silent to current events that are very reminiscent to pre Nazi Germany. Without Internet Access and a reluctance to use the Internet as a tool, how can we be aware of the dangers that are facing Am Yisroel and the World.
If we truly have the yearning to keep the Mitzvoth Teluyot Baaretz, Am Yisroel would put our rightful claim to the Land instead of being Silent. By being Silent to what the Nations of the World wish to do with our Precious Gift Eretz Yisroel, is a Chillul Hashem which is interpreted as a rejection on our part of our Covenant with the Avot.
Bush and Condeleeza Rice are working to build up the PA (Abbas and company) so that they will have strength to fight Hamas. On August 2, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and the Palestinian Authority Cabinet ministers to discuss current issues in the Middle East. Bringing a message of the American people's commitment to assisting the Palestinian people, Secretary Rice put words into action by signing a framework agreement for $80 million in U.S. assistance to strengthen and reform the Palestinian security sector. Learn more about the Secretary's visit. ( http://jerusalem.usconsulate.gov/ ) In fact, today my husband showed me an article from Debka, posted Thursday August 2, that Olmert Approves Plan for Palestinian Town. http://virtualjerusalem.com/print_preview.php?id=4636
Please read the origin of the Palestinian Authority to Nazi Germany sent to me by a very caring Jew by the name of Buddy Macy.
Please let us not forget that the Rabbanim were silent pre Holocaust discouraging Jews from going to Eretz Yisroel. The present Government of Israel is anti Torah. The Chareidi world refuses to take a leadership role to proclaim Eretz Yisroel is our Biblical Inheritance and that we and only we can realize the ultimate purpose of Am Yisroel to be a Mamlechet Kohanim VeGoy Kadosh in Eretz Yisroel where the Mitzvoth can be actualized to their full potential. Involvement by Torah Jews, hundreds of thousands will make a difference. Yet at the Disengagement the Chareidi Community and their leaders were silent. Maybe the silence was the cause of their pain since by not speaking out for our Biblical Inheritance, a small part of the population, the people of Gush Katif and their supporters, including the youth, were forced to carry the burden on their own. Maybe Jews of Gush Katif were expelled because of areivus. Maybe they are worthy of staying on the land. The unfortunate reality was that the majority of Torah Jews and secular Jews in Eretz Yisroel and in the Diaspora did not join with them to proclaim Eretz Yisroel is rightfully ours. Maybe Hashem wants each and every Jew to claim Eretz Yisroel as their own. We were then all collectively Chayav. Why do we expect anything better from those that weren't brought up with Torah. Countless miracles have occurred since 1948 when Am Yisroel once again became a sovereign nation, and the ongoing miracles happen each and every day in Sderot (loss of life relative to number of attacks), and were a daily occurrence in Gush Katif.
Eretz Yisroel is now in our hands. We have the capability to keep Shemittah. But we need the actual Land. Even if we can keep Shemittah in Bnei Brak and Tel Aviv, that's not going to help someone who has a Nachala in Yehuda and Shomron. We are promised blessings of peace, security and prosperity of we keep and do the Mitzvoth and curses otherwise. Can we go happenstance to the curses that are facing us?
Also, it distressed me deeply to read how the Gedoilim came out against the Chasidish Concert to celebrate the 40 years of reunification of Yerushalyim on the argument that it's not Tznius. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/123256#replies There was no mention or recognition on the part of the Gedoilim of support on the purpose of this concert which was to bring chizuk and express our love and devotion to Eretz Yisroel and Yerushalyim. If Tznius was truly an issue, the Gedoilim might have suggested 2 concerts, one for men and one for women. I in fact went to an all women's concert on Yom Yerushalyim in Binyanei Hauma and it was electrifying. The spirit and love and devotion of the young and older women for Eretz Yisroel and Yerushalyim, mamash brought me to tears. The women danced far from the band so there would be no problem of Tzniut. Even if the band would have been behind a Mechitza it would have been fine.
The Chait Hamiraglim and the root of Lashon Hara was the failure of the Gedoilei Hador of the Midbar to desire entry and conquering of Eretz Yisroel. This Chassidish Concert is a Tikkun of the Chait Hamiraglim since it is positive expression with Song and Dance regarding Eretz Yisroel. Why did the Gedoilim wish to suppress this positive expression regarding Eretz Yisroel?
I also believe in Tzniut and I can attest to you that the organizers and the 10,000 people that already purchased tickets also know the value of Tzniut. That is why they made the concert with separate entrances and separate seating.
My last question to you is, Was Hakhel at the end of the Shemittah cycle with separate seating? My understanding is that it was for men, women and children. Logistically, it's difficult for the mother to take the entire family of little kids on her own. Especially with a large family with many little kids. I think that the spiritual level of the people were so high that having family standing together and hearing the Melech read from the Torah was too powerful for any suggestion of impropriety.
The people from the settlements are on a very spiritually high level due to all their sacrifices. Of course they too are human. They desperately need the chizuk to raise their spirits and an outlet to express to Hashem how much they love Him and wish to follow His Mitzvoth in Eretz Yisroel. It is truly a disservice to suspect them of anything lower than that. May I suggest that the Gedoilim themselves make an appearance at such a concert.



