At a conference yesterday (Sunday) in Nitzan, where the largest concentration of former Katif-niks resides, some 60 members of various former Gush Katif communities discussed the following questions:
Among the speakers were Rabbi Yigal Kaminetzky, the former Gush Katif Regional Council rabbi; leading educator Rabbi Elisha Vishlitzky of Jerusalem; Rabbi Yechezkel Kufeld, rabbi of the Yesha community of Dolev; and MK Tzvi Hendel, now living in Yad Binyamin with his neighbors from the now-destroyed Ganei Tal.
The speakers agreed on the importance of getting back to "doing," and praised the participants for their very willingness to discuss how to help the nation just months after they were made homeless.
The prevailing opinion among the participants was that the time had come to get up and act, and that this in itself would help the expelled residents as well.
Rabbi Reuven Netanel - the rabbi of Atzmonah, which is now located in Shomeriya, in the Lachish region between southern Judea and Kiryat Gat - outlined a plan whereby each new bloc of communities will "adopt" a nearby city. Educational activities such as summer day camps and Torah classes are to be held in the cities, courtesy of the former Gush Katifniks. The plan at present is for the new communities in the Lachish region to volunteer in Be'er Sheva, while those living in Yad Binyamin - from Ganei Tal, N'vei Dekalim, Gan-Or and other Katif towns - will become active in Ashkelon.
In other Gush Katif news, three newly engaged couples involving at least one former Katif resident will be honored this week by the women of Beit El. This will be the fifth in a series of such bridal showers for Katif residents, designed, as one organizer said, to "direct all the energies out there in a positive direction." The Beit El Community Center, together with Emunah Women of Jerusalem, has invited women and girls from 9th grade and up to take part in the event this Saturday night in Beit El. The event will feature the stage debut of an original presentation, "The Cradle of Spring," directed by Beit El resident Rivka Vitriole, as well as a guest appearance by famous Katif spokesperson Anita Tucker. She and her husband, formerly of Netzer Hazani and now living in the Ein Tzurim guest house alongside others of their former neighbors, will spend the Sabbath in Beit El.
Sarah Feld of Beit El, one of the event's organizers, explained, “This is an opportunity to continue our chain of kindness and sharing with the Gush Katif families who were evicted from their homes last summer. We’ll celebrate their upcoming weddings by bringing beautiful, practical presents and money gifts that their families would have given them if things had been as they once were."
Anita Tucker said, "We want to celebrate that these youngsters, who lived their young lives with self-sacrifice and yet saw much destruction, and lost faith in some of their leaders, have still found the strength to build a Torah home in the Land of Israel. All of them are youngsters who waged a spiritual and activist struggle for Gush Katif, and now wish to move on to the next stage of their lives. They would like to live near their parents, but the government is not providing caravillas [pre-fab homes] in our temporary communities - even for pay. There is simply not enough land allocated. In Ein Tzurim, for instance, we were allocated a synagogue, a day-care center, and another building, and only by special dispensation were we able to squeeze in three other structures for youth activities."
Though there will be no entrance fee, the guests are asked to bring a gifts for the young couples, such as kitchen items, linens, or checks. For more information, write to Sarah at feldfamus@yahoo.com.
Similar Gush Katif bridal showers have been held in Beit Shemesh, Rehovot, N'vei Daniel, and Efrat, and more are scheduled for Har Nof and Modiin.
- What should Gush Katif contribute to the Nation of Israel at this time?
- Does Gush Katif have a specific message at this time?
- What is our role in the struggle for Judea and Samaria?
Among the speakers were Rabbi Yigal Kaminetzky, the former Gush Katif Regional Council rabbi; leading educator Rabbi Elisha Vishlitzky of Jerusalem; Rabbi Yechezkel Kufeld, rabbi of the Yesha community of Dolev; and MK Tzvi Hendel, now living in Yad Binyamin with his neighbors from the now-destroyed Ganei Tal.
The speakers agreed on the importance of getting back to "doing," and praised the participants for their very willingness to discuss how to help the nation just months after they were made homeless.
The prevailing opinion among the participants was that the time had come to get up and act, and that this in itself would help the expelled residents as well.
Rabbi Reuven Netanel - the rabbi of Atzmonah, which is now located in Shomeriya, in the Lachish region between southern Judea and Kiryat Gat - outlined a plan whereby each new bloc of communities will "adopt" a nearby city. Educational activities such as summer day camps and Torah classes are to be held in the cities, courtesy of the former Gush Katifniks. The plan at present is for the new communities in the Lachish region to volunteer in Be'er Sheva, while those living in Yad Binyamin - from Ganei Tal, N'vei Dekalim, Gan-Or and other Katif towns - will become active in Ashkelon.
In other Gush Katif news, three newly engaged couples involving at least one former Katif resident will be honored this week by the women of Beit El. This will be the fifth in a series of such bridal showers for Katif residents, designed, as one organizer said, to "direct all the energies out there in a positive direction." The Beit El Community Center, together with Emunah Women of Jerusalem, has invited women and girls from 9th grade and up to take part in the event this Saturday night in Beit El. The event will feature the stage debut of an original presentation, "The Cradle of Spring," directed by Beit El resident Rivka Vitriole, as well as a guest appearance by famous Katif spokesperson Anita Tucker. She and her husband, formerly of Netzer Hazani and now living in the Ein Tzurim guest house alongside others of their former neighbors, will spend the Sabbath in Beit El.
Sarah Feld of Beit El, one of the event's organizers, explained, “This is an opportunity to continue our chain of kindness and sharing with the Gush Katif families who were evicted from their homes last summer. We’ll celebrate their upcoming weddings by bringing beautiful, practical presents and money gifts that their families would have given them if things had been as they once were."
Anita Tucker said, "We want to celebrate that these youngsters, who lived their young lives with self-sacrifice and yet saw much destruction, and lost faith in some of their leaders, have still found the strength to build a Torah home in the Land of Israel. All of them are youngsters who waged a spiritual and activist struggle for Gush Katif, and now wish to move on to the next stage of their lives. They would like to live near their parents, but the government is not providing caravillas [pre-fab homes] in our temporary communities - even for pay. There is simply not enough land allocated. In Ein Tzurim, for instance, we were allocated a synagogue, a day-care center, and another building, and only by special dispensation were we able to squeeze in three other structures for youth activities."
Though there will be no entrance fee, the guests are asked to bring a gifts for the young couples, such as kitchen items, linens, or checks. For more information, write to Sarah at feldfamus@yahoo.com.
Similar Gush Katif bridal showers have been held in Beit Shemesh, Rehovot, N'vei Daniel, and Efrat, and more are scheduled for Har Nof and Modiin.