Shabbos In Beve Dekalim:
A Little Bit of Everything

By, Moshe Burt

Shabbos, Parsha Bo was a very special Shabbos for me, as I spent it in Neve Dekalim.   My hosts for Shabbos were neighbors of mine in Ramat Beit Shemesh who also have a home in Neve Dekalim.  Together, we epitomized our Parsha Bo by going UP to Gush Katif.

As with Shabbatot in Shi-rat HaYam, I was honored to be in the company of a strong and courageous group of people. 

The Sharon government thinks that they can intimidate these people and force them from their homes either by fear and scare tactics or threat of forcible eviction -- NOT!!  The people of Neve Dekalim, as with all Anshe Gush Katif, are made of stonger, sterner stuff and boundless and unshakeable faith.  They will not be moved and evicted.

Chasdei Shimrit Community Center

I was privileged to meet David Bonfeld and to receive a tour of the Chasdei Shimrit Community Center where, B'ezrat Hashem in about 2 months time, a Sefer Torah from the Sefer Torah Recycling Network  is slated for placement.

Mr. Bonfeld is the Postmaster for the Gush Katif post office in Neve Dekalim and a very kind, soft-spoken person.  Over the years, the Neve Dekalim community noticed numerous young men, relatives of religious people in Neve Dekalim, not wearing Kippot, seemingly "off the derech" and otherwise "hanging out." Bonfeld, with his high visibility and recognition throughout Gush Katif, was determined to reach out to touch the "pintele yid" and to bring these young people back to their Jewish roots and heritage.

When David's daughter, Shimrit Zohar was niftar after suffering with a rare blood condition, he began fund raising to build and dedicate the Community Center, devoted to reaching Jewish Neshamot, in memory of his daughter.  
 
The Chasdei Shimrit Community Center was recently completed and now has a regular Kehillah daily and on Shabbos, as well as numerous shiurim daily and on Shabbos.

The Main Synagogue of Neve Dekalim

When my hosts, Alan and Roberta Bienenfeld and I arrived at the main Shul of Neve Dekalim, I was surprised to learn that the Chief Rabbi of Gush Katif, Rav Yigal Kamenetsky was also the Rav of the main Shul in Neve Dekalim.  And so, after Ma'ariv on Friday night, I spoke briefly with Rav Kamenetsky and we exchanged Shabbos greetings.  

On Shabbos morning, I was also surprised to note that Rav Kamenetsky is also a Kohen.  And so, including myself and the Rav, we were 5 Kohanim duchaning
(providing the Priestly Blessings).

Sheva B'rachot

After a delicious and delightful Shabbos dinner with my hosts, the Bienenfelds, we all went to Sheva B'rachot.  A 57 year old, long-time resident of Neve Dekalim became a Chosson as the couple were married earlier last week (Is there yet hope for a 56 yo divorced Kohen?).  The Kallah was a widow who recently made Aliyah.  And so, in the midst of Kassams falling throughout Gaza, we celebrated a Simcha of Chosson and Kallah.


Reinforced Roofs

It came to light, while speaking with Neve Dekalim residents, that in the months leading up to the Sharon government's attempt to make Gush Katif Yudenrein, they have offered residents to reinforce their roofs at no cost as protection against Kassams.   Just as residents of Chevron rejected the government's attempt to abbrogate their resposibilities by walling them (the residents) into a ghetto rather than rooting out and eliminating murderous Arabs snipers
(eventually, the government was compelled to rid Abu Sneinah of snipers), so too, residents of Gush Katif have big problems with the Sharon government's apparent abbrogation of responsibility for the safety and security of residents of Gush Katif, and of it's entire electorate.  Some residents told me over Shabbos that they will, under no circumstances, agree to have this work done.  They expect the government to live up to it's inherent responsibilities and to protect
the people they govern.
  

Boomers in the Night

As I lay sleeping under 3 doubled-over blankets, I and the Bienenfelds were awakened about 4 AM by a loud BOOM and resultant shake, rattle and roll, apparently nearby.  As I was not in a deep sleep, I was not unduly startled.  (In fact, I was more startled by the earthquake last year.) We surmised that a Kassam rocket hit, apparently close by.  If so, it was my first bonafide Kassam.  
However, later, at Shul and throughout the day on Shabbos, nothing was heard B"H about possible casualties or destruction connected with this incident.  No news is Good news and therefore, it is assumed that this Kassam fell harmlessly somewhere on a street, only interrupting the night by the sound of it's impact.

Moshe and Rachel Saperstein

A highlight of my Shabbos in Neve Dekalim was being hosted for Shabbos lunch by Moshe and Rachel Saperstein.   Moshe is one of the most visible and high profile personalities in Gush Katif.  He is often one of the media "go-to guys" regarding the pulse of the feelings and mood of Gush Katif residents and their perspective on events.  Lunch was enlightening, and the food, including the chulent was mouthwatering. 

Seudah Shlish't/Seudat Mitzvot

At Shul, in the morning, the son of one of the members was a Bar Mitzvah.  My hosts were invited by the parents of the Bar Mitzvah to a Seudah Shlishi in a security shelter and therefore, I was invited to accompany them.  We were treated to a tasty selection of salads and cakes, Divrei Torah were said and the table conversation was lively.  The Seudat Mitzvah for the Bar Mitzvah also turned into a Sheva Bracha as the new Chosson and Kallah were also invited. 
Shabbos ended with Ma'ariv in the shelter.

Balagan leaving Gush Katif

An otherwise wonderful Shabbos was marred slightly by the inevitable delay in leaving Gush Katif. As my hosts and I went to leave Gush Katif in their auto, they received a call saying that the access road was temporarily closed due to snipper fire.  About 9 PM in the evening, they received a call that the road was secured and reopened.  We then set out to return to Ramat Beit Shemesh.

Shabbos was wonderful and memorable for me, the people are super.   As said above, their strength and emunah are boundless and unshakable.  They and their supporters are the front-line defending all of B'nai Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael.

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Moshe Burt, an Oleh, is a commentator on news and events in Israel and Founder and Director of The Sefer Torah Recycling Network.  He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh.