5 6 3 4 1 2 146 147 Chapter Ten | Community Life Billig found that the associa�on with the place reduced the feeling of risk and made it easier for the residents to deal with the problema�c security situa�on due to the in�fada, and even explained their tendency to stay put.11 Also, the adherence to the religious belief grew stronger as the difficul�es accumulated and intensified, and the religious belief had a strengthening effect on the mental and emo�onal a�tude of a significant part of the se�lers in dealing with the situa�ons that arose. The Elements that Contributed to Building a Robust Community Se�lement rabbis played a fundamental role at all �mes. They showed leadership, offered religious meaning to various events and strengthened the residents' spirit.12 Undoubtedly, faith helped the people in Gush Ka�f to stay there, survive, and even be happy and feel they were in heaven. They led ordinary lives in an abnormal reality thanks to the faith that infiltrated their very beings through prayers, Torah lessons, a great deal of ac�vity, and