January 9, 2009
A WAKE-UP CALL
by Rachel Saperstein, Neve Dekalim/Nitzan
We woke to the wail of sirens. Another day begins with the sounds of war. We hear the explosions in the distance. I have had no time to run out to our sewer pipe cum shelter. I open my front door to see my neighbors exit from the pipe.
“Rachel, why didn’t you come out to join us” someone shouts.
“I’m moving a bit late” I answer.
I see my Bnei Menashe neighbor carrying her new baby wrapped in a blanket on her back. An older daughter carries a younger brother in her arms.
We have been busy during the day. Media people are arriving to see how we, the evicted from Gaza, are faring.
“How do you feel watching the war? You were removed from Gaza to bring peace to the area and now there is war. Do you think the government is waking up to the reality of the disengagement?”
I sigh. “We warned them. We actually described the scenario: Hamas shooting from Gaza; Now Hezbollah’s shooting from Lebanon;.and shortly our peace partners will shoot into Tel Aviv. We were removed from our homes and the scenario is taking place.”
I spent an hour sitting in the Community Center. The Ministry of Defense had set up an office there while the sewer shelters were being put in to place. Their sign, as well as their presence, has disappeared.
Instead, Miriam and Aliza are in the Center answering calls from factories, kibbutzim, zoos, city councils and private people from all parts of Israel, all calling to invite our people to a day’s outing. I am impressed by their efficiency and enthusiasm. Every day our children and their moms are loaded onto buses and whisked away for a day out of harm’s way.
The Israeli public are all too aware that this kindness will be repaid when their areas come under attack and they will need us as places of refuge.
A group of art students from the Shenkar Art School show up in our cul de sac with paints and brushes.
“We volunteered to come here and paint your sewer pipes to make them more attractive” said one. Neighbor’s children came out to help and their handprints were placed on the painted cylinders. The results resembled a flower garden similar to a Monet painting. We thanked them, brought out drinks, and complimented them on their lovely artwork.
The kindergartens are now being reinforced. A concrete wall is being built halfway up the outer wall of each building. They have put some concrete on the roofs as well. I’m not sure this makes any sense as rockets tend to hit the upper part of a building. But I’m not a rocket scientist, merely a skeptical onlooker.
There is a pulling together in the community. The Emergency Committee that functioned in Gush Katif has been reinstated. Our people have once again taken charge of their lives. We have many strong people here. We are doing rather than having others do for us. This is a sign of health.
January 10.
Shabbat ended as it began, with multiple warning sirens.
This war has been our wake-up call. A call to action.
We see the Gush Katif community rising from its ashes. Many still need our help. And we of Operation Dignity are there for them. We live here and can offer immediate financial aid as needed.
Please make your checks, earmarked for Operation Dignity, payable to Central Fund for Israel. Send them to
Central Fund for Israel, 980 Sixth Avenue, New York, NY 10018, USA
or: Central Fund for Israel, 13 Hagoel Street, Efrat 90435, Israel
Shekel checks should be sent to
Operation Dignity, POB 445, Nitzan 79287, Israel
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