-----------------
Forwarded Message:
Subj:Just in case you still believe Abbas and Fatah are moderate...
Date:8/4/2007 11:35:28 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
From:vegibud@gmail.com
To:vegibud@gmail.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)
In his book, "Preachers of Hate," Kenneth Timmerman describes the roots of the Fatah movement.

Grand Mufti with Hitler

"But al-Husseini [Haj Amin al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem] owes his place in history to a meeting that took place on Nov. 28, 1941, in Berlin, where he had gone to convince Adolf Hitler of his total dedication to the Nazi goal of exterminating the Jews, and offered to raise an Arab legion to carry out that task in the Middle East. For the mufti, the meeting with Hitler was the culmination of an eight-year effort to convince the Nazis to forge an alliance with the Palestine Arab Higher Committee he headed. Their once-secret pact, which I shall describe, marks the beginning of Nazi-style anti-Semitism as a mass movement in the Arab world."
"...Ever since then, the world has known the mufti's most famous disciple as Yasser Arafat."
For more on this critical relationship, please read the following fully documented article:
And, for a look at Mahmoud Abbas through his own words, please read:
Buddy Macy





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Friday, August 03, 2007

Re: MILLION MAN PROTEST response to Israel Kaplan's straw poll

bs"d
 
To Israel Kaplan, amv"sh
 
My comments to your suggestion:
 
  Rather than a physical sit-in which is logistically difficult for a large section of the million man/women protest,  many of whom don't even live in Israel but support the protest, and given the modus operandi of the current government, your suggestion can be quite a dangerous proposition.   I, for one, don't especially wish to be martyred or have my children martyred or witness the martyr of our brothers and sisters, lovers of the Land,  many of them kids under army age and unarmed, with crushed skulls.
 
I understand the dilemma and would instead suggest the following:  I am for an internet campaign in media, blogs and any worthwhile forum,  where there is discussion on the moral legitimacy of a separate Judean Authority living side by side in peace and harmony with the existing State of Israel.  The Judean Authority would be a self governing entity with it's own security force and separate civil and criminal laws and justice system.  The Judean Authority will be the governing entity for all the communities in Yesha that the State of Israel wishes to give to the PA now or in the future.  This act of separating from our brothers is brought about due to no other viable options  to retain our religious identity and religious observance of the Torah.  It is justified and necessary for the survival of these communities and the survival of keeping parts of the Land of Israel in the hands of Am Yisroel who have the sole responsibility and obligation of Mitzvoth Teluyot Baaretz and are therefore the only legitimate stewards of the Land of Israel. What would be the problem for the existing government of the State of Israel to award equal  rights to this Judean Authority as they would to a hostile Palestinian Authority.   E. G.  the right to self govern and bear arms but not to initiate any acts of hostility whether in education or suicide bombers or any other aggression against the existing State of Israel.  However if attacked by Kassam or Yassam, they will do what is necessary for self defense and the survival of it's inhabitants that are members of Am Yisroel and/or accept Jewish Sovereignty.   The settlers of Yesha love all their brothers and sisters in all parts of Israel with their heart and soul and would be deeply pained to have to hurt anyone except if it was required for their own preservation and to protect their religious freedom.


TAKING A  STRAW POLL.   
 
