If Not Unity, Then What...?
I have received a lot of feedback relating to my post: Never Forget... Together We Will Rebuild. The gist of the post was that in order for Jewish People to have a future in the Land of Israel, then it is incumbent upon the Religious Zionist camp to be forgiving of those who passively supported ?Disengagement?, and of the need to work together with them to create a better future for the Jewish People in Israel.

In response, I have received many e-mails such as this one:

Before the disengagement I would have said that you are right the Chilonim are our brothers. But no more, it is time we realize that they are not our brothers nor have they ever been. They are Erev Rav and until we realize this and fight them with as much strength and ruthlessness as they have fought us we will never defeat them.

I do agree, that there exists in Israel elements that have shown through both word and deed a strong ideological aversion to all things Jewish (such as Israel's media, Supreme Court, the ultra-secular elites, and numerous figures and bodies within Israel?s political system) and these individuals and institutions have taken pleasure in watching the expulsion of Jews from their homes in the Land of Israel. (An act that if committed against the Arabs of Israel, they would have protested with all of their might). With these types of people, I do not believe that we have a shared future or common spirit that unites us as brohters.

However, collectively, these people represent the minority of Jews in Israel, and their power is not in relation to their numbers or supporters. It is questionable, even with the media serving as a propaganda organ for Sharon in support of ?Disengagement?, as to whether there ever existed a Jewish majority of public support for the "Disengagement" plan (and as I mentioned in my post, the vast majority of the Jews who did support the plan did not do so out of a hatred for the Jews who lived in these communities, but after having been misled to believe by the media and the government that there was no alternative).

The majority of Jews in Israel are either traditional (believe in G-d and connect themselves in some way with the Jewish People and Jewish heritage and ritual) or religiously observant - meaning that the majority of Jews in Israel want Israel to exist as a Jewish State. We may not agree on exactly what that means, but there is enough of a common ground to work together.

After all, what is the alternative? Are we to create two states, as was the case during the Biblical times - a State of Israel and a State of Judea? And if one responds in the affirmative, is that realistic or practical? To those who say we should fight... how and against whom exactly? What steps does one who supports such an initiative advocate taking?

Israel Perspectives: Feeling 'Right' At Home

Israel
Zionism
Judaism
- posted by Ze'ev @ 12:04 PM Permalink Home

 
A World Built Upon Kindness ("Olam Chessed Yibaneh")
Yesterday I was privileged to spend the day handing out backpacks to the children of Gush Katif who were expelled from their homes, and who are starting school today. The campaign, sponsored by World Mizrachi was done in recognition that among the last things going through the minds of the families who were expelled from their homes was of the need to buy their children school supplies for the coming year. To see the smiles on the face of the children, and the appreciation of the parents is something that I will not soon forget, and I was blessed to have been able to have been able to bring even a small amount of happiness to these holy Jews who deserve so much better.

One consistent theme that I noticed throughout the various locations that I visited was the kindness extended by the Jewish People to take care of their Jewish brothers and sisters. No, I am not talking about the government, but of non-official initiatives started by Jews who said that they felt the need to help.

We visited Kibbutz Chafetz Chaim and Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh which have both opened their doors, beds, dining rooms, synagogues... to these Jews. At Kibbutz Chafetz Chaim, where the vast majority of the former Yishuv of Ganei Tal is located, I heard time and again how at home they have been made to feel, and that they are under no pressure from the Kibbutz to leave anytime soon.

We visited the tent city at Netivot, full of former residents of Kfar Darom, which they have renamed "The City of Faith". They are living on land that was donated by a landowner in Netivot, who not only gave these Jews the land, but also is renovating an enormous hothouse in order to build a roof over the heads of these Jews, so that come the winter, they will be able to stay dry.

Throughout the day I came across Jews from all over Israel who had come to help these holy Jews of Gush Katif however they could.

Do not get me wrong. Life is not easy for the Jews who have been expelled from their homes, and even with all the smiles, the sadness, mourning and shock is still there. There is a sense of betrayal at the hands of the government, not just for throwing them out of their homes, but for not having anything ready for them after the fact. Yet, in the midst of all the darkness, Am Yisrael is responding to the mission to help their Jewish brothers and sisters in need.

There is much that needs to be done, and everyone can find a way on their own level to help. This is about helping a fellow Jew, and transcends any political beliefs that one may have.

Before we left Be'er Sheva, one of the Jews who was forced to live out of a hotel expressed to me how she wished that there was a way for her to repay the kindness that we were showing her. I told her that all I wanted in return was an invitation to spend Shabbat with her family after they are able to return to, and rebuild their home in Gush Katif.

The spirit of kindess that binds the Jewish People together can never be extinguished, even (or especially) during trying times like these. It is this spirit of kindess and compassion that is shared by one Jew for his brother that will not only allow the Jewish People to endure this tragedy that has befallen us, but it will also serve as the foundation upon which the future Jewish State of Israel will be built - unending love for our fellow Jews.

May we merit to see it speedily in our days!

Israel Perspectives: Feeling 'Right' At Home
- posted by Ze'ev @ 6:26 PM Permalink Home

 
Am I more "Modern" than "Orthodox" / Am I more "Religious" than "Zionist"?
Just like most Modern Orthodox Jews growing up in America, I had a TV in my home, went to movies, followed (and played) sports, and basically allowed myself to partake of all that American culture offered (so long as it didn't conflict with my religious beliefs - or at least not too much). Generally speaking, up until my graduation from high school the conversations that I had with friends revolved around my areas of interest, as stated above.

