We Are Not Strangers; Gedera and the Kotel

Wednesday public transit offered a quick ride down to the town of Gedera to visit cousin Dov and Shirley. Dov comes for a rendezvous at BILU junction. Even a simple highway interchange brings history to life. A passenger on the bus explains that BILU stands for "Beit Yaacov Lechu v'Nelcha"; "House of Jacob, go forth!", the slogan of one of the first pioneer organizations to bring Jews to resettle and farm the land in the 1800's and early 1900's. Only in Israel does one expect a lesson in Jewish history from a complete stranger; and yet we are not strangers, we are all kin. That is one of the purposes of this place.

Dov and Shirley are a wonderful couple. They personify the story of Israel. Dov and Shirley came on Aliyah at the beginning of the State; Dov from Hungary and Shirley from England. Their lives together span the rise of this country. They raised three sons and now have ten grandchildren. One son is in the Foreign Service, one is an engineer for Israel Aircraft industries and one is a telecommunications exeutive and computer expert. One daugher-in-law is a internet researcher, one is an artist and one is an officer in the Police. They live in a modest but beautiful home in the small town of Gedera, North of Ashkelon, South of Tel Aviv, and now in range of Grad missiles. Their home is bounded by trees and gardens. But the dry winter has left the gardens parched. We talk and catch up on news of our families, the "situation" and swap stories and anecdotes. They share a hearty and acerbic sense of humor that is a pleasure. Their hospitality and affection is open and deeply sincere. There is not a shred of put-on about them.


It is warm, clear and sunny in Israel and cool in the evenings. Today was a great day for a walk to the Kotel for prayers and to place some notes from a person in Connecticut in the cracks in the Wall. There was time for prayers for family, self and prayers for healing for all those in the Emanuel Family who are ill. A pleasant young bearded man named Shmulie at the Chabad Tefillin booth called out to passers by to put on tefillin. He offered a tallit and tefillin and siddur and upon hearing the words, Hartford, Connecticut he sent regards to Rabbi Shaye Goppen, whom he new from student days. Before leaving, he offered some conversation and reflection on his life in outreach.



Later I returned to the Kotel plaza with Gabrielle. We witnessed the swearing in of a unit of newly trained IDF soldiers at the completion of basic trainng. "Rookies," as a more experienced soldier who looked barely older than twenty said as he swaggered by with his buddies. These new soldiers are boys and girls my daughter's age. I felt a surge of pride and a tinge of sadness as these young people stood to share their role in defense of our people and their nation. The parents of the soldiers being sworn in were standing along the railing, along with siblings and grandparents. Each soldier in turn marched forward, recieved a gun then a tanakh (bible) and exchanged salutes with an officer. The recruits stood in ranks with the Israeli flag in the middle and the Western Wall, Kotel, in the background. A speaker reminded the troops that this is TuBishvat season, a day rooted in the land of Israel. This is a fitting time, he said, for them to affirm their own roots in the land of Israel and devote themselves to the defence and building up of the Jewish People in this land. Hatikvah played, the soldiers at attention. Next to us, the parents of one soldier hugged. The mother sang the anthem and patted the hair of her young daughter standing in front of her, watching the older brother begin his official army service. It appeared a moment filled with pride and sadness. As the swearing in ceremony ended, the son approached the family and recieved their embrace. The mother cried with what looked to be a mix of happiness, sadness and concern. At that very moment I felt I was witnessing the end of his childhood and the beginning of an adult life. In those steps from the parade ground to the family, he made that passage. An announcer thanked the families of the soldiers and reminded them that they could obtain a DVD of the ceremony near the exit to the Kotel plaza.



Ancient temple walls and DVD's, M-16's and Hebrew Bibles; up in the Jewish Quarter, young men and women sit on benches in the public square, tapping into laptop computers next to a stone olive press from the Second Temple Period. Yes, the Old City has wi-fi! Across the square, a massive stone-faced synagogue building rises. It is being built in the spot of the Hurveh Synagogue that was demolished by Jordanian artillery in 1948.



Later, we had dinner with a few North American students on programs in Israel before starting college. Dinner was at an old villa just off of Yafo Street called Beit Ticho. The villa was purchased from a wealthy Arab by a Doctor Ticho and his wife. The doctor made the lower floor a community medical clinic for all to use, and his wife made the upper floors their quarters and her painting studio. The veranda and gardens were a salon of sorts for intellectuals, political leaders and local personalities to gather for over forty years. Now the house is operated by the Israel Museum as a gallery and restaurant. We sat for several hours on the terrace under the trees and stars. The mild night allowed a brisk walk back to Baka.



One of the American teens I spoke with commented on the degree of responsibility and service Israeli teens experience, especially in comparison with most North American teens. Yet, as the soldiers took their guns, she felt a twinge of sadness as she regarded the reality of violence in this world. I dream of a world in which the The Jewish people can live in peace with all people around us. The swearing-in ceremony included the prayers, "Lo Yisa Goy el-Goy Herev, Lo Yilmedu Od michamah" "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation/nor shall they learn war any more." This verse from the prophets was joined by "Oseh Shalom," the prayer for peace. I wonder if any other military includes these prayers in their inductions?



The Jerusalem Post reports signs of trouble and hope. The IDF prepares to retaliate for the killing of a border patrol soldier by Hamas;paper the Vatican revoked the excommunication of a prominent Catholic Churchman and Holocaust denier; The U.S. will be "reaching out" to Iran and Syria; George Mitchell, US Middle East Peace envoy is in the region; Denmark has signed an agreement with an Israeli company to establish a network of electric cars and rechargers; a rebuilding New Orleans finds a new emphasis on solar energy, hybrid city buses, organic community gardens and bicycle paths; special assistance for homeowners to insulate their homes. (Could Hartford be next?).