ASSUMING WE HAVE A NUMBER OF BACKERS THAT WOULD BE PREPARED TO BANK ROLL AN IDEA SIMILAR TO THE ORANGE CAMPAIGN IN THE  UKRANE OF NOV. 04.   VOTERS ANGERED BY ELECTORAL FRAUD  CAME TO THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS FOR A WEEK DURING THE WINTER MONTH AND WOULD NOT LEAVE UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT FELL.    THERE ARE THOSE THAT ADMIT THAT ISRAELIS ARE INDIFFERENT AND THAT YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PULL THIS OFF WHILE THERE ARE OTHERS THAT FEEL IT IS ALL IN THE PACKAGING.    THERE ARE ISSUES GALORE IN THE COUNTRY AND IN AN ENVIORNMENT OF A COUNTRY BEING LED BY A SHAMELESS AND UNPOPULAR PM, IT WOULD NOT TAKE MUCH HELP TO PROMOTE THIS CONCEPT.   YOUR REMARKS ARE APPRECIATED AND THEN WE WILL REMOVE ALL FROM THIS EMAIL.




Izzy Kaplan
416 256 2858
HAPPY MOMENTS .......... PRAISE HASHEM
DIFFICULT MOMENTS .... SEEK HASHEM
QUIET MOMENTS ........... PRAY TO HASHEM
PAINFUL MOMENTS ....... TRUST HASHEM
EVERY MOMENT ............ THANK HASHEM
There's time to pray and talk and there's time to act and employ military hardware


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Wednesday, August 01, 2007

In Response to Helen F. ISRAEL'S JEWISH CITIZENS vs. ISRAEL'S LUNATIC LEADERSHIP

bs"d
 
Dear Helen, amv"sh
 
Thank you so much for your report!  I am awed by your contacts and packed days where each moment was utilized to the fullest.  May you go from strength to strength! 
 
Of course let me know what Afsi is involved with. 
 
My personal strengths are in ideas which I hope and pray,G-d willing, will be a building stone for the future  -  but only for the good.  If these ideas are bad for the Nation of Israel than I pray to G-d that they never come to fruition  or even considered and as if never written. 
 
You mention the IZS and the work of Dr. Yitzchok Klein.  I believe that we have no option but to brainstorm about the legitimacy of having 2 Sovereign Jewish entities.  The Jewish Idea (Mike Guzofsky's group) suggested this(  I came to this logical conclusion independently prior to this as the expulsion of Gush Katif was happening. I am not a Kahana member or loyalist or ever studied his writings or read  Kahana's books) and their internet cafe was ransacked, the computers and chairs were confiscated and I'm not sure about what happened to the dogs they were training for security purposes.  The reality, as I see it,  is that the majority of people of Israel are not ready for the necessary changes  in government that would be required in order for a Constitution  based on our Jewish Heritage  to evolve.  Perhaps, secular Israelis and many Orthodox Jews are afraid that the ultra religious will take over and coerce them to wear long sleeves and put on sheitels and not ride their car on Shabbat.  This is what they mistakenly believe or have been brainwashed to believe that a Jewish State based on Jewish Values and Heritage will have on the top of their agenda.  They are very afraid of being forced to change their lifestyle. 
 
Most Israelis are against the corruption and evil policies of the government.  The people have been brainwashed by the media that the right wing Jews are mentally unstable, coercive etc.    By being splintered (Manhigut with Likud,  and National Union with NRP, and SHAS and UTJ disregarding the Torah altogether in exchange for subsidies, and Tsafrir Ronen and Uriel and Effie Eitam and Eldad starting a new party and Yaalon also working independantly, how can we be a force? Let's not forget Yamin with Baruch Merzl and Paul Eidelberg. These like minded parties/individuals need to pool resources and strengths putting ego and honor temporarily on hold.   Much of our energies are wasted trying to individually overcome our local inner opponents rather than working as a unit  with the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.  
 
Practically it seems, that having a small trial model sovereign Jewish entity that is free to produce its own Constitution and Leaders and willingness and ability to defend itself is the best solution for everyone.  In fact such a government will run into many kinks or call them bugs that need to be worked through, first on a small scale.  I believe that this sovereign entity will show our brothers that we can win the respect of the world by being true to our Heritage.  We will be a model and this model will G-d willing be adopted  by choice and not by coercion.  
 
