There are forty-six graves in the cemetery in Gush Katif. They are the graves of loved ones - parents, spouses and children. Each grave tells a story of bravery under fire, an accident or a severe illness.



During my years in N'vei Dekalim, I began to know the people buried in the sandy earth of Gush Katif. I began to know the families and the stories of their loved ones.



Three sons lie under the earth of Gush Katif.



A Naval Hero



Yochanan Hilberg, z.l., was buried in the Katif cemetery by his parents Sammy and Bryna. Yochanan, an outstanding naval commando, was killed in Lebanon on a secret mission. A film, You Can't Cry Underwater, was produced by the Ulpana N'vei Dekalim Communications Department. It tells the poignant story of how Sammy and Bryna cope with their son's death. The family raised money to build the Yochanan Youth Club on Moshav Netzer Hazani, his home. A "Run for Yochanan" takes place each Hanukah, when his IDF friends, family and community youth join together to remember Yochanan.



Yochanan Hilberg is buried in the Gush Katif cemetery. With the threat of expulsion, his bones, his gravestone, all traces of this hero are to be un-buried.



Says Bryna: "My son was killed for his country and now the country wants to kill him again."



Itai's Legacy



Udi and Shlomo Yulis have a son in the Gush Katif cemetery. Itai was fourteen-and-a-half years old when he died after a three year battle with leukemia. Itai had been active in the B'nei Akiva youth movement. His family donated a Torah scroll and a religious texts library to the B'nei Akiva Center in N'vei Dekalim. Each year, a basketball tournament is held in Itai's memory.



A large picture of a smiling Itai greets you when you enter the Yulis home.



"He fought his illness with courage and belief in G-d. He bestowed this courage and this trust in the Almighty as his legacy to us," said Shlomo.



"We were told - indirectly, as the government has not approached us - that we have two choices: to carry his remains to a home we know not where, or leave it here in Gush Katif in the 'care' of the Arabs.



"I was always a member of the Likud," says Shlomo. "The Likud believed in the sanctity of Eretz Yisrael. Now, we are to be expelled with my son's bones. What Zionist education do we give to our children?" he whispers, close to tears. "We look to the legacy of Itai and his strong acceptance of G-d's decrees. This gives us the courage to continue and hold on."



Killed by Our Own



Elkana Goobi was twenty-one the night he drove his older brother Boaz to his army base. His younger brother sat in the rear. The boys were still in their Shabbat clothes - white shirt, black pants, white kippah.



They heard gunfire on the road. Arabs were shooting at the passing vehicles. Elkana, a sharpshooter in an elite army unit, stopped their car. Pulling out their rifles, the brothers opened fire on the Arabs, forcing them to flee, leaving behind a trail of grenades. An army jeep mistook the brothers for terrorists and ran Elkana down, killing him. Boaz raised his arms, screaming, "We're Jews!"



Elkana, a natural leader, a boy of strong personal character, died for Kiddush Hashem, the sanctity of the Lord, says his brother.



Miri and Moshe Goobi have lived in N'vei Dekalim for twenty-five years. The family donated a Torah scroll and a magnificent lighting fixture for their synagogue, in Elkana's name. A Passover Haggada was published with added pictures, letters and anecdotes from Elkana's friends.



"We never knew the extent of his friendships or his chesed, kindness to others. He lived a full life in his short years," says Miri, trying to smile. "I go to his grave. I care for the flowers around it.



"No one, but no one, will take his grave away from here. I will protect it with my life!"



"The army killed him once and the government wants to un-bury him. How many times can a family sit shiv'a for a son?" cries Elkana's father.



Laws of Mourning: The laws of shiv'a in the case of a reburial state that the family will tear their clothes and sit shiv'a once again.