Hot. Humid. Surrounded by Arabs. Surrounded by the IDF. Surrounded by Sharon’s expulsion policy. Normally, these descriptions would not bode well in deciding where to call home. However, for some, the choice was an easy one. Take Orna and Mordechai. The new grandparents were recently interviewed by Yishai Fleisher, on the Stutz and Fleisher Show, airing on Israel National Radio.
They came to this sleepy little town of Morag in the southernmost part of Gush Katif to assist their daughter with the arrival of a new baby – a son (Mazel Tov!). So, from their home in Binyamin, with its gorgeous mountain views and temperate climate, they packed up and promptly changed domiciles to Morag.
It seems the little arrival decided to make his mark early in his Jewish life by having his Brit Milah land right in the middle of a fast day - the 17th of Tammuz. Some would see that as inconvenient. Not Grandma Orna and Grandpa Mordechai. To them, it was a worthwhile statement during these difficult times.
Orna explained: “It was very meaningful having a simcha (joyous occasion) that emphasizes the continuation and the rebuilding of the People of Israel on a fast day, where we’re marking the mourning of one of the stages of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Especially the 17th of Tammuz, which was the start of the siege of Jerusalem. It’s very meaningful. A new baby is born, and that shows the continuation of the Nation of Israel.”
In Jewish tradition, the breaking of a fast symbolizes the breaking out of troubled times, so it was obvious that this joyous occasion had a double meaning - one not lost on those who are struggling against the policy of uprooting Jews from land promised by G-d.
“At the moment, Gush Katif is under siege," Orna adds, "and a few days ago, unfortunately, the government notified us that only people with permits can come into Gush Katif, so it’s not a very good feeling for the residents here. But, the fact that we are doing the opposite by being here is also giving the feeling that maybe each person, by their own personal little effort can help to bring the miracle that we are praying for. I personally cannot save Gush Katif. But, one person, and another person, and another person until we have thousands and thousands of people here, working from outside Gush Katif, working from inside Gush Katif - we are really hoping and praying for a big change."
As we recall from our history, Abraham was the first Jew to practice the covenant of circumcision. Mordechai has a good understanding of this when he quips, “The difference between Avraham and Arik Sharon is simple. Avraham was ready to sacrifice his son for the sake of the future of Am Yisroel. Arik Sharon is ready sacrifice the future of Am Yisroel for the sake of his son [Omri].” Queue the rim-shot, please.
Orna also aptly points out that the miracle of birth is not the only miracle afoot here in Gush Katif. A local farmer apparently saw G-d’s promise at work in his hothouse recently in this primarily agricultural area. Orna explains: “We hear the story of a farmer here in Gush Katif who planted cucumbers 10 days ago. Those cucumbers grew so fast that they did 20 days of growing in 10 days. So, this is the land of miracles, and we are looking forward to a big miracle soon.”
One does not have to look too far to see evidence of this possibility. Like many of its neighboring communities, Morag has not withered under Sharon’s policy. On the contrary, it has flourished and continues to grow. According to Orna, that is the silver lining in the dark cloud that is the expulsion plan: “Israel has a special trait. We have to be shaken up to bits in order to get our act together. We’re very powerful. We have great potential. But, we are a bit lazy. So, what seems bad may be a blessing in disguise. It shakes us up and makes us do things."
This theory is confirmed as Orna relates a story about a family in N’vei Dekalim that used to worry about the mundane, day-to-day issues of life. Sitting around the table, they would discuss shopping, beach time, and the like. “Now, they ask ‘What does Hashem need of us today? What should I do today to help Am Yisroel? How much more energy can I squeeze out of myself?’ For them, life has been filled with so much more meaning, and has become intense,” says Orna.
In typical fashion, it is the renewal of life, the birth of their grandson that has focused their lives to the task at hand. Though they are confident that the Nation of Israel will survive these dark days, Orna and Mordechai know that even if the worst happens, they are prepared to adjust. They say they and others will bring the light of G-d to places in Israel that are perhaps not as "enlightened" as Morag and its neighbors.
“Maybe it means that the source of our problem is that we became detached from parts of the People of Israel, and we have to go to the development towns and Tel Aviv and to the coastal region, where the connection to the roots of the nation and to our traditions are a bit weak, and we have to work on that, then that’s what we’ll do. If it means living in a stronger Gush Katif, I am sure many families will stay here. This is a time of trouble for Israel. But, it’s the trouble itself that brings on our salvation. It’s the trouble itself that weakens us, and then brings on a change for the good. We are going to be in a better place after all this ordeal than we were before, with G-d’s help,” says Orna.