Abraham and Lot needed to separate.  G-d can not coexist with the corruption  and lack of G-dliness.  I am all for a united country but it has to be on our terms which represents an effort to please our Creator and to go by His word.  And I am not referring to the pros and cons of wearing sleeves that cover the elbow or not. In fact there is no direct reference to this detail of Tzniut in the Torah. Let's  focus on what's written in the Torah our common denominator and not on the details of the laws that can be interpreted by our Rabbinic leaders each guiding his specific constituency.  There is room in Judaism for many paths of Torah each Derech (path) being legitimate. (Shivim panim LaTorah)
 
Once, good has an upper hand we can work toward reconciliation. Otherwise the Evil puts down what's good and evil has the upper hand and succeeds.  The people of Gush Katif  and the youth must not forget the legitimacy of their struggle.  Their struggle is our struggle and it is the struggle of Am Yisroel.  All of us including the refugees from Gush Katif need to believe that our sustenance comes from G-d  (via fellow Jews).  We must not delude ourselves that it will come from the evil government and her agencies  .  Please read my last post in my blog to Dovid Wilder. http://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/2007/07/in-response-to-eretz-yisrael-or-soviet.html
 
Thank you for listening.  Feel free to circulate. Sincerely, Robin Ticker.
 
In a message dated 7/31/2007 6:57:04 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, GHFree writes:

HELEN FREEDMAN, 30 W. 63rd St., New York, NY 10023; July, 2007; ghfree@aol.com; 908-217-1358

 

 

 ISRAEL'S JEWISH CITIZENS vs. ISRAEL'S LUNATIC LEADERSHIP

By: Helen Freedman

 

            Having just returned from a three week trip to Israel, I'm sorting out the information and impressions gathered from traveling throughout the country and meeting with many good friends, all dedicated to preserving Am Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael.

            Viewed from the U.S., one sees the enormity of the problems, mostly caused by the fecklessness and ineptitude of Israel's leaders, who seemed determined to lead Israel off the cliff. There's no need to itemize the list of abominations promoted by the government, nor its abandonment of the security and welfare of its Jewish citizens. And the Olmert government seems to be aided in its suicidal efforts by incomprehensible decisions by the Bush administration.  Suffice it to say,  Israelis are very well aware of the threats to their existence, which come from their enemies in the Muslim Arab world, in the western world, and most tragically, from their Jewish leaders. The question then is, "How do ordinary people survive in such toxic surroundings?" The answer is, "They can't save the forest without first saving the trees." The "trees" all have different names and locations.

            I found that the people in Tsfat are still suffering from the after-effects of last summer's Lebanon war. The shelters are still not prepared, nor are they adequate for the numbers of people who would need to use them should war break out once again in Lebanon, as was/is predicted for this summer. The government just hasn't come through on its promises to protect the citizens of Tsfat.

           In Jerusalem I found ordinary citizens struggling to keep their businesses going. Government taxes and restrictions cause great hardships for the average shop-keeper. I was commiserating with my restaurant-owner friend, when I realized that hard as her situation was, of course, there were people who had no work at all.

           I went to the demonstration tent that had been set up by the unemployed farmers of the former Gush Katif communities. It was located near the Jerusalem Supreme Court. The plan was to keep it there for two weeks, with men and women who had turned the sands of Gush Katif into flourishing farms and hothouses, now demanding that the government fulfill its promises to find a "solution for every person." Residents from the former Gush Katif arrived, along with many supporters and Members of Knesset, who came and went throughout the two weeks. The farmers wore green and white shirts, rather than the familiar orange, because they wished to de-politicize their plight. Their signs asked for people to simply empathize and understand what it was like to be approximately fifty years old, to lose your home and farm and livelihood, and wonder how your life can ever be restored. I met many friends at the tent, and we agreed that not much had changed over the two years since the expulsion. Instead of the refugees being in hotel rooms, they are now in cardboard caravans, still waiting for their permanent homes, schools, synagogues, youth centers, and jobs.

