From the Ruins of Gush Katif A New Leadership
by
Ilene Bloch-Levy
It happened almost overnight. All that was left of a 'garden of Eden' was rubble.
It’s been almost five years since more than 9,000 Israeli citizens were forcibly removed from their homes in 25 Gush Katif (GK) and Northern Samaria communities, most of them thriving and long-established. According to Ora Ruchana, Director of the Gush Katif Archives, within a 25 day period the Government of Israel destroyed or uprooted in Gush Katif alone roughly 1,900 homes and gardens, 400 farms producing $200 million of export goods, 42 daycare centers, 36 kindergartens, 7 elementary schools, 3 high schools, an industrial center, 18 mikvaot, 18 synagogues, 1 central community center, 1 swimming pool, 2 Torah institutions, 1 research center, youth clubs, 3 main libraries, 1 military-Torah institution, 3 Kollels and dozens of cottage industries.
In one fell swoop most residents lost their homes, income and independence. From one of the lowest unemployment rates GK residents now suffer from one of the highest - 21% (according to JobKatif). When you consider under-employment the figures top 40%.
"From a cost-benefit standpoint," explains Mark Lawner, founder and director of the Gush Katif Network, an umbrella organization of volunteers helping former GK families, “the destruction of Gush Katif was counter-productive. And from a humanitarian perspective, it was, quite possibly, the single most destructive decision ever made by the government of Israel.”
According to the 488 page report entitled the "Handling of the Evacuees from Gush Katif and Northern Samaria by the Authorized Authorities" recently presented to the Knesset by the State Commission of Inquiry, the cost-benefit situation is but one of innumerable mistakes. Indeed, for the three member commission, chaired by retired deputy chief Supreme Court Justice Eliyahu Matza "the state failed, and its failure was absolute and abysmal...” transforming the displaced families from "citizens of the State into refugees in their homeland."
A Silver Lining in a Dark Cloud
In spite of the tragedy (some may say, due to it) there has emerged a new leadership that is vigorously raising the mantle. As per the old adage, "there is a silver lining in every cloud" the reality of dealing with the authorities and the profound desire to live by their Zionist ideals are spurring many of the former GK residents forward. They are illustrating, by their deeds and words, that the 'old way' of doing things is not relevant today.
In describing the leadership required in times of crisis, former IBM executive, Irving Wladawsky-Berger explains "...through simple words, hard work and sheer passion [new leadership] is able to generate the urgency needed to mobilize people, as well as the sense of confidence needed to attack and solve the complex problems..."
Meet the new leadership: simple, hard working, passionate and confident.
Yossi Chazut of Maskiot
Maskiot is located in the northeastern tip of the Jordan Valley, a narrow strip of arid land stretching 30 miles. The Jordan Valley is home to 21 Jewish communities and 4,500 residents. Maskiot was originally founded in 1982 as a base for Nahal army groups. Several years later, the Military Academy was opened.
For years Maskiot limped along. That is, until one morning two and a half years ago, Yossi and Ayelet Chazut together with five other families formerly of Shirat HaYam, showed up with the Chazut's eight-day old son to perform his brit in a hastily constructed interim housing facility.
Just one week prior, they had been living in dilapidated accommodations in nearby Hemdat, where the original government promise of "you'll only be here for two months" dragged on for two years.
"One day the authorities told us," Yossi recalls "we could move into Maskiot, but it would have to be next week or else we forfeit our rights." After a stormy meeting with the other families, they returned to their broken down caravans to consider the next step.
By dawn, Ayelet had decided that, in spite of there being virtually no infrastructure, no interim housing and no services, she would agree to settle in Maskiot if she could find but one other family to join them.
She did. Others joined as well. With the help of "Amana, One Israel Fund and some other very good people" says Yossi, "we quickly found six interim housing facilities (60-70 meter caravans with plasterboard facing) and installed the initial infrastructure." Two years later, Maskiot is building their first 20 homes, most of which will be ready for occupancy by October, and six additional interim housing units (which will bring the total to 18 such units) due to arrive within the next thirty days. The residents will be breaking ground for their new synagogue in September and opening their new early childhood center in the fall as well.
“We have received a lot of help from so many sources. One Israel Fund has been a tremendous help in building our infrastructure as well as equipping and training our civilian response teams. In the past year alone, One Israel Fund has built a new playground for our children, provided a temporary trailer for a new family, furnished our new children’s library and provided the security equipment we need to keep our families safe and secure. Our community has a tremendous sense of gratitude for all they’ve done in bringing us here today.”
A Doctorate in Building a Community
These "young people with idealism and vision have plans to make drastic changes" is how Shulamit Kaminsky, director of the Jordan Valley Development Fund describes them. They have also created the basis for an independent economic environment to ensure the community's growth. The Jordan Valley's unique climate has made agriculture the region's leading economic sector.
