Yom ha-Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) Activities for
* the Strengthening of Settlement in Eretz Israel
* Jerusalem
*the Ingathering of the Exiles
by the Women in Green Movement, the Committee for Jewish Shdema, the Netzer Group, and the Judea Action Committees
Independence:
A large question mark surrounds the issue of our independence.
“We are in the midst of a second War of Independence,” as this was stated by Eliakim Haetzni, in his profound and fundamental lecture on our political-security situation delivered at Netzer in Gush Etzion.
Adv. Eliakim Haetzni, one of the major lovers of and fighters for Eretz Israel, provided an up-to-date picture of what is happening between Jerusalem and Washington, between Jerusalem and the Arabs, in “proximity talks,” the “worm of Jacob” from the left, the weakness in the right, and, most importantly, the ignorance of what is happening in the field, and between the lines.
His lecture was harsh, but correctly saw what is happening – and without accurate vision, action is impossible. And there is what to do: in the Congress, in the Senate, among the American public that is increasingly opposed to Obama’s policy, and obviously, among the Jews in the American diaspora, and among us, here in Eretz Israel.
Jerusalem:
Jerusalem is on the political and diplomatic agenda. This is the only topic that isn’t already “sewn up.”
In order to draw new strength and act, we conducted a tour within Jerusalem entitled “200 Years after the Aliyah of the Students of the Vilna Gaon.” Dozens of people participated, going between the Jewish compounds renewed by people with tremendous dedication and with great faith, who know the national and world value and role of Jerusalem.The tourguides from Ateret Cohanim were once again superb, Daniel Luria speaking in English and Yossi in Hebrew.
The pioneers in Jerusalem, by their acts and their dedication, erase the false “division” of the Old City into quarters: “Christian,” “Moslem,” “Armenian.” They do, and they declare: Jerusalem belongs only to the Jewish people. The tour concluded at the Hurvah Synagogue, with the superb lecture by Prof. Aryeh Morgenstern, an unparalleled expert on the Vilna Gaon and his teaching: the cancellation of the “three vows,” the transition from the Torah of the Diaspora to the Torah of Redemption by action (without waiting for miracles from Heaven) – and seeing the realization from vision to deed on the ground – elevated everyone’s spirit.
Eretz Israel: Plantings at Netzer
Eretz Israel – the earth on which we live – is in danger. The entire world is mobilizing to take the land from under our feet. To strengthen our possession, we conducted new plantings in Netzer, together with groups that came from Raanannah and from the coastal plain, with the veteran and indefatigable activist Ilan Hirschfeld. The plantings are meant to halt the Arab expansion, and to establish facts on the ground by Jews.
In Shdema: Strengthening Our Hold and the Ingathering of the Exiles
We celebrated Yom ha-Atzmaut night at Shdema, marking twenty years to the fall of the Iron Curtain, and the opening of the gates of what used to be the Soviet Union and the absorption of a million olim (immigrants), who changed the Israeli economy, enriched its culture, and changed its demographics.
Many celebrants arrived from Kiryat Arba-Hebron, Gush Etzion, Efrat, and Jerusalem. They listened attentively to the personal story of Igor Bialski, who came to Israel in the great wave of aliyah. Today, Igor is the editor of Ktav Et Yerushalmi (Jerusalem Journal), a poet, an inhabitant of Tekoa, and a member of the Committee for Jewish Shdema. The evening was moderated by Ina Vinyarski, who arrived in Israel in 1973, and was privileged to establish many settlements in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza (Tekoa, Nokdim, Rehalim, going up to Shdema).
Medleys of Hebrew songs with Russian melodies and with a Russian aroma by Eli Gilboa contributed to the atmosphere of the ingathering of the exiles – the first flowering of our redemption. In the second part of the evening, a medley of festive songs with “Shirat ha-Levi’im” (the “Singing of the Levites) group with David and Nehemiah Litke and Steve Rodan raised the level of rejoicing, especially after the IDF’s return to Shdema following a stubborn two-year struggle.
Continuing:
We are continuing, as every Friday at Netzer, with a lecture by Yisrael Shadiel, among those who returned to Kfar Etzion, who tells the story of Gush Etzion, and then proceeding on foot from Netzer to the Ha-Hish Hill, to learn about the battle that was waged on this hill.
The rejoicing on Yom ha-Atzmaut was with great joy and thanks to the Holy One, blessed be He, for our being privileged to live in our land and in our state. But we aren’t closing our eyes or sticking our heads in the sand. We know that the way to true independence is long, and that many dangers lie in wait for us. Accordingly, on this holiday, we draw renewed strength from all the heroes who gave their lives for the establishment of the State, and we will intensity action on behalf of Eretz Israel. A toast to the life of this people! A toast to the life of this wonderful land, our Eretz Israel!
Women in Green-Women for Israel’s Tomorrow – the Judea Action Committees – the Committee for a Jewish Shdema – the Netzer Group
for details: Yehudit Katzover – 050-7161818, Nadia Matar – 050-5500834
for photographs by Gemma Blech of the tour of the Old City: http://picasaweb.google.com/gemmablech/WIGToJewishOldCityJerusalem#
for photographs by Rivka Ryback of Yom Haatsmaut in Shdema and the tour in Jerusalem: http://www.yeshabulletin.com/FIGHT%20BACK/FightBack.htm
for a short videoclip of our event in Shdema on yom Haatsmaut: http://www.inn.co.il/News/News.aspx/203299