             Among the Members of Knesset who spoke at the Wednesday, July 18 demonstration were Arieh Eldad, Effie Eitam, and Uri Ariel. The need to change the compensation laws so that realistic numbers could be offered to the Gush Katif refugees, was one of the ongoing themes. It is unlikely that these problems will ever be properly addressed by the present Olmert/Ramon/Peres government. It was interesting to note that the press was at the demonstration in large numbers as Bibi Netanyahu, Israel Katz, and Limor Livnat arrived to listen to the arguments of the farmers. As soon as they left, the press left also. The entire demonstration, with all the speakers strongly supporting the farmers, and with the large crowd that had gathered to lend its support, received little press attention.

       Still in Jerusalem, I met with Joel Golovensky of the Institute for Zionist Strategies (www.izs.org.il). He presented me with a wonderful booklet his organization had produced: CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL. It was written in response to the constitution proposal of the Israel Democracy Institute, which the IZS believes "does not look after the essential interests of the Jewish people and is based on illusions." In addition to working on a constitution, the IZS is trying to halt illegal Arab construction "which continues unabated because the government lacks the Zionist vision and political courage to stop it." They are also attempting to develop a generation of public leaders who will be diametrically opposite from the present leadership, who will put the interests of the Jewish state ahead of their own personal greed and self-interests.

        The IZS also prepared a lengthy presentation regarding the instruction of the Supreme Court that JNF/KKL land, purchased by Jews for the express purpose of buying and developing land in Israel for the benefit of Jews, should now be available to Arabs and all non-Jews. This is an issue being exposed and fought by Arieh King in Jerusalem, and Aaron Klein of World Net Daily and the John Batchelor and Mike Savage talk shows. Based on the research done by Arieh and Aaron, I, along with others, have been demanding answers of the JNF in New York as to why JNF donors are being deceived.

            Dr. Daniel Doron, a famous Israeli economist, also met with me to discuss the disgraceful activities of the New Israel Fund. Disguised under seemingly altruistic goals such as Civil and Human Rights, Social and Economic Justice, and Religious Pluralism and Tolerance, the New Israel Fund, with millions of dollars received from donors who include the Ford Foundation, has a strong left-wing program designed to undermine the Jewish character of the Jewish State. It is necessary to expose the true pro-Arab nature of their activities so that unwitting donors can direct their philanthropy elsewhere.

            I took the 160 Egged bus to Hebron to meet with David Wilder, a well-known spokesman for the community. I saw that the homes in the market place that had been forcibly emptied of Jews by the Israeli police and soldiers, were still primarily unoccupied. I understand that the few families who are living there were told to evacuate or they would have to pay the hefty costs of their forced evacuation. The scenario is definitely one reminiscent of George Orwell's 1984.

            David Wilder took me to Beit HaShalom, the large building that the Jewish community bought for $700,000, and for which they are now fighting in the courts.  It is on the path between Kiryat Arba and Hebron. When the building was purchased, it was in terrible disrepair. The Jewish workers put in plumbing, a community kitchen, and partitions so that individual families could have a bit of privacy. One of our good friends, Yifat Akobi, is living there with her husband, Shalom, and their six children, the youngest just a few weeks old. Yifat is always an inspiration, and because she is such a heroic figure, she is constantly being harassed by the Israeli police. She, and probably all of her young children, have police records based on absurd accusations by Arabs. Nevertheless, responding to the court on the various charges against her takes up valuable time and money which the family does not have. Yifat, however, continues to feel that she is blessed in being able to live in the holy city of Hebron.

            David then drove me up to Tel Rumeida, the highest point overlooking Hebron. He showed me a home adjacent to the Jewish homes and caravans on the Tel, which belongs to a Hamas terrorist. Left-wingers from Israel and around the world have come to the Hamas home to "protect" it from the Jews, preserving it for the Hamas owner. While on the premises, they harass the Jews at every opportunity. A soldier stood near us while we were talking, to protect us from being stoned, or worse.

            We drove to Kiryat Arba, where I visited Rav Waldman of the Nir Yeshiva, along with his long-time assistant, Celia Ofer. The Rabbi was very upset over President Bush's speech of July 16. In response to Bush's comments about removing the Jews of Judea and Samaria and promoting "settlement" in the Galilee and the Negev, Rav Waldman wanted it made clear that no one, not even the President of the U.S., has the right to dictate to Israel, a sovereign country, where it may settle its people. The Rabbi also made it very clear that we don't need terrorists like Mahmoud Abbas to "recognize Israel's right to exist." He said, "The State of Israel is a divine creation of the G-d of Israel, and only He determines its destiny."

