\"Picture to yourselves the following image,\" reports Ofrah Lax from Tel Aviv. \"Youths adorned with knitted yarmulkes and beards encamping themselves in Rabin Square, playing guitars and barrel drums, and smilingly and patiently cajoling passersby to increase their \'love of Israel\' and strengthen the bonds that connect the nation. This, in fact, is the picture that many Tel Avivians have faced this week as hesder yeshiva students from Tzfat rained down on the city and set up a tent with a sign, \'Ahavat Yisrael [Love of Israel] Tent - Entrance is Free.\'\"
One of the tent organizers said, \"Usually this place sees only protests that are anti-this or anti-that, so just having this tent and sign promoting Ahavat Yisrael where everyone can see it - gives me great joy and I think it is a great \'tikun\' [lit., repair].\" Many passersby enter the tent for a talk with the students about the \"situation\" and the despair that has overtaken some people - and come out encouraged. \"The more unity amongst ourselves, the more we will be able to meet the challenges that face us,\" said one. Yeshiva students from Karnei Shomron erected similar tents in Netanya, Be\'er Sheva, and Hadera. The motto of all: \"We have love, and it will win.\"
One of the tent organizers said, \"Usually this place sees only protests that are anti-this or anti-that, so just having this tent and sign promoting Ahavat Yisrael where everyone can see it - gives me great joy and I think it is a great \'tikun\' [lit., repair].\" Many passersby enter the tent for a talk with the students about the \"situation\" and the despair that has overtaken some people - and come out encouraged. \"The more unity amongst ourselves, the more we will be able to meet the challenges that face us,\" said one. Yeshiva students from Karnei Shomron erected similar tents in Netanya, Be\'er Sheva, and Hadera. The motto of all: \"We have love, and it will win.\"