Film Of Gush Katif Shows In Crown Heights

Prior to screening the Disengagement film ‘Behold There Came a Great Wind,’ which was shown at the Jewish Children’s Museum Theater, Mrs. Baila Kamman introduced the film by speaking about an article written by Rabbi Yehoshua S. Hecht and posted on Arutz Sheva on August 6th, 2006. Click Here to read the article

The article tells the story of the Arizal diverting a plague of locusts. The plague was decreed because a certain unfortunate individual complained about his bitter lot, and no one came to help him. The plague was diverted when the students of the Arizal came to help the individual – just in time!

Full poster in the Extended Article.

The article compares the cries of the individual to the cries that continue to come from the families who were evicted from Gush Katif. And the resulting plague was the war in Lebanon this past summer which was not diverted because there has not been sufficient help to assist those who are in pain.

That was the introduction to the film. By the time the film was finishing, almost everyone in the audience was weeping quietly together with the families and students who had become familiar personalities in the one hour presentation, which documented the eight months of uncertainty leading up to the Disengagement.

Appropriately, all money raised at the event will be used to uplift the spirits of the refugees from Gush Katif who are still suffering. The money will be going to pay for Farbrengens for women refugees, as well as events for the entire community, including special programs for children. A very successful Simchas Beis HaShoeva was sponsored partially by money raised when this film was shown in Crown Heights in Elul, as reported on CrownHeights.Info.

In the discussion following the film, it was brought out that the two families in the film, totally independent of each other, cooperated with the Disengagement troops. They did not leave until the army came to fetch them, but they did not engage in a physical struggle. “We saw on the news that there were people who were putting up fight – some of them on rooftops,” said one woman in the audience demanding a clarification.

It was then discussed how the media was looking for the most controversial scenes, and therefore focused on the few places where there were struggles. The proof that the majority did not fight is in the fact that the Disengagement took so little time to carry out.

Had the Yeshivas alone decided to give the army the most trouble possible, even without lifting a hand, the entire summer would have been different. And the proof of that is – the positive results of protests which claimed victory against the controversial parade that had been scheduled for Yerushalaim.

The film has many aspects. It shows the beauty of Gush Katif. Both physical and spiritual. A mother is sitting at her kitchen table with some of her grown children discussing what to do about the impending Disengagement. The mother is saying that the people outside of Gush Katif do not realize the quality of life that is in Gush Katif. She brings as an example how they do not have to lock their doors and there has never been any theft. In one of the rare moments that he interjects into the movie, the producer tells this mother that his wife wants to know how she brought up twelve children. She explains that it is not so difficult, the children do not all come at once. Providing some comic relief, the producer answers. “I understand… that makes it easy!”

One of the main characters in the film is a hard working farmer. If a Jew should have faith even with the blade is on his throat, then this man fulfilled his obligation. While others were packing up and shipping out their agricultural equipment, Benny was planting.

As the women were leaving the theater, they spoke about how more people should come and see the film. Wednesday night was for the women, and Thursday night will be for men, IYH. Show times 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm. Entrance donation $18.