A circumcision ceremony (Brit Milah) also was performed as a new baby from Beit El was given the name Adam. Family members and friends from Israel and around the world celebrated the joyous ceremony where thousands have been demonstrating for more than a week against the disengagement plan. Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu was honored as the "sandek" who held the baby during the circumcision.
"No one can move. The whole area is jammed," said one of the participants in the prayers on the eve of the new Hebrew month of Shevat. Although politicians shared the platform with rabbis, there were prayers without any political speeches. The crowd began to disperse around 5:30 p.m., and there were no disturbances. Thousands continued to the ancient gates to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem where Psalms are recited the evening before every new month.
The massive sit-in continued as people came from Nahariya, kibbutzim and Tel Aviv as well as Judea, Samaria and Gaza (Yesha).
One of the Knesset members, Uri Ariel (National Union), has set up his office in a trailer that has become a part of the "tent city" which organizers say will remain so long as the Knesset is discussing the government plan.
The Knesset has turned into the strangest in history, as one-third of the prime minister's own party announced it will vote against the government which has agreed to a coalition with the Labor party, the former opposition party. The coalition is expected to survive non-confidence votes Monday night with the support of left-wing parties who long have been bitterly opposed to Likud party policies. However, they do not want to lose the opportunity to dismantle Jewish communities in Yesha and hope the plan is only the first step towards further withdrawals.
"No one can move. The whole area is jammed," said one of the participants in the prayers on the eve of the new Hebrew month of Shevat. Although politicians shared the platform with rabbis, there were prayers without any political speeches. The crowd began to disperse around 5:30 p.m., and there were no disturbances. Thousands continued to the ancient gates to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem where Psalms are recited the evening before every new month.
The massive sit-in continued as people came from Nahariya, kibbutzim and Tel Aviv as well as Judea, Samaria and Gaza (Yesha).
One of the Knesset members, Uri Ariel (National Union), has set up his office in a trailer that has become a part of the "tent city" which organizers say will remain so long as the Knesset is discussing the government plan.
The Knesset has turned into the strangest in history, as one-third of the prime minister's own party announced it will vote against the government which has agreed to a coalition with the Labor party, the former opposition party. The coalition is expected to survive non-confidence votes Monday night with the support of left-wing parties who long have been bitterly opposed to Likud party policies. However, they do not want to lose the opportunity to dismantle Jewish communities in Yesha and hope the plan is only the first step towards further withdrawals.