“Religious Zionists believe that Redemption will come through the state,” explained Mrs. Aliza Karp at a Shlaimos HaAretz gathering for women on Thursday night in Crown Heights. “This is part of the reason the Jews of Gush Katif were compelled to cooperate when the army came to tell them that the democratically elected government had decided their mission in Gush Katif was finished. We need to help them recognize that expelling Jews from Jewish land is a deep Golus – not part of a Redemption process – they need to understand that Redemption comes through Moshiach.”

“Many of the people who were expelled from Gush Katif are suffering from the trauma of how they have been treated,” added Mrs. Baila Kamman. “The Gush Katif women who come to the Farbrengens hosted by the women of Kfar Chabad are very encouraged. They see that Chabad has not forgotten them and they are open to learning Chassidus.”

Disengagement Video Presentation In Support Of Gush Katif Project

“Religious Zionists believe that Redemption will come through the state,” explained Mrs. Aliza Karp at a Shlaimos HaAretz gathering for women on Thursday night in Crown Heights. “This is part of the reason the Jews of Gush Katif were compelled to cooperate when the army came to tell them that the democratically elected government had decided their mission in Gush Katif was finished. We need to help them recognize that expelling Jews from Jewish land is a deep Golus – not part of a Redemption process – they need to understand that Redemption comes through Moshiach.”

“Many of the people who were expelled from Gush Katif are suffering from the trauma of how they have been treated,” added Mrs. Baila Kamman. “The Gush Katif women who come to the Farbrengens hosted by the women of Kfar Chabad are very encouraged. They see that Chabad has not forgotten them and they are open to learning Chassidus.”

The women were discussing what they had just seen on a video called “And Behold Their Came a Great Wind” and how it re-enforced the need to support the women of Kfar Chabad who have begun monthly Farbrengens with women of Gush Katif.

Eight months before the planned Disengagement, filmmaker Ziv Alexandrony, began to film Benny and Rachel Yefet of Netzer Hazani and their family, and Rabbi Rafi Peretz, Rosh Yeshiva in Atzmonah. Alexandrony himself is not religious. He gave no commentary in the documentary, allowing the characters to speak for themselves.

Over the eight months there is a gradual transformation from being confident that the Disengagement could not happen, to realize it might come to be. The film shows the stress from uncertainty and betrayal which the people of Gush Katif suffered. The prevalent ideal for the victims was to not leave voluntarily, but not to raise a hand in active resistance against a fellow Jew, should the Disengagement actually take place.

The Yefets and their family portray the typical Gush Katif family. Rachel is shown going for a morning walk and washing dishes, Benny is shown working in his hothouses where he grows bug free herbs. Rachel talks about her son Itamar who was murdered by terrorists. Benny watches other hothouse-farmers pack up their business. He wonders what they will do if the Disengagement is halted, they will have forfeited the growing season. He continues to plant. The film shows crops that ripen but are left to wither because no one is there to reap the harvest.

Rabbi Peretz, himself a high ranking officer, is shown eight months before the Disengagement teaching about the fall of Gamla and explains it was really a battle for Yerushalaim. He draws a parallel that the fight for Atzmona is a fight for Yerushalaim. He has a calm, confident, warm demeanor.

As the months go by, there is a visible change in Peretz. Just days before the Disegagement he is stopped at a checkpoint where young soldiers, whom one would think would be treating him with utmost respect, are treating him more like a criminal. One of the soldiers is clearly uncomfortable in the role he has been commanded to fill, but he follows orders. Peretz sits in his car quietly with no expression on his face. He does not explain to the soldier that he should choose to sit in jail rather than do what he is doing. Peretz holds onto his belief that the army is holy, as he clearly states at the beginning of the film.

When the film comes to its dramatic ending, when Peretz and his students are allowed a few last minutes in their Beis Medrash, with expulsion soldiers standing to the side for the moment, it becomes clear that as wonderful as these people were – G-d fearing people, who serve Hashem with passion – their dedication to the state assisted the destruction to their homes, their communities and their very lives. The destruction was caused by the authorities, but made easier by the Religious Zionist loyalty.

One of commanders from Peretz’s own Yeshiva was assigned to lead the Yeshiva in the deportation. He chose to be loyal to the army rather than refuse orders. Peretz himself was crying, but turned to embrace the commander, rather than rejecting a man who chose the law of the army above the law of the Torah.

The film presentation was hosted by Mrs. Miriam Feldman as a fundraiser to support the ongoing Farbrengens for women of Gush Katif by women of Kfar Chabad, in conjunction with Gush Katif Shlucha Tzipporah Kirshenzaft. “Through these Farbrengens, the women of Kfar Chabad bring the Rebbe to the women of Gush Katif,” said Mrs. Feldman. “It is only two hundred dollars to sponsor a Farbrengen. Co-sponsors are welcome.”

At the end of the evening it was decided that the film should be shown again when the women who live in the country during the summer, return to the city. “Everyone will want to see this film,” said Mrs. Yehudis Metzger. For further information, call Aliza Karp, listed in the Tzach list.

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