March 28, 2005

 Rachel Saperstein.

The Knesset has voted to turn down the people’s demand for a referendum on the expulsion plan of Ariel Sharon.

Sharon, using the government purse springs to shower largesse or penury on each political party has b(r)ought the Knesset to its knees. The promise of huge sums of money to those who vote for his plan made this vote a foregone conclusion.

Another window, another door closes on the people of Gush Katif.

People ask me time and time again – no, they don’t ask, they weep – “How do you take this pressure, knowing that for the first time in history a Jewish government has decided to eradicate the presence of Jews on it’s holy land?” This holy land is to be given to its enemies. “Rachel, how do you manage to survive each day, awaiting your expulsion?”

I listen to the sadness, the bewilderment, the fear, the despondency in the voices of callers.

How do you comfort the people, those people who wanted their voices heard, and the Knesset of Israel forbade it? The voices will not be heard. No referendum.

But yesterday we celebrated the bringing of a Torah scroll to the beautiful new synagogue, “Beit Shimrit Zohar”, named in memory of a young girl who died of a rare blood ailment.

Three busloads of young English-speaking families from Beit Shemesh, near Jerusalem, joined the people of Neve Dekalim in this communal celebration. Under a canopy of prayer shawls the Torah, covered in blue velvet and silver filigree, was brought to its new home accompanied by joyful singing and dancing.

Our friend Moshe Burt, who has devoted himself to finding Torah scrolls for needy congregations, had worked long and hard to bring this particular scroll to our new synagogue in a community which has just been voted out of existence.

Am I in denial? Am I not facing facts? Should I pack my bags as another door is closed on me? Should I be realistic and see that the struggle is over? After all, a Jewish Knesset has voted to throw me out of my home.

Yesterday I looked at my friends and at their smiles and their joy as we shared in the celebration of a new Torah scroll.

We will remain on G-d’s land. I am so certain of this I can dance with joy!