Nisanit, a town in northern Gaza that is slated to be dismantled by the Sharon government, has recently welcomed 11 new families, pushing the community's roster over the 300-family mark.
"We heard that there were empty homes, and we wanted to show G-d we love the Land of Israel," Ayelet Bar-Hen was quoted as saying in Haaretz newspaper. The mother of three said she hoped more families would join as well. Most of the newcomers are from the religious community of Merkaz Shapira, north of Ashkelon, according to Nisanit's secretary Avi Vaknin.
The other two Jewish communities in northern Gaza are also growing. Elei Sinai is planning a new neighborhood, while Dugit recently inaugurated a mikveh (ritual bath house) and is planning a community center.
The remaining 18 Jewish communities along the Mediterranean Coast of Israel's Gaza Strip - Kfar Darom, Netzarim, and 16 in Gush Katif in the south - are now promoting a campaign to increase their population. They call upon families that love the Land and People of Israel to come and fill up all the empty homes. The communities' combined population is now approximately 8,000.
"We heard that there were empty homes, and we wanted to show G-d we love the Land of Israel," Ayelet Bar-Hen was quoted as saying in Haaretz newspaper. The mother of three said she hoped more families would join as well. Most of the newcomers are from the religious community of Merkaz Shapira, north of Ashkelon, according to Nisanit's secretary Avi Vaknin.
The other two Jewish communities in northern Gaza are also growing. Elei Sinai is planning a new neighborhood, while Dugit recently inaugurated a mikveh (ritual bath house) and is planning a community center.
The remaining 18 Jewish communities along the Mediterranean Coast of Israel's Gaza Strip - Kfar Darom, Netzarim, and 16 in Gush Katif in the south - are now promoting a campaign to increase their population. They call upon families that love the Land and People of Israel to come and fill up all the empty homes. The communities' combined population is now approximately 8,000.