Op-Ed: Miracles in Gush Katif
Published: Monday, May 23, 2005 10:12 PM
Sadly, and ironically, our Israeli army...fired hardly a single shot in response, and merely threatened the enemy that they, Israel, would retaliate if, and when, enemy terrorist action ?exceeded the `red line`?! Miraculously, thank G-d, despite the massive rocket attack, only one person was slightly injured in Neve Dekalim.
Rachel P. Klein
Rachel P. Klein is spokesperson to the foreign media for Kiryat Arba, Israel.
During the past few days, Palestinian terrorists have fired over 60 rockets
and mortar shells into Gush Katif settlements, whose residents were advised
to remain closed indoors to escape injury.
Sadly, and ironically, our Israeli army (the strongest in the Middle
East) fired hardly a single shot in response, and merely threatened the
enemy that they, Israel, would retaliate if, and when, enemy terrorist
action ?exceeded the `red line`?!
Miraculously, thank G-d, despite the massive rocket attack, only one
person was slightly injured in Neve Dekalim.
And the following true miracles really happened:
1. Three Miracles ... at home and by car
Shay Mazaki, Director of the local branch of Mizrahi Bank in
Neve Dekalim, and his wife, Bat-Oren, a teacher in the Ulpana in Shaar
HaNegev, have lived in Neve Dekalim for l4 years. On l8th May,
2005, Bat-Oren was on a teachers` yearly tiyul away from the settlement; the
children ? the daughter, Li-Noi, aged l0 years, and two sons, Shilo ? 6
years and Yehonatan ? 4 years - were at home while their father, Shay,
worked in his office. Suddenly at 4.30 p.m. a rocket crashed near their
home, and while Li-Noi, terrified, was relating this to her father, another
rocked plummeted and landed in their back yard. Luckily, the double-fitted
windows in the lounge where Li-Noi was standing didn?t splinter, and she
wasn?t hurt!
Shay immediately started driving home but on the way
a third rocket found the Mazaki family ? and landed just behind his car.
Shay drove even faster and when he stopped he realized that a third miracle
had occurred. The fuel tank had been hit ---and hadn?t exploded! Tires
were punctured, windows smashed and the car-body was perforated with holes
---altogether a very badly damaged vehicle
But Shay, thank G-d, was unharmed, and not
particularly worried about the car. His main concern was to reach his
children and home as soon as possible. It was clear that a miracle had
taken place and all, thank G-d were safe.
Today, the Mazaki family are functioning as usual
and will continue to do so in the future in Neve Dekalim, Gush Katif.
2. Miracles - - when the school bell rings
Yesterday, 18.5.05, at l:30 p.m., a group of l5-year old
schoolgirls left their school building (which is near the Municipal offices
in central Neve Dekalim) after the school bell rang for recess and they were
on their way to carry out a project nearby. A minute after walking over the pedestrian crossing a rocket fell where they had passed.
Fifteen young pupils of Neve Dekalim were saved; thank G-d ? not by the
bell, but by an open miracle!
Maybe one can find some significance in the date:
י' באייר ? May 18th (חי)
and mortar shells into Gush Katif settlements, whose residents were advised
to remain closed indoors to escape injury.
Sadly, and ironically, our Israeli army (the strongest in the Middle
East) fired hardly a single shot in response, and merely threatened the
enemy that they, Israel, would retaliate if, and when, enemy terrorist
action ?exceeded the `red line`?!
Miraculously, thank G-d, despite the massive rocket attack, only one
person was slightly injured in Neve Dekalim.
And the following true miracles really happened:
1. Three Miracles ... at home and by car
Shay Mazaki, Director of the local branch of Mizrahi Bank in
Neve Dekalim, and his wife, Bat-Oren, a teacher in the Ulpana in Shaar
HaNegev, have lived in Neve Dekalim for l4 years. On l8th May,
2005, Bat-Oren was on a teachers` yearly tiyul away from the settlement; the
children ? the daughter, Li-Noi, aged l0 years, and two sons, Shilo ? 6
years and Yehonatan ? 4 years - were at home while their father, Shay,
worked in his office. Suddenly at 4.30 p.m. a rocket crashed near their
home, and while Li-Noi, terrified, was relating this to her father, another
rocked plummeted and landed in their back yard. Luckily, the double-fitted
windows in the lounge where Li-Noi was standing didn?t splinter, and she
wasn?t hurt!
Shay immediately started driving home but on the way
a third rocket found the Mazaki family ? and landed just behind his car.
Shay drove even faster and when he stopped he realized that a third miracle
had occurred. The fuel tank had been hit ---and hadn?t exploded! Tires
were punctured, windows smashed and the car-body was perforated with holes
---altogether a very badly damaged vehicle
But Shay, thank G-d, was unharmed, and not
particularly worried about the car. His main concern was to reach his
children and home as soon as possible. It was clear that a miracle had
taken place and all, thank G-d were safe.
Today, the Mazaki family are functioning as usual
and will continue to do so in the future in Neve Dekalim, Gush Katif.
2. Miracles - - when the school bell rings
Yesterday, 18.5.05, at l:30 p.m., a group of l5-year old
schoolgirls left their school building (which is near the Municipal offices
in central Neve Dekalim) after the school bell rang for recess and they were
on their way to carry out a project nearby. A minute after walking over the pedestrian crossing a rocket fell where they had passed.
Fifteen young pupils of Neve Dekalim were saved; thank G-d ? not by the
bell, but by an open miracle!
Maybe one can find some significance in the date:
י' באייר ? May 18th (חי)