(Shoshana, of Sweet Rose, has an excellent post entitled "Comparison and Contrast" where she questions whom she has more in common with, the Chassidim who frequent the neighborhood where she works, or her secular / non-Jewish co-workers. (Check out the post to find out her conclusion).

Now that I live in Israel, I no longer define myself as being a Modern Orthodox Jew, but as a Religious Zionist Jew (not that I am a big fan of labeling myself at all, but that is for another post). I do not have a TV in my home, I am more selective of the movies that I watch, and while I still follow US sports, they are not as important to me as they once were. Generally speaking the theme of the conversations that I have with friends revolves around the future of the Jewish People, the challenges that we face, (particularly relating to those here in Israel), and what we can be doing to overcome them.

I am not sure if I would still consider myself to be "modern", although, if I am not "modern", than what am I? I can't claim to be up on the latest in Israeli culture (music, TV, movies...), nor American culture for that matter - and I do not feel that I am any worse off for it. On the other hand, I can't say that I fit into the ultra-Orthodox world either. My clothes are not their clothes, I don't speak Yiddish too well, I imagine that I am not as strict in Mitzvah observance as they are (I do not know if an ultra-Orthodox Jew would eat in my home, even though I would eat in his), I value interacting with the surrounding world (with those who are different from me, and who share different beliefs than I) and involving myself in shaping Israeli society as opposed to spending my days immersed in Torah study (and only Torah study). In that sense, I do have much in common with the secular Israeli Jew.

I encounter the same dichotomy in labeling myself as a Religious Zionist. I do believe that the State of Israel (and the Land of Israel) play a central role in the "redemption" of the Jewish People, just as the secular Zionist does - granted our definitions and vision as to what the redemption of the Jewish People are exactly may differ slightly. On the other hand, I do not believe, when a conflict exists between Jewish Law and the rule of law in the State of Israel, that the authority of the State is superior. I do not believe that Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel has entitled the Jewish People to determine for themselves which parts of Judaism are and are not relevant in the shaping of Jewish / Israeli society in the State of Israel - similar to the ultra-Orthodox Jew.

So, at the end of the day, who am I? Whom do I have more in common with, the secular Israeli of Tel Aviv or the ultra-Orthodox Jew from Meah She'arim? Whom should I be striving to have more in common with?

My goal has never been, with my making Aliyah, to become Israeli . I am just a simple Jew trying to fulfill my individual potential in this world, and trying to collectively help the Jewish People achieve theirs. I view both the secular Israeli, as well as the ultra Orthodox (chareidi) Jew as my brothers, regardless of the differences that we may have, and I can only hope that they feel the same way about me.

Israel Perspectives: Feeling 'Right' At Home

Israel
Zionism
Judaism
- posted by Ze'ev @ 8:00 PM Permalink Home

 
Planting, Not Uprooting!


While some people prefer tearing down and uprooting it's nice to know there are plenty of good people that prefer building up and planting.

I'm proud to say I'm living with many of them at Ulpan Etzion. See, there are signs up all over the country about volunteer opportunities to help the homeless of Gush Katif. (Why CNN doesn?t report the humanitarian crimes committed here and why Amnesty International remains silent as well, is beyond me!)



Well one fine student here organized a group to go and volunteer to pack food and supplies for the victims of the Gush Katif crime. But when we were all set to go there we were told that they no longer needed any more volunteers for that particular task. (The outpouring of help in this country is truly heartwarming!)



But, we were told there were other ways to help. For example there was this farmer from the paradise settlement of Ganei Tal.
He owned no less than 40 greenhouses (often poorly translated from Hebrew as "hothouses") in Gush Katif. Today he owns just 7!



And so today we found ourselves off to this tiny little blip on the map called T'Kumah (nice name, but not related to Kumah.org) about a five minute drive from Netivot.



See the farmers were forced to relocate and time was very critical because they were trying to salvage the last few weeks of the summer season.



This particular greenhouse specialized in flowers - in Gush Katif they would export all sorts of flowers all over Europe.




There was a lot of work do to getting the "new" site set up. And they were rushing to get it all done by Friday ? not just because the ideal summer season is coming to an end but also because the "bein hazmanim" vacation is almost over and many volunteers will be back in Yeshiva soon!



So there were loads of flower pots to fill, with no time to waste.




They had some of us "Bannim" work separately on larger flower pots. In the top picture is a guy from Canada along with a guy from Britain. That bottom picture is my partner from Turkey. And today we all live together in Baka, Jerusalem!



We filled A LOT of pots. (By the way the fertilized soil they use comes from the Golan.)



By A LOT I mean THREE of these tables. (They are even longer than they look!)



With Hashem's help soon those pots of dirt will look like this! (Truly the Wonders and Miracles of Hashem!)



And this...



Planting sure beats uprooting!
- posted by Pinchas @ 11:44 PM Permalink Home

 
Musings from an exile with her eyes open
Email from Chashmal28, in India:

to live outside the holyland
bs'd

as i sit at the computer reading of the tragedies happening to my people my country, tears course down my cheeks.

feelings of pain, wretchedness, helpless flit across my consciousness.

how can i just sit here, in my silly bubble of security, my illusive world of safety while my people suffer so??

i know if only i was stronger, more determined, more adamant, i'd be getting up off this chair and going to israel, DOING something, ANYTHING.

i mean, there must be something i can do.

could should yet am not.

here i am sitting so far away, with the option of closing out the hell of my people and instead tuning in and focusing on my own uneventful, meaningless and mind numbing life so far from my homeland.

how is it possible? how can i just choose to sit here ?

it is and i am.

galut [exile -ed.]
- posted by Ezra @ 12:09 PM Permalink Home