Four buses left Jerusalem's National Conference Center on Wednesday of Chol HaMoed (the intermediary days) of the Passover festival. At the same time, hundreds of buses from around the country were leaving for a massive march along the main road of Gush Katif.
The visitors were in good spirits, with organizers hoping that the large traffic jams resulting from the last mass convergence on Gush Katif on Independence Day last year would be avoided. The Council of Judea, Samaria and Gaza had called for people to take buses instead of private cars this time. The planning paid off, and the group arrived at the Kisufim Crossing - the entrance to Gush Katif - on schedule.
A large percentage of the participants had never been to the Jewish communities in Gaza before. One participant, however, Shlomo Wollins, was on a pilot trip of sorts; he plans on moving to Gush Katif within the week.
The group's first stop was lunch in the soft grass of the lush community of Gadid, just outside N'vei Dekalim, with afternoon prayers in the local synagogue. "It is inconceivable that this synagogue could be destroyed in just a few months," one participant declared following prayers. In fact, however, the disengagement plan calls for the removal of "main walls and features of the synagogues" intact, instead of the original plan of relocating the buildings in their entirety.
The next stop was the community of Atzmona, famous for its flower nurseries and a place of honor in the modern history of settlement in the Land of Israel. It was originally established in Sinai in response to the Camp David accords of 1979 - the peace treaty with Egypt that called for Israel's withdrawal from Sinai and the destruction of the Jewish communities there. Standing strong with unshakeable faith up until the very last day - melons were planted and synagogue construction went on unabated throughout - the residents were among the last to be expelled from Sinai. They later re-established their community in its present location in Gush Katif, amidst the sand dunes facing the Mediterranean.
Sarah Hesser, who had been with the original group of residents since the beginning, told the Arutz-7 group about her experiences.
The visitors also saw Atzmona's pre-military academy, famous for its training of elite IDF troops. Five of its students were felled in a deadly Palestinian terror attack in March 2002.
Another resident, Yael Cohen, immigrated to Atzmona from Toronto. She invited the participants, many of them immigrants from North America themselves, to join her family in what she called "paradise."
The visitors then went to the inspiring and magnificent Atzmona nursery, the second largest in Israel and filled to the brim with all sorts of plants and saplings. The nursery's proprietors informed the visitors that they have continued to plant seedlings, even those which will only be marketable a year from now, because they are fully confident that the plans to destroy everything they have planted will not come to pass.
While part of the group went to pick cucumbers in one of the local hothouses, located just behind the homes of the residents who own them, the others saw remnants of rockets fired on the community by Arab terrorists from nearby PA-controlled towns.
The buses next headed to a scenic overlook above the largest Gush Katif community, N'vei Dekalim. They drove past a new section of houses built in recent months, after Prime Minister announced his withdrawal plan. The new homes were built by people confident enough in the future of Jewish life in Gush Katif to lay out the funds (with no help from any banks, who refuse to provide loans for such building), despite the fact that should their homes be destroyed, they will not be compensated.
The group then left the major bloc of Jewish towns, driving past throngs of people along the roads who were on their way to and from the march.
The buses then continued toward Netzarim, the most isolated Jewish community in Israel. They were unable to drive directly there, as the direct route has long been closed to Jewish traffic. The only way to reach Netzarim from Gush Katif is by leaving Gaza via Kisufim, driving north to the Nachal Oz Crossing, and waiting for an army escort to Netzarim. Once there, the Arutz-7 trippers saw how the community has doubled its population despite a freeze on expansion: Each home has added a floor on top of it, with steps outside the building, leading upstairs to the new apartments.
Additionally, the visitors were shown tens of new buildings provided by both the Education Ministry and Defense Ministry in accordance with legislation requiring reinforced buildings for schools in areas under fire. "The Ministries of Defense and Education have been the greatest builders of Netzarim in recent months," resident Udi Zinar told the visitors.
The group then enjoyed a gourmet barbecue, with musical accompaniment provided by those who brought instruments. Organic bell peppers grown in Netzarim's hothouses were distributed while everyone filed back onto the buses under serene moon-light. Though many imagine Netzarim to be a genuine war-zone, the visitors came away with an entirely new conception of Netzarim and its inhabitants.
Participants expressed their hope that they would be able to return to Gush Katif next Passover, to once again be strengthened by the tenacity and bravery of the Jews living there. Israel National Radio's Yishai Fleisher echoed the sentiment, blessing the group, "May we merit to inherit."
Arutz-7 plans on sponsoring many such events in the future, including an event on Jerusalem Day. Details will be posted on IsraelNationalNews.com.
