Gush Katif--We Exist!
Gush Katif--We Exist!

“Where shall we meet?” they asked, ‘they’ being Rabbi Chaim Eisen, his wife Reya, and our dear Dutch friends Christa and Johan Rhodius.



These four had lived in our home in Gush Katif – as did some twenty to thirty others – for the last month before our expulsion. Rabbi Eisen, whose twice-weekly lectures in Jerusalem we had attended for several years before moving to Neve Dekalim, gave Torah lectures every evening during those long, terrible weeks before the expulsion. Many English-speaking visitors crowded our home nightly to hear the Rabbi. “He gives us strength” they said.



These four have been with us throughout our difficulties and often visit us in the refugee camp. Now they wanted to see our plot of land in the new township we are planning to build in Lachish.



A few weeks ago we bought the brightly colored design booklet with realistic computer enhanced renditions of homes with their architectural layouts. This was prepared by our building committee.

Moshe and I went through the booklet and chose a design. It is simple, it is perfectly laid out, and the starting price seems to fit our pocket. We also know that the starting price is not the final price. Hopefully we will keep within our budget. I am aware of my propensity to get carried away when building but I’ve promised Moshe I would curb my enthusiasm.

But back to our trip to Lachish.



“This area is gorgeous! It looks like Tuscany or Provence” our friends enthused as we drove through kilometers of grapevines rich with purple and green grapes. And as we neared our construction site… the road sign! The government signpost with the words in Hebrew and English, “Bene Dekalim”.

We exist!

From a dream to a reality. From a dream to a construction site – asphalted roads, infrastructure in place, just waiting for the builders to arrive.



May we be privileged to build our home this year. May we be privileged to see our town, Bene Dekalim, grow.



As Rosh Hashanah nears we received a wonderful new year greeting from the folks working to turn our dream into reality. I’ll be sending you this card separately as I don’t have the technical knowledge to attach it to this letter.



My dear friends, Moshe and I and all of the people of Gush Katif wish to thank you for your caring and your generosity toward our people. When you give to Operation Dignity you are saying to us “We are with you. You exist in our hearts”.



Shana Tova – A Happy and Healthy New Year.