Rabbi Pesach Lerner, Executive Vice President of the National Council of Young Israel, thought of the idea a number of weeks ago. "Many of us have never been in Gush Katif, and I thought that it was important we do so," he told Arutz-7 today, "and the idea just took off. People told their friends, and within a short time we had over 30 people."
Rabbi Lerner said he plans to organize more such Sabbath-trips from the U.S. in the coming weeks.
The visitors stopped this afternoon in Chomesh, one of the four Shomron communities covered by the disengagement plan.
The group is arriving in three shifts – yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Today's arrivals included YU Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Dr. Moshe Tendler (pictured above), Dr. Irving and Cherna Moskowitz, Zionist Organization of America President Morton Klein, Bunny Horowitz of Americans for a Safe Israel, Rabbi Tzvi Reichman, Dr. Jonathan Gold, Rabbi Ari Jacobson and a contingent from the Young Israel of Monsey and Wesley Hills, and others.
The theme of the visit is solidarity with the residents who face expulsion from their homes, and opposition to the disengagement plan under which this is to occur. The plan was formulated by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon over a year ago and was voted into law by the Knesset last month, against the objections of much of the Likud Knesset faction, as well as 60% of the Likud membership. In addition, a majority of the Cabinet opposed it only a few days before the plan came up for Cabinet vote last June - at which point, Sharon fired two ministers and the plan was passed "in principle." Two months ago, after the Labor Party joined and stabilized the teetering Sharon government, the plan was passed by a wider margin in the Cabinet. Labor is the same party whose "disengagement" platform lost it the last national election by a wide margin in 2003.
The plan stipulates the removal of some 8,500 Jews from their homes in Gaza and northern Shomron, and the abandonment of the land to the Palestinian Authority.
The group will spend the Sabbath in the homes of residents of N'vei Dekalim, Netzer Hazani, and some other Katif communities.
ZOA President Klein, sporting an orange shirt, tie and yarmulke - orange is the color of the struggle for Gush Katif - said he wished to show his total solidarity with the people of Gush Katif and the Shomron who are faced with expulsion. At a short press conference at Ben Gurion International Airport this morning, he said, "I have heard that expressing opposition to the disengagement plan is a form of incitement, and that one is not allowed to say that it will lead to more disaster and more terrorism. So let me say it straight out: The disengagement plan will, unfortunately, lead to more disaster and more terrorism. It is a mistake not only for Israel, but it also a historical error for the entire international war against terrorism. It sends Al-Qaeda a message that terrorism works, and that they only have to continue killing more Americans in order for the U.S. to give up."
Rabbi Lerner said he plans to organize more such Sabbath-trips from the U.S. in the coming weeks.
The visitors stopped this afternoon in Chomesh, one of the four Shomron communities covered by the disengagement plan.
The group is arriving in three shifts – yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Today's arrivals included YU Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Dr. Moshe Tendler (pictured above), Dr. Irving and Cherna Moskowitz, Zionist Organization of America President Morton Klein, Bunny Horowitz of Americans for a Safe Israel, Rabbi Tzvi Reichman, Dr. Jonathan Gold, Rabbi Ari Jacobson and a contingent from the Young Israel of Monsey and Wesley Hills, and others.
The theme of the visit is solidarity with the residents who face expulsion from their homes, and opposition to the disengagement plan under which this is to occur. The plan was formulated by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon over a year ago and was voted into law by the Knesset last month, against the objections of much of the Likud Knesset faction, as well as 60% of the Likud membership. In addition, a majority of the Cabinet opposed it only a few days before the plan came up for Cabinet vote last June - at which point, Sharon fired two ministers and the plan was passed "in principle." Two months ago, after the Labor Party joined and stabilized the teetering Sharon government, the plan was passed by a wider margin in the Cabinet. Labor is the same party whose "disengagement" platform lost it the last national election by a wide margin in 2003.
The plan stipulates the removal of some 8,500 Jews from their homes in Gaza and northern Shomron, and the abandonment of the land to the Palestinian Authority.
The group will spend the Sabbath in the homes of residents of N'vei Dekalim, Netzer Hazani, and some other Katif communities.
ZOA President Klein, sporting an orange shirt, tie and yarmulke - orange is the color of the struggle for Gush Katif - said he wished to show his total solidarity with the people of Gush Katif and the Shomron who are faced with expulsion. At a short press conference at Ben Gurion International Airport this morning, he said, "I have heard that expressing opposition to the disengagement plan is a form of incitement, and that one is not allowed to say that it will lead to more disaster and more terrorism. So let me say it straight out: The disengagement plan will, unfortunately, lead to more disaster and more terrorism. It is a mistake not only for Israel, but it also a historical error for the entire international war against terrorism. It sends Al-Qaeda a message that terrorism works, and that they only have to continue killing more Americans in order for the U.S. to give up."
Young Gush Katif-niks greet Dr. Moskowitz (center) and Rabbi Lerner (right) at airport today.
Photo: Kobi Sela