Mindy Tzur grew up in Schenectady, New York – an upstate town near the state’s capital, Albany. She grew up as a Jew in a mostly non-Jewish city, attending public high school and eventually deciding to explore her heritage in the Jewish state.
Now Tzur finds herself being threatened with expulsion from her home in Migron, a small Jewish community overlooking Jerusalem. Defense Minister Sha’ul Mofaz has called for the destruction of Migron, and the forced expulsion of its residents – a scenario that Tzur never imagined she’d be faced with.
“I live in a home with my husband and children in the Land of Israel,” Tzur told IsraelNationalNews.com. “I look out at Jerusalem through my back window and I know that we will win this battle of wills.”
“Migron is a test case,” Tzur warned, “We are a community of 40 families, with over 70 children (the oldest are in second grade) with more on the way. We have a library, our own health care center, a petting zoo and a kindergarten. We received promises in the past from the government and defense establishment that Migron would never be destroyed. And yet, it appears that the Sharon government truly intends to go ahead and turn us into homeless refugees. If Migron can be successfully destroyed then any community in all of Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza) can be as well and when they are done with those, it is only a matter of time until Tel Aviv and Jerusalem become ‘unilateral concessions’ as well, God forbid.”
Although the residents of Migron firmly believe that God granted the Land of Israel to the Jewish people, Tzur noted that even without the religious justification, the case for Migron’s destruction is absurd. “We live on land that was purchased by Jews. No soldier has ever been injured guarding us and in fact we are the highest strategic point in the region, overlooking all the neighboring communities, including Jerusalem.
Although no soldiers are stationed in Migron, a steady flow of army personnel visits the community on account of a free coffee shop set up by the residents to show their appreciation to the IDF.
“When MK Zehava Gal-On (Meretz) came here with a bunch of left-wing protestors,” Tzur recalls, “She spotted an army jeep pull into the community and started yelling about what a travesty it was that soldiers had to endanger themselves because of us. She seemed slightly embarrassed when it turned out the jeep had come to get coffee and a snack from the coffee shop!”
Mindy, who with her husband Neria was one of the founders of Migron, said her family back in Schenectady had come to visit and fell in love with the place. “My father, who is a very proud American is outraged that following the message the United States conveyed to the Arab world with the capture of Saddam Hussein, Israel may choose to grant the single greatest reward to terrorism by removing people from parts of Israel based on their non-Muslim status.”
When asked by IsraelNationalNews.com about how the community’s children were handling the threat of expulsion, Tzur said, “All the mothers got together and we decided that the best approach is to be honest with them and talk to them about what is going on. Growing up in such a breathtakingly beautiful corner of Israel, they intuitively love the land and feel connected to it. We explain to them that some people are not yet ready to let the Jewish people live a simple, holy, peaceful life.”
IDF soldiers have always been heroes and role models for Israeli youngsters and particularly the children of Migron, who interact with cheerful soldiers coming to and from the free coffee shop. “I pray that the day does not come when my children are forced to see an Israeli soldier removing them from their home in their eternal homeland.”
Tzur calls upon Jews of every walk of life to come out to Migron, only twenty minutes north of Jerusalem (via route 60 – turn at the Kochav Yaakov Gas station – bus routes 170,177,178). People are invited to bring musical instruments, drums, Torah study materials, tents and sleeping bags.
“If that horrible day comes,” Tzur adds, “we will not respond with violence – even if it is visited upon us – but we will stand strong and hope to show the Jewish people the spiritual and physical unity of the Land and People of Israel symbolized by Migron.”
Those wishing to be notified if an attempt to destroy Migron is made may contact:
Hodaya: 068 772 175 Efrat: 02 532 2449 Noa:067 820 130
Now Tzur finds herself being threatened with expulsion from her home in Migron, a small Jewish community overlooking Jerusalem. Defense Minister Sha’ul Mofaz has called for the destruction of Migron, and the forced expulsion of its residents – a scenario that Tzur never imagined she’d be faced with.
“I live in a home with my husband and children in the Land of Israel,” Tzur told IsraelNationalNews.com. “I look out at Jerusalem through my back window and I know that we will win this battle of wills.”
“Migron is a test case,” Tzur warned, “We are a community of 40 families, with over 70 children (the oldest are in second grade) with more on the way. We have a library, our own health care center, a petting zoo and a kindergarten. We received promises in the past from the government and defense establishment that Migron would never be destroyed. And yet, it appears that the Sharon government truly intends to go ahead and turn us into homeless refugees. If Migron can be successfully destroyed then any community in all of Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza) can be as well and when they are done with those, it is only a matter of time until Tel Aviv and Jerusalem become ‘unilateral concessions’ as well, God forbid.”
Although the residents of Migron firmly believe that God granted the Land of Israel to the Jewish people, Tzur noted that even without the religious justification, the case for Migron’s destruction is absurd. “We live on land that was purchased by Jews. No soldier has ever been injured guarding us and in fact we are the highest strategic point in the region, overlooking all the neighboring communities, including Jerusalem.
Although no soldiers are stationed in Migron, a steady flow of army personnel visits the community on account of a free coffee shop set up by the residents to show their appreciation to the IDF.
“When MK Zehava Gal-On (Meretz) came here with a bunch of left-wing protestors,” Tzur recalls, “She spotted an army jeep pull into the community and started yelling about what a travesty it was that soldiers had to endanger themselves because of us. She seemed slightly embarrassed when it turned out the jeep had come to get coffee and a snack from the coffee shop!”
Mindy, who with her husband Neria was one of the founders of Migron, said her family back in Schenectady had come to visit and fell in love with the place. “My father, who is a very proud American is outraged that following the message the United States conveyed to the Arab world with the capture of Saddam Hussein, Israel may choose to grant the single greatest reward to terrorism by removing people from parts of Israel based on their non-Muslim status.”
When asked by IsraelNationalNews.com about how the community’s children were handling the threat of expulsion, Tzur said, “All the mothers got together and we decided that the best approach is to be honest with them and talk to them about what is going on. Growing up in such a breathtakingly beautiful corner of Israel, they intuitively love the land and feel connected to it. We explain to them that some people are not yet ready to let the Jewish people live a simple, holy, peaceful life.”
IDF soldiers have always been heroes and role models for Israeli youngsters and particularly the children of Migron, who interact with cheerful soldiers coming to and from the free coffee shop. “I pray that the day does not come when my children are forced to see an Israeli soldier removing them from their home in their eternal homeland.”
Tzur calls upon Jews of every walk of life to come out to Migron, only twenty minutes north of Jerusalem (via route 60 – turn at the Kochav Yaakov Gas station – bus routes 170,177,178). People are invited to bring musical instruments, drums, Torah study materials, tents and sleeping bags.
“If that horrible day comes,” Tzur adds, “we will not respond with violence – even if it is visited upon us – but we will stand strong and hope to show the Jewish people the spiritual and physical unity of the Land and People of Israel symbolized by Migron.”
Those wishing to be notified if an attempt to destroy Migron is made may contact:
Hodaya: 068 772 175 Efrat: 02 532 2449 Noa:067 820 130