Why did they Plant in Netzer specifically on “Taz” B’shvat?

On Friday, along with new immigrants, Bnei Avika members, and supporters of the settlement movement,

the Women in Green movement held a large scale planting activity in the soil of Netzer, in Gush Etzion, and no, they did not make a mistake about the date.

Approximately one hundred and fifty supporters of the settlement movement and youths from Gush Etzion and other areas arrived in the morning (Friday, the 16th of Shvat) to a tree planting activity in Netzer, which is in west Gush Etzion.

Among the participants there were representatives from Meitar in the south, from Hebron, the city of our forefathers, from eternal Jerusalem, from Beit Shemesh, Efrat, Gush Etzion, Bat Yam as well as Jews from New Jersey and Chicago.

They came to plant in this place as a direct outgrowth of the agricultural project to maintain a holding in the soil of Netzer, a project that the Women in Green have been promoting in recent years to curtail Arab attempts to appropriate land illegally.

The tree-planting event took place specifically on this day, the 16th (taz) b’Shvat, and not on the 15th, Tu b’Shvat, for a reason. The heads of Women in Green, Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar, tell of information that had reached them from various sources which gave rise to deep concern that a large scale tree planting activity, such as was originally planned, might be thwarted by the Civil Administration. The two women are careful not to reveal the identity of the sources whose words gave rise to the concern but according to them, they were senior, knowledgeable sources.

In order to prevent the national disgrace, which, according to them, might have occurred, where law enforcement authorities would be preventing Jews from carrying out the ancient custom of planting trees in the soil of the Land of Israel, the heads of Women in Green held the activity during the night of Tu Bi Shvat itself, and on Friday they came with scores of supporters to carry out a symbolic planting.

Among those who came to plant trees were about forty young members of the Elazar branch of Bnei Akiva, who decided to “adopt” that field and to come diligently to the place to take care of the trees during the year, to weed the soil and build terraces there. Also present at the event were new immigrants who had come to Israel only three days prior, from England, Russia, France and the United States, who, in planting the seedlings in the Land, saw the fulfillment of a dream and an ancient vision.

Rabbi Gideon Perl, the Rabbi of the Gush Etzion region in general and Netzer in particular, blessed the attendees and spoke also about the obligation to apply sovereignty over this tract of land as well as the entire area of Judea and Samaria and to behave in the region as a sovereign in his land, as owners, to plant and to build without misgivings and without fear of uprooting, ruin and retreat. “Only Israel can be the sovereign on this land. No government has the right to surrender the people’s asset, which belongs to all previous generations and to those who will come after us, Kerry’s wrath notwithstanding”, he said.

The heads of Women in Green note that “The trees were planted in honor of the teacher, Devorah Frank, obm, from Bat Yam – who loved the Land of Israel. Members of her family and close friends came to plant and to feel the earth of Gush Etzion under their feet”.

It should be noted that the entire event took place under the watchful eyes of the Civil Administration, who photographed the entire activity, but their presence did not overshadow the great excitement and spiritual elevation felt by those who were present among the Israeli flags waving in the morning breeze.

Katsover and Matar thanked the youths and the many visitors who came with emotional words and noted that “Thank G-d, another part of the Land of Israel gives rise not only to treess, but also to youths who are connected to this Holy Land and cling to it. The Land of Israel is acquired by deeds!” they proclaimed.

attached are photos: Credit Women in Green

For Details:

Yehudit Katsover 0507161818 Nadia Matar 0505500834

Women for Israel’s Tomorrow

(Women in Green)