            The most optimistic person I met with was Dr.Yitzchak Klein of the Israel Policy Center (info@merkazmedini.org). He believes that most Israelis are tired of the old give-away, appeasement policies and see the need to change the government, the media, and the courts. Dr. Klein, along with Attorney Noga Cooper and Shilat Edri, have produced publications citing the Constraints on Political Expression in Israel, and an Interim Report on Political Interrogation and Non-Induction of Candidates for Military Service into the IDF. Detailed case histories are given wherein the evils of the government are described. In the case of the IDF interrogations, candidates for the IDF, who were labeled as demonstrating against the Gush Katif expulsion, are interrogated and in many cases marked as mentally unsuited for the army. This label of having a "psychiatric disorder" which makes them unfit for military service, brands the young people for life as unfit for other pursuits. The work that the Israel Policy Center does in exposing the anti-Jewish,  anti-humanitarian, and anti-democratic actions of the Israeli government against its Jewish citizens is extremely important. They also work with Honenu, an organization that fights for the civil rights of Jews unfairly treated in the Israeli courts. Their website is: www.honenu.org.il.

            My next destination was Mitzpe Ramon, in the Negev. The bus to Be'er Sheva from the Jerusalem central bus station took me through Kiryat Gat, an old town with a very new, modern section boasting attractive apartment building complexes. Be'er Sheva itself has grown dramatically, with the very beautiful Ben Gurion University, and large, modern buildings. Threading my way through all the soldiers who seem to be present in large numbers at every bus station, I got on the bus to Mitzpe Ramon. As soon as we were on the outskirts of Be'ersheva, I saw the Bedouin houses and tents sprawling in the now sandy landscape, featuring an occasional palm tree. As we traveled deeper into the Negev, the surroundings became more and more dramatic. The scenery of the desert landscape has a mysterious beauty all its own, and it was spread out before me in all its splendor. My friends greeted me in Mitzpe and took me to their home which boasts  Green Build technology. Both Stephanie and Philippe Frydman are consultants in building homes so that they maximize environmentally friendly resources. They also bake wonderful organic sourdough bread and muffins. What a treat! There was a wonderful evening concert at Avdat, a Nabatean and Roman ruin, high on a mountain top. It was a welcome respite from all the political mayhem. Of course, the Negev is not free of problems. The Bedouins are being mobilized by leftist groups such as the New Israel Fund to demand land from the government, and as in all of Israel, Jews are being crowded out of their land.

            I returned to Jerusalem and met Chaim Silberstein of Uvneh Yerushalyim, (Rebuild Jerusalem),  for a late afternoon tour of Kever Rachel, the grave of Mother Rachel in Bethlehem. The bus had to pass through the 25ft. high walls which flank the approach to Rachel's tomb. The fortifications necessary around the tomb strongly display the intolerable need to have a strong military presence at Jewish holy sites. Despite this ugliness, Chaim is very excited about his plans for a Bat Mitzvah center at the Kever, as well as a woman's learning center. Evelyn Haies, strongly devoted to Kever Rachel, was with us also, and enthusiastically reinforced Chaim's words. The image of Mother Rachel crying for her children, and HaShem's promise to Rachel that "your children will return to their borders," seemed especially timely as we prepared for Tisha B'Av.

            The night before the Ninth of Av, the day associated with the sin of the spies, and the destruction of both Temples, Women In Green was holding their traditional walk around the Old City walls, led by MK Arieh Eldad.  We met the group at Safra Square, for the reading of Eicha. The mood was somber as was befitting on this sad occasion of remembrance. However, one could not help but enjoy meeting so many old friends. It was a pleasure seeing Nadia Matar, Tuvia Singer, Aaron Klein, Shifra Hoffman, Yehudit Tayar, and so many people from the former Gush Katif communities. The black helmeted Yassamnakim, on their black motorcycles, rode alongside the crowd. It was hard to tell whether they were meant to protect or intimidate the thousands of Jewish walkers. The mounted police were in attendance, riding the German horses which had played such a cruel part in the Amona expulsion. We finished our walk at the Kotel. The plaza was packed with people, talking, praying, and crying. It was an incredible sight.

