Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook, of blessed memory, describes how secular Zionism has become the vehicle and the framework necessary for enabling the final redemption. He warns, though, that unless this vehicle becomes infused with spirit and faith, it will begin to crumble and decay. Yet, in the midst of this decay, he describes, a powerful and mighty movement of faith will begin to grow and spread its expansive branches over this land of Promise.
The decay is already visible all around us.
Ariel Sharon's son, Omri, has already been indicted for corruption. That same cloud of deception and corruption hangs heavily over Sharon himself and over part of his entourage. Shimon Peres, the perennial electoral loser, has been ousted from the Labour Party by Amir Peretz .This new leader of the Labour party is himself walking under clouds of suspicion and doubt regarding his mysterious past as leader of the corruption-riddled Histadrut union.
Everything is in disarray and decay.
Yet, as this edifice crumbles in decay, it inflicts great damage to all that surrounds it. The recent expulsion from Gush Katif and Samaria is but another result of that continuing decay. Thousands of Jewish refugees from Gush Katif are still living out of suitcases. Thousands of these once-self-sufficient farmers and educators are still without livelihood and direction. Emotional stress and psychological trauma are plaguing many, dispersed throughout the country.
The community of Atzmona foresaw the psychological dangers of this dispersal and tried to create their own tent-city community near Netivot. The financial burden of such a venture is overwhelming and the government, under strict orders from Sharon, will not help them. Yet, their school is growing and is accommodating children of Gush Katif from all over the country. Their institutions, housed in tents and refurbished caravans, are flourishing as well; yet, so are their debts and the burden seems impossible to bear.
Over 60-70% of the Jewish refugees living throughout Israel, living in exile from their homes, have not yet found employment. Rabbi Elnekaveh, among others, has set up a fund aimed at enabling these families to establish new businesses. Another group of former N'vei Dekalim residents is trying to set up a crisis intervention mental health unit to deal with the traumas of expulsion, exclusion and abandonment. Other former residents of N'vei Dekalim are attempting to recreate their renowned Children's Treatment center whose equipment was destroyed during the expulsion. At the same time, many old bikes have been donated and have been refurbished and repaired by one bike store near Har Nof, Jerusalem, and sent to the children who have been sent with their families to temporary dwellings in the north. This is but another way to aid in their overcoming the traumas of exile. The letters of thanks from the children of these yishuvim have been both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
In each corner of this embattled land, groups are forming to protect and encourage individuals and communities from the onslaught of decay. Amidst the ruins, each oasis of faith and determination grows like a tender sapling. It is clear for all those who are attempting to be involved that their activities are nothing more than repaying a debt to these courageous brothers and sisters in difficulties.
In essence, those who are still moved by the call of Israel's destiny cannot stand by and let that which has been destroyed remain in disarray. Those whose hearts are still quickened by the vision of an eternal Jewish people cannot allow the decay and the ruin to engulf these tender saplings.
One can only decide whether to participate in the rebuilding or share in the destruction. Those who stand by without getting involved are invariably drawn in to the decay that surrounds us.
The options and opportunities to help are publicized through the internet and disseminated through the Arutz Sheva internet site. The opportunities to help are many and each individual has to simply decide which opportunity to seize.
That is the choice before us all, to sink in the morass of decay, or to join with blossoming sapling of destiny.
The decay is already visible all around us.
Ariel Sharon's son, Omri, has already been indicted for corruption. That same cloud of deception and corruption hangs heavily over Sharon himself and over part of his entourage. Shimon Peres, the perennial electoral loser, has been ousted from the Labour Party by Amir Peretz .This new leader of the Labour party is himself walking under clouds of suspicion and doubt regarding his mysterious past as leader of the corruption-riddled Histadrut union.
Everything is in disarray and decay.
Yet, as this edifice crumbles in decay, it inflicts great damage to all that surrounds it. The recent expulsion from Gush Katif and Samaria is but another result of that continuing decay. Thousands of Jewish refugees from Gush Katif are still living out of suitcases. Thousands of these once-self-sufficient farmers and educators are still without livelihood and direction. Emotional stress and psychological trauma are plaguing many, dispersed throughout the country.
The community of Atzmona foresaw the psychological dangers of this dispersal and tried to create their own tent-city community near Netivot. The financial burden of such a venture is overwhelming and the government, under strict orders from Sharon, will not help them. Yet, their school is growing and is accommodating children of Gush Katif from all over the country. Their institutions, housed in tents and refurbished caravans, are flourishing as well; yet, so are their debts and the burden seems impossible to bear.
Over 60-70% of the Jewish refugees living throughout Israel, living in exile from their homes, have not yet found employment. Rabbi Elnekaveh, among others, has set up a fund aimed at enabling these families to establish new businesses. Another group of former N'vei Dekalim residents is trying to set up a crisis intervention mental health unit to deal with the traumas of expulsion, exclusion and abandonment. Other former residents of N'vei Dekalim are attempting to recreate their renowned Children's Treatment center whose equipment was destroyed during the expulsion. At the same time, many old bikes have been donated and have been refurbished and repaired by one bike store near Har Nof, Jerusalem, and sent to the children who have been sent with their families to temporary dwellings in the north. This is but another way to aid in their overcoming the traumas of exile. The letters of thanks from the children of these yishuvim have been both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
In each corner of this embattled land, groups are forming to protect and encourage individuals and communities from the onslaught of decay. Amidst the ruins, each oasis of faith and determination grows like a tender sapling. It is clear for all those who are attempting to be involved that their activities are nothing more than repaying a debt to these courageous brothers and sisters in difficulties.
In essence, those who are still moved by the call of Israel's destiny cannot stand by and let that which has been destroyed remain in disarray. Those whose hearts are still quickened by the vision of an eternal Jewish people cannot allow the decay and the ruin to engulf these tender saplings.
One can only decide whether to participate in the rebuilding or share in the destruction. Those who stand by without getting involved are invariably drawn in to the decay that surrounds us.
The options and opportunities to help are publicized through the internet and disseminated through the Arutz Sheva internet site. The opportunities to help are many and each individual has to simply decide which opportunity to seize.
That is the choice before us all, to sink in the morass of decay, or to join with blossoming sapling of destiny.