By Rachel Saperstein
August 5, 2005
The children of Nevei Dekalim brought each family a long-stemmed sunflower with a wish for a happy and peaceful Sabbath. A note was attached. The note, written by the children, reminded us, the grown-ups, to keep up our courage and faith.
The previous day, a bite-sized chocolate bar, pinned to an invitation, was hung on our front doorknob. We were invited to a mass seudah shlishit, the third Sabbath meal, being hosted by the teenagers for the entire town of N'vei Dekalim. It was the children's way of saying thank you to their parents and neighbors for their brave struggle for Gush Katif, and for the privilege of having grown up in this beautiful bit of paradise.
The young people of Gush Katif have been in the forefront of the battle to save their homes. They packed Purim baskets, stood on street corners giving out orange ribbons, went from house to house meetings with the people of Israel during the Face-to-Face campaign. They sold orange hats, t-shirts, bags, pens, bracelets and pins across the land. They hung posters and banners across the highways of Israel. And the youth of the rest of Israel joined their battle.
Our kids met with secular teenagers and restored the word "Zionism" to their vocabulary. They taught "post-Zionist" youth to love Israel with their heart and soul.
An independent poll taken among various age groups to determine who supports us (orange) and who supports our expulsion (blue), showed that in all age groups, orange supporters were never less than 65%. In the 15-25 age group, orange supporters were 80%. In the up-to-14 age group, orange supporters were 93%.
Our youngsters blocked traffic, were beaten by the police, arrested and jailed. While convicted murderers and thieves spent the daylight hours wandering freely in prison courtyards, our fourteen-year-olds were put into solitary confinement. Threats were made to send them to secular kibbutzim for 'reeducation'.
Our youngsters did not falter. They spoke to soldiers and begged them to refuse orders to evict fellow Jews. They tied orange ribbons on half-tracks and jeeps. They watched soldiers break into tears despite desensitivity training. The soldiers did not remove the orange ribbons from their vehicles.
Young women of the Communications Department of the Ulpana N'vei Dekalim High School produced a three-minute film ? a powerful film of their friends asking, begging, the Knesset members to reconsider their votes to expel their fellow Jews from their homes. One student, Anat Yefet, was asked by Knesset speaker Ruby Rivlin to address a Knesset committee.
The daughter of one of our esteemed rabbis spoke passionately to soldiers reminding them that when they stand before their Maker, there will be no politicians or judges or army officers to defend their actions.
What can we as parents and teachers tell our own children? What can we tell the Jewish children of the world? Do we say, "Never trust your government, they lie to you"? Do we say, "Never trust your policemen, they may beat you with the full support of their superiors"? Do we say, "Never trust the army even though at your swearing-in ceremony, you will hold a Bible and swear to defend your fellow Jews, and you know it's a lie"?
What do you tell a Jewish child in Israel? Do we say, "The nations of the world are applauding our own government's plans to destroy Jewish lives, and call our leaders 'bold and courageous' while they laugh at us"?
Children, you have been magnificent in your struggle to save the Land of Israel. You gave us pride, strength and courage. More than ever, we thank the Almighty for giving us the privilege to have produced children such as you.
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