Maskiot residents have planted groves of date, olive and argan trees (the first in Israel to do so) for which they are expecting to generate a solid return. Of course, the fact that these families are also contributing to making the desert bloom and improving the micro-climate, brings a smile to all their faces.
Yossi has learned a lot during these past five years. He's learned that you can't expect that even the simplest things will be handled for you. You need to "be a nudnick" he replies somewhat reluctantly. It wasn't until four months ago that Maskiot was even on a postal route. Yet, Knesset Chairman Reuven Rivlin lit a torch celebrating Israel's 62nd Independence Day and referred to Maskiot, "In honor of the settlers of this land... among them the people of Gush Katif... who, once again, are leading the pioneers in Yeted, Maskiot, Ariel..."
Yossi's days are filled with phone calls and meetings with dozens of people from ministers to contractors. Along with having earned the equivalent of a Ph.D. - "no really I'd rather say a Master's degree" in building a new community, he's also learned that creating partnerships with other bodies and institutions is important. It also holds true for building partnerships with members of the community. "Keeping everyone here is a challenge. We need to provide services and growth opportunities to retain the current core of people and attract new ones." Right now, they're looking forward to the six new families who will be moving here this summer.
In the end it is the spirit and faith that the Chazuts and the other GK families brought with them to Maskiot that kept them going and will continue to keep them growing in reaching their goal of 100 families.
David Bango of Bnei Dekalim and JobKatif
The distance between Maskiot and Bnei Dekalim in the northeastern part of the Lachish region is less than a three hour drive. Both places are being settled by former GK families. Yet, the pace of progress, initiatives, and resources are vastly different.
David Bango, 39 year old father of four, lived in Gush Katif for 17 years before the "Expulsion" in August 2005. David worked largely in sales and marketing, until a year before when he decided to devote all his time to fighting, as he explains "for my home."
With the expulsion, he, along with hundreds of other families from Neve Dekalim, were temporarily resettled in hotels around Jerusalem.
The Government offered the families the possibility of settling in Nitzan, an area designated by the Sharon government, between Ashdod and Ashkelon.
While most families did take this government option, there were 75 families who opted out. David devoted weeks to scurrying among the different hotels, reaching out to families who had rejected the Government offer, speaking with them, learning about their needs and drawing up a plan for the next steps.
Together, these families decided they wanted to build a new community. Not in the center of the country, but rather in an area where they could work together with other communities to once again build the Land of Israel.
The Lachish region was selected. The region had been on the tips of Israeli government tongues for years, but not much had been done. Located in the northern Negev, it stretches over an area of some 195 square miles, sparsely populated with little new development since the 1950's.
Today, there is a flurry of activity with former GK families planning a swath of new communities. David is planning his new home in Bnei Dekalim in northeastern Lachish. Infrastructure is being laid, and the first stage of construction of 150 homes should begin right after Sukkot.
David's work did not go unnoticed. One initial volunteer of Jobkatif, who works closely with its founder, Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon, had taken an interest in David early on. "Here was a top marketing guy who could have been making six figures, but instead was working on behalf of Gush Katif families. He felt compelled to work for JobKatif's mission on restoring self-sufficiency of the families." Today David serves as general manager of JobKatif, and spends 24/6 (when not working on his new community or with his four children) on helping former GK families return to the workplace, or set up new businesses.
When asking David what qualities one needs to be a leader, he responds "modesty." But when we asked the volunteer who scouted out David, he added a few more qualities, "soul, perseverance, a caring heart, patience, flexibility, creativity and devotion."
We have the revival of a yishuv in the Jordan Valley, thanks to people like Yossi Chazut, new construction in the Lachish region and many new established small businesses thanks to people like David Bango at Jobkatif. Their work is bringing a new energy to stagnant places, inspiring others and teaching us that the 'cream can rise to the top' out of crisis.
In talking about David, one volunteer described him as someone who "moves with the wind."
Keep moving forward, David, Yossi and all the former GK families.
Ilene Bloch-Levy is a freelance journalist and mother of six living in the Shomron Region. July 21, 2010 (the 10th of Av) will mark the 5th Anniversary of the Gush Katif Expulsion. One Israel Fund is teaming with organizations and synagogues throughout the US and Israel to mark this tragic date. This Tisha B’Av, our national day of mourning, we ask everyone to keep these wonderful pioneers in your tefillot. If you would like to get involved in helping to publicize the events of five years ago as well as the current situation of these families, please contact the One Israel Fund office at 516.239.9202 or email scott@oneisraelfund.org. One Israel Fund continues to provide vital funding in helping the nearly 9,000 former residents of Gush Katif rebuild their communities and their lives.