"This is our place, this is our Land, and we believe that we are here for the People of Israel. Together with the army, we are protecting it." So says the Rabbi of Gush Katif, Rabbi Yigal Kaminetzky.
Rabbi Kaminetzky told Arutz-7 last night of the selflessness of St.-Sgt. Yisrael Lutati, who was killed defending Morag yesterday morning: "Yisrael was born here, lived here, died here, and said he wanted to be buried here - and he was. He was a medic and a volunteer who was always among the first to run to wherever a shell was fired, in order to help."
The rabbi had high praise for his neighbors in the Katif bloc:
"A woman from one of the communities here told me how her entire town, everyone together and each one separately, prays for the Nation of Israel. [A community that is] connected to the nation and to G-d in this way lives on a totally different level. Its prayers are different, and its Yom Kippur will be different. We have no doubt that with the power of faith, and with our actions that stem from it, we can win every struggle. So far, every initiative that came from the foundations of faith has brought unprecedented results... Everyone now knows our region. The public that supports and admires us is getting bigger and stronger. We see this clearly."
Rabbi Kaminetzky said that ideally, he negates the idea of a referendum on the Land of Israel, "as this is our Land of Life and it belongs to G-d; what business do we have making a 'decision' on it? But if this is the only way to repulse the decree - and I believe that the People of Israel are with us - then there is no choice." He said that for Sharon to act undemocratically against Gush Katif is different than if the nation would vote democratically against retaining Gush Katif:
"If, Heaven forbid, this should happen, that would be different. But we see that the more we reveal the truth to the public, and the more we show them the Zionism and the Sanctification of G-d's Name that is going on here, the more they are on our side."
****The Arutz-7 staff prays that this Yom Kippur truly be a "day of friendship and love," as we recite in the Yom Kippur prayers. May it herald the beginning of a year of fortitude against those who wish to harm us, as well as one of true peace and growth, personally and nationally. May the Nation of Israel overcome all difficulties, retain in entirety its legacy of Torah, Land and Nation, and emerge all the stronger from the many challenges we face.
Rabbi Kaminetzky told Arutz-7 last night of the selflessness of St.-Sgt. Yisrael Lutati, who was killed defending Morag yesterday morning: "Yisrael was born here, lived here, died here, and said he wanted to be buried here - and he was. He was a medic and a volunteer who was always among the first to run to wherever a shell was fired, in order to help."
The rabbi had high praise for his neighbors in the Katif bloc:
"A woman from one of the communities here told me how her entire town, everyone together and each one separately, prays for the Nation of Israel. [A community that is] connected to the nation and to G-d in this way lives on a totally different level. Its prayers are different, and its Yom Kippur will be different. We have no doubt that with the power of faith, and with our actions that stem from it, we can win every struggle. So far, every initiative that came from the foundations of faith has brought unprecedented results... Everyone now knows our region. The public that supports and admires us is getting bigger and stronger. We see this clearly."
Rabbi Kaminetzky said that ideally, he negates the idea of a referendum on the Land of Israel, "as this is our Land of Life and it belongs to G-d; what business do we have making a 'decision' on it? But if this is the only way to repulse the decree - and I believe that the People of Israel are with us - then there is no choice." He said that for Sharon to act undemocratically against Gush Katif is different than if the nation would vote democratically against retaining Gush Katif:
"If, Heaven forbid, this should happen, that would be different. But we see that the more we reveal the truth to the public, and the more we show them the Zionism and the Sanctification of G-d's Name that is going on here, the more they are on our side."
****The Arutz-7 staff prays that this Yom Kippur truly be a "day of friendship and love," as we recite in the Yom Kippur prayers. May it herald the beginning of a year of fortitude against those who wish to harm us, as well as one of true peace and growth, personally and nationally. May the Nation of Israel overcome all difficulties, retain in entirety its legacy of Torah, Land and Nation, and emerge all the stronger from the many challenges we face.