Shani Simkovitz, Director of the Gush Etzion Foundation, told IsraelNationalRadio's Yishai Fleisher and Alex Traiman today that the Foundation - and the residents of Gush Etzion - are overseeing the large and difficult undertaking with happiness and idealism.
Most of the refugee newcomers are relatively new immigrants from Russia who now live in Carmiel and environs - areas that have been plagued with dozens or more Katyusha missiles over the past two weeks. Living cooped-up in small, poorly-ventilated and ill-equipped shelters was not a realistic option, at least not for days at a time - and the people of Gush Etzion came through with the alternative: "Come live with us!"
Many of the refugees appeared bewildered as they disembarked from the buses, carrying their most necessary belongings in one suitcase or less. Slowly but surely, however, they began to feel at home - despite what they had heard about "the territories" beforehand.
One woman, filmed on Channel Two television news, said, "We were told that Efrat was just ten minutes from Jerusalem - but here we were on these curved roads, traveling, traveling, traveling - and all of a sudden, my goodness! Tunnels! It was the Tunnels Road! It suddenly hit me that we were in the shtachim - the territories! What have we come to, that in order to escape the Katyushas, we had to come to the shtachim!"
In the tongue-in-cheek words of one of the many volunteers, the woman then "totally redeemed herself" by saying, "And here we feel 100% safe!"
The refugees have been put up in yeshiva dormitories in Efrat and other Gush Etzion locations, while the many volunteers help out with cooking, laundry, children's activities, friendship, and more. Recreation and trips have also been arranged.
"There are many aspects of Kiddush Hashem [Sanctification of G-d] involved in this venture," Shani said, "such as their being exposed to religious people, Torah learning and to Yesha [Judea and Samaria] for the first time."
But, of course, nothing comes for free. The Gush Etzion Foundation estimates that the costs - utilities, food, trips, etc. - have reached $6,500 each day. For information on how to help, click here.
Most of the refugee newcomers are relatively new immigrants from Russia who now live in Carmiel and environs - areas that have been plagued with dozens or more Katyusha missiles over the past two weeks. Living cooped-up in small, poorly-ventilated and ill-equipped shelters was not a realistic option, at least not for days at a time - and the people of Gush Etzion came through with the alternative: "Come live with us!"
Many of the refugees appeared bewildered as they disembarked from the buses, carrying their most necessary belongings in one suitcase or less. Slowly but surely, however, they began to feel at home - despite what they had heard about "the territories" beforehand.
One woman, filmed on Channel Two television news, said, "We were told that Efrat was just ten minutes from Jerusalem - but here we were on these curved roads, traveling, traveling, traveling - and all of a sudden, my goodness! Tunnels! It was the Tunnels Road! It suddenly hit me that we were in the shtachim - the territories! What have we come to, that in order to escape the Katyushas, we had to come to the shtachim!"
In the tongue-in-cheek words of one of the many volunteers, the woman then "totally redeemed herself" by saying, "And here we feel 100% safe!"
The refugees have been put up in yeshiva dormitories in Efrat and other Gush Etzion locations, while the many volunteers help out with cooking, laundry, children's activities, friendship, and more. Recreation and trips have also been arranged.
"There are many aspects of Kiddush Hashem [Sanctification of G-d] involved in this venture," Shani said, "such as their being exposed to religious people, Torah learning and to Yesha [Judea and Samaria] for the first time."
But, of course, nothing comes for free. The Gush Etzion Foundation estimates that the costs - utilities, food, trips, etc. - have reached $6,500 each day. For information on how to help, click here.