            On Tisha B'av, I walked with a friend to the Christian Quarter of the Old City to visit Matti Dan, head of Ateret Cohanim, and his wife Etti. Matti told us of the great struggle he and his organization are undergoing in their efforts to hold onto homes purchased at great expense in the Silwan area of Jerusalem. Again, the Israeli court system seems bent on making life as difficult as possible for Jews, while being negligently and dangerously lenient with Arabs.

            That evening, I made my way back to the protest tent of the former farmers of Gush Katif. When evening services were concluded, the fast was over, and watermelon, cookies, and drinks were brought out and gratefully devoured. Then I joined the travelers to Nitzan, the caravan community near Ashkelon where hundreds of Gush Katif refugees are now living in temporary homes. I was a guest in the home of Keren and Dror Vanunu and their children, just as I had been their guest two years prior in August, 2005, in their beautiful home in Nevei Dekalim. My intention was to participate the next day, July 25, in the special commemorative activities marking two years since the expulsion.

            I have written elsewhere in detail about this remarkable day. Suffice it to say, the day was organized by a small group of people volunteering their time, efforts, and creative skills to make it work. We started in Kissufim junction with the dedication of a special Gush Katif Sefer Torah, where people stood silently, weeping, as the speakers talked about remembering and returning. We then drove to Netivot, a very successful city of 30,000 people, for a full day of movies, speakers, and activities. That was followed by a march to the grave of Babba Sallie with the Sefer Torah, amidst much singing and dancing. The day concluded with a joyous celebration in Sderot when the Sefer Torah was brought in by thousands of marchers. The survivors of the destroyed communities of Gush Katif demonstrated their solidarity with the besieged city of Sderot by choosing to house their Sefer Torah in Sderot until the scroll could be brought to its permanent home back in Gush Katif. How "coincidental" that both the former Gush Katif and the present Sderot suffered and are suffering because of the perfidy of Olmert and his government.

            Seeing our good friends, Anita Tucker, Rachel and Moshe Saperstein, Laurence Beziz, Debbie Rosen, Rivka and Michael Goldschmidt, and so many more, awakened  many emotions. We had all cried together in disbelief that August, 2005, watching the residents of Gush Katif being forcibly evicted from their homes. Even as it was happening, we couldn't believe that an Israeli government would order such a cruel, meaningless and dangerous destruction of communities. It did happen, however, and today we are concerned that even more expulsions from the Golan, Judea, and Samaria are being planned. Is it possible that a government would proceed on such a self-destructive path, knowing what the outcome must be? Would the Knesset allow it to happen? Would Israel's citizens rise up in revolution against such suicidal plans? The "cuckoo's nest" is becoming clearer than ever.

            The following morning I walked around Nitzan, viewing the caravan homes in the dry, hot, barren area. Many people still had their containers adjacent to their homes. The containers had to be filled with totally unusable furniture and clothing, having weathered the cold weather and the extreme heat. Only mildew and mold could survive in that setting.

            That afternoon, Dror and I drove to Yad Binyamin where the Ganei Tal farmers had a beautiful exhibit of their former lives. It was heartbreaking to view the beautiful gardens and hothouses and homes that had once existed and then were turned to rubble by order of the cruel, lunatic leaders of Israel.

            My trip ended in Tel Aviv, where the beaches were filled with people enjoying the wonderful waters of the Mediterranean, along with the hot sunshine and cool cafes.

What an amazing country is this land of Israel. It is the most modern, most highly developed, most democratic and opportunity laden country in the entire Middle East, and yet, it carries vestiges of the ancient, and recent, painful history of the Jewish people. The hatred that exists within the Israeli society, that causes Israel's leaders to permit the destruction of its own Jews, is incomprehensible, but real. We therefore have to do everything in our power to prevent the evil forces from being successful. Readers of this report, who wish to be part of the program to prevent Israel's destruction, are requested to contact Americans For a Safe Israel/AFSI – 212-828-2424, www.afsi.org; afsi@rcn.com to learn what can be done to help. I can be reached at: ghfree@aol.com. We hope to hear from you.

             

           

          

 

 





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