The visitors were in good spirits, with organizers hoping that the large traffic jams resulting from the last mass convergence on Gush Katif on Independence Day last year would be avoided. The Council of Judea, Samaria and Gaza had called for people to take buses instead of private cars this time. The planning paid off, and the group arrived at the Kisufim Crossing - the entrance to Gush Katif - on schedule.
A large percentage of the participants had never been to the Jewish communities in Gaza before. One participant, however, Shlomo Wollins, was on a pilot trip of sorts; he plans on moving to Gush Katif within the week.
The group's first stop was lunch in the soft grass of the lush community of Gadid, just outside N'vei Dekalim, with afternoon prayers in the local synagogue. "It is inconceivable that this synagogue could be destroyed in just a few months," one participant declared following prayers. In fact, however, the disengagement plan calls for the removal of "main walls and features of the synagogues" intact, instead of the original plan of relocating the buildings in their entirety.
The next stop was the community of Atzmona, famous for its flower nurseries and a place of honor in the modern history of settlement in the Land of Israel. It was originally established in Sinai in response to the Camp David accords of 1979 - the peace treaty with Egypt that called for Israel's withdrawal from Sinai and the destruction of the Jewish communities there. Standing strong with unshakeable faith up until the very last day - melons were planted and synagogue construction went on unabated throughout - the residents were among the last to be expelled from Sinai. They later re-established their community in its present location in Gush Katif, amidst the sand dunes facing the Mediterranean.
Sarah Hesser, who had been with the original group of residents since the beginning, told the Arutz-7 group about her experiences.
The visitors also saw Atzmona's pre-military academy, famous for its training of elite IDF troops. Five of its students were felled in a deadly Palestinian terror attack in March 2002.
Another resident, Yael Cohen, immigrated to Atzmona from Toronto. She invited the participants, many of them immigrants from North America themselves, to join her family in what she called "paradise."
The visitors then went to the inspiring and magnificent Atzmona nursery, the second largest in Israel and filled to the brim with all sorts of plants and saplings. The nursery's proprietors informed the visitors that they have continued to plant seedlings, even those which will only be marketable a year from now, because they are fully confident that the plans to destroy everything they have planted will not come to pass.
Gush Katif residents show participants some of the thousands of Kassam rockets that have been fired at their homes during the Oslo War.
While part of the group went to pick cucumbers in one of the local hothouses, located just behind the homes of the residents who own them, the others saw remnants of rockets fired on the community by Arab terrorists from nearby PA-controlled towns.
The buses next headed to a scenic overlook above the largest Gush Katif community, N'vei Dekalim. They drove past a new section of houses built in recent months, after Prime Minister announced his withdrawal plan. The new homes were built by people confident enough in the future of Jewish life in Gush Katif to lay out the funds (with no help from any banks, who refuse to provide loans for such building), despite the fact that should their homes be destroyed, they will not be compensated.
Buses parked overlooking the ocean and the town of N'vei Dekalim.
The group then left the major bloc of Jewish towns, driving past throngs of people along the roads who were on their way to and from the march.
The buses then continued toward Netzarim, the most isolated Jewish community in Israel. They were unable to drive directly there, as the direct route has long been closed to Jewish traffic. The only way to reach Netzarim from Gush Katif is by leaving Gaza via Kisufim, driving north to the Nachal Oz Crossing, and waiting for an army escort to Netzarim. Once there, the Arutz-7 trippers saw how the community has doubled its population despite a freeze on expansion: Each home has added a floor on top of it, with steps outside the building, leading upstairs to the new apartments.
Additionally, the visitors were shown tens of new buildings provided by both the Education Ministry and Defense Ministry in accordance with legislation requiring reinforced buildings for schools in areas under fire. "The Ministries of Defense and Education have been the greatest builders of Netzarim in recent months," resident Udi Zinar told the visitors.
Netzarim residents preparing the barbecue (including vegetarian options) for the visitors.
The group then enjoyed a gourmet barbecue, with musical accompaniment provided by those who brought instruments. Organic bell peppers grown in Netzarim's hothouses were distributed while everyone filed back onto the buses under serene moon-light. Though many imagine Netzarim to be a genuine war-zone, the visitors came away with an entirely new conception of Netzarim and its inhabitants.
Participants expressed their hope that they would be able to return to Gush Katif next Passover, to once again be strengthened by the tenacity and bravery of the Jews living there. Israel National Radio's Yishai Fleisher echoed the sentiment, blessing the group, "May we merit to inherit."
Arutz-7 plans on sponsoring many such events in the future, including an event on Jerusalem Day. Details will be posted on IsraelNationalNews.com.