Double your Mitzvah
before Ein Kitzvah!
YES! You can make this year a Shana Tovah for people uprooted
from Gush Katif. For every seat that you purchase for Yamim Noraim (High Holidays)
in your Beit Knesset "Double Your Mitzvah" and send a check for the same
amount to the members of Shirat Hayam who won't have their own Beit Knesset to go
to this year.
YES! You can help them rebuild their lives by contributing
towards a caravan. Each caravan costs $33,000 – let's make sure that every Beit
Knesset around the world participates in the "Double Your Mitzvah" project
and raises money for one caravan at least. One of these caravans will be used as
a temporary Beit Knesset and the rest as homes.
And here's some background information so that you can
understand the great importance of your gift:
Following the evacuation from Gush Katif, two years ago,
the members of Shirat-Hayam were promised to move into Maskiot, in the Jordan Valley.
However, from that time until today they have been wandering from place to place,
starting from Be’er Sheva, followed by Gush Etzion and then to their current location
in Chemdat, adjacent to their future home of Maskiot. The authorization for the
move to the area allocated to them in Maskiot has not yet been completely finalized,
though it is expected to happen shortly. They have
been living with their children, 23 families in
total, under very difficult living conditions and
some families are starting to give up.
Those who remain strong enough to endure this hardship
will eventually move into Maskiot as they were promised. They were strongly encouraged
to do so by Binyamin Netanyahu, visiting a few months ago, when he
said passionately: “We view the Jordan Valley as the security belt of Israel and
we will do all that is in our power to develop it and make it flourish – including,
of course, Maskiot.” Netanyahu stressed,
that Israel needs these people to strengthen the settlements in the Jordan Valley.
The Gush Katif refugees, industrious and forward-looking as they are,
have already planted olive groves in Maskiot (in advance of the upcoming Shmita
year) and fully intend on continuing to develop Maskiot and turning it into the
thriving place it is destined to be, with plans for date groves, pepper groves and
sheep-pens. However, as they are not able to live near those groves, there is constant
fear of thefts from neighboring Beduins. Once they receive governmental permission
to move in, the government will take care of the basic infrastructure and they will
be able to build their new homes. However, until that happens, and in order for
that to happen(!), they must make their presence clear and strong in the area. With
your help they CAN start moving in NOW into a permitted area near their future homes,
if caravans can be purchased. Later, these caravans will be needed as absorption
homes for new families, guest-houses, and other facilities needed in a community.
The "Double Your Mitzvah" campaign thanks you
for taking the time to read this and for helping to ensure that those who were uprooted
from their homes will be able to flourish again in their new community. Your US
gifts are tax deductible and can be sent to: Shirat-Hayam – Maskiot, 19/4 Arnona,
Jerusalem, 93393, Israel. All checks should be made out to: Friends of Gush Katif.
ותשובה
ותפילה וצדקה – מעבירין את רוע הגזירה."" - May we
all merit a Ketiva and a Chatima tovah!
Sincerely,
Aviva Harbater