6 5 4 1 2 3 134 135 Chapter Nine | The world of the Torah They were involved in everything that went on in the community in general and in the members' houses in par�cular, but not as preachers, but through personal conversa�ons, listening and ac�ng with the community at par�es, events and commi�ee mee�ngs. Educa�on mainly fostered modesty, values and prayer, which have, in turn, influenced other things in the community.10 The se�lements' Rabbis met periodically at Rabbi Kaminetzky's office to discuss issues that came up in the various se�lements, or general issues that affected the en�re region. When necessary, they also contacted the rabbis of yeshivas and kollels, mainly for support, crea�ng a profound collabora�on between all the rabbis within Gush Ka�f. Thus, the rabbinical system became a significant body in secular ma�ers such as agriculture, tourism, security and community forma�on and, of course, in religious/sacred issues of faith, learning and building the remarkable resilience of the en�re region. Together, they discussed dilemmas un�l the last moments of Gush Ka�f's existence, such as whether it is permissible to pray in an unprotected synagogue, what to do when the spouse wants to leave, whether to meet with Sela's Directorate, and whether it is permissible to find an alterna�ve place if the disengagement plan is implemented. However, the rabbis met with military personnel in the region, conducted discussions, studied together, and formed unique rela�onships. "General Israel Ziv told us in one of the mee�ngs that the se�lement in Gush Ka�f is, in his eyes, is Zionism at its best," said Rabbi Kaminetzky.11 Gush Ka�f Rabbinical Council in the struggle against the disengagement Upon the beginning of the struggle against the disengagement plan, the Gush Ka�f Rabbinical Commi�ee was established, whose members were Rabbi Reuven Nathanel, Rabbi Gabi Kadosh and Rabbi Avik-Schreiber. The Commi�ee was headed by Rabbi Kaminetzky. The rabbis concluded that the spiritual standing of the residents is the most potent answer to con�nuing life in the shadow of the dangers and security threats. When the risk of driving on the roads became a real threat, the rabbis stepped up and set up a protest tent at the Kissufim checkpoint to express the residents' security distress. During these protest days, the bloody a�ack happened on the bus in Kfar Darom. The Rabbinical Council held a sizeable na�onal conference of rabbis in Kfar Darom, as well as conferences in se�lements, educa�onal ins�tu�ons and yeshivas, and issued calls of encouragement and reassurance to the public, including halachic instruc�ons on issues related to life in Gush Ka�f.12 Gush Ka�f rabbis also worked at the headquarters of the struggle, a�emp�ng to cancel the disengagement plan and connec�ng with ac�vists. They led the struggle from a halachic-religious viewpoint and were instrumental throughout the demonstra�ons, opera�ons, house par�es, mee�ngs and various events. They instructed the public to con�nue in their rou�ne lives in the se�lements through the very end, hoping to gain strength from this for the period following the uproo�ng. Despite the differences of opinion between the se�lers of Gush Ka�f regarding dealing with the government and the ways to struggle, the rabbis understood how to provide a space for all these different sen�ments. In leaflets they distributed, they asked not to boyco� those who contacted the government. They further ini�ated a dialogue with those who did not think like them through various mee�ngs and informa�onal soirees. In an interview with Rabbi Yona Goodman, who accompanied the teachers, rabbis and residents in Gush Ka�f in the period before the evacua�on, he described in detail the challenges and how they dealt with them: The great difficulty of the rabbis was that they were required to do so many things at the same �me. First, to con�nue their day-to-day work with plenty of sacred pursuits of lessons and rulings, counseling for individuals and the families, accompanying various community commi�ees and more. Secondly, to help define the path of the struggle headquarters when there were some�mes different and even contradictory voices within it. Thirdly, to serve as a beacon of faith and strength for each of the members of their community in the most challenging �mes, and on top of that - to deal with the difficul�es that they, their wives and their families faced. On regular days, a rabbi leads his community in the way of the Torah and faith, and the disputes that exist between different members within it are usually mediated. But in the days of turmoil, there are o�en huge gaps in the expecta�ons of various groups of residents from the same rabbi. One wishes the rabbi to be more involved in community and family decisions regarding the nature of the struggle and the appropriate ac�on, and another requests that the rabbi's involvement be decreased. One expects the rabbi to prepare them spiritually for the disengagement, and another expects that he will only help spiritually in the struggle against it, and so on. In my view, as a bystander, but in a posi�on close to quite a few rabbis, I witnessed them displaying superhuman powers. They stayed true to their spiritual path but were inclusive and a�en�ve to different opinions; they helped bridge between the residents' wishes and those of the many illegal guest residents who some�mes asked for something completely different; they navigated between the expecta�ons of the local struggle headquarters and those of the Yesha Council members; they con�nued to serve as beacons of faith and offered guidance while treading lightly on the fine line between faith and security. 1 Chief Rabbi Amar speaks to the women of Neve Dekalim in the Sephardi Synagogue 2 Rabbi Yigal Kaminetzky carries a Torah scroll in Kissufim 3 Circling the stage with Palm tree branches (Lulav) in Neve Dekalim synagogue 4 The Na�onal Shas (The Six Books of the Mishna) Gradua�on Ceremony in Neve Dekalim in the presence of Rabbi Yigal Kaminetzky, Rabbi Israel Meir Lau and Rabbi Zvi Schwartz 5 Bringing in a Torah scroll at the inaugura�on of the synagogue in Kfar Darom, Independence Day of 5765 6 The 'Tiferet Israel' Synagogue, built near Neve Dekalim in memory of Tiferet Tertner (May God Avenge Her Death) who was killed when a bomb hit the se�lement
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