They came to this sleepy little town of Morag in the southernmost part of Gush Katif to assist their daughter with the arrival of a new baby – a son (Mazel Tov!). So, from their home in Binyamin, with its gorgeous mountain views and temperate climate, they packed up and promptly changed domiciles to Morag.
It seems the little arrival decided to make his mark early in his Jewish life by having his Brit Milah land right in the middle of a fast day - the 17th of Tammuz. Some would see that as inconvenient. Not Grandma Orna and Grandpa Mordechai. To them, it was a worthwhile statement during these difficult times.
Orna explained: “It was very meaningful having a simcha (joyous occasion) that emphasizes the continuation and the rebuilding of the People of Israel on a fast day, where we’re marking the mourning of one of the stages of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Especially the 17th of Tammuz, which was the start of the siege of Jerusalem. It’s very meaningful. A new baby is born, and that shows the continuation of the Nation of Israel.”
In Jewish tradition, the breaking of a fast symbolizes the breaking out of troubled times, so it was obvious that this joyous occasion had a double meaning - one not lost on those who are struggling against the policy of uprooting Jews from land promised by G-d.
“At the moment, Gush Katif is under siege," Orna adds, "and a few days ago, unfortunately, the government notified us that only people with permits can come into Gush Katif, so it’s not a very good feeling for the residents here. But, the fact that we are doing the opposite by being here is also giving the feeling that maybe each person, by their own personal little effort can help to bring the miracle that we are praying for. I personally cannot save Gush Katif. But, one person, and another person, and another person until we have thousands and thousands of people here, working from outside Gush Katif, working from inside Gush Katif - we are really hoping and praying for a big change."
As we recall from our history, Abraham was the first Jew to practice the covenant of circumcision. Mordechai has a good understanding of this when he quips, “The difference between Avraham and Arik Sharon is simple. Avraham was ready to sacrifice his son for the sake of the future of Am Yisroel. Arik Sharon is ready sacrifice the future of Am Yisroel for the sake of his son [Omri].” Queue the rim-shot, please.
Orna also aptly points out that the miracle of birth is not the only miracle afoot here in Gush Katif. A local farmer apparently saw G-d’s promise at work in his hothouse recently in this primarily agricultural area. Orna explains: “We hear the story of a farmer here in Gush Katif who planted cucumbers 10 days ago. Those cucumbers grew so fast that they did 20 days of growing in 10 days. So, this is the land of miracles, and we are looking forward to a big miracle soon.”
One does not have to look too far to see evidence of this possibility. Like many of its neighboring communities, Morag has not withered under Sharon’s policy. On the contrary, it has flourished and continues to grow. According to Orna, that is the silver lining in the dark cloud that is the expulsion plan: “Israel has a special trait. We have to be shaken up to bits in order to get our act together. We’re very powerful. We have great potential. But, we are a bit lazy. So, what seems bad may be a blessing in disguise. It shakes us up and makes us do things."
This theory is confirmed as Orna relates a story about a family in N’vei Dekalim that used to worry about the mundane, day-to-day issues of life. Sitting around the table, they would discuss shopping, beach time, and the like. “Now, they ask ‘What does Hashem need of us today? What should I do today to help Am Yisroel? How much more energy can I squeeze out of myself?’ For them, life has been filled with so much more meaning, and has become intense,” says Orna.
In typical fashion, it is the renewal of life, the birth of their grandson that has focused their lives to the task at hand. Though they are confident that the Nation of Israel will survive these dark days, Orna and Mordechai know that even if the worst happens, they are prepared to adjust. They say they and others will bring the light of G-d to places in Israel that are perhaps not as "enlightened" as Morag and its neighbors.
“Maybe it means that the source of our problem is that we became detached from parts of the People of Israel, and we have to go to the development towns and Tel Aviv and to the coastal region, where the connection to the roots of the nation and to our traditions are a bit weak, and we have to work on that, then that’s what we’ll do. If it means living in a stronger Gush Katif, I am sure many families will stay here. This is a time of trouble for Israel. But, it’s the trouble itself that brings on our salvation. It’s the trouble itself that weakens us, and then brings on a change for the good. We are going to be in a better place after all this ordeal than we were before, with G-d’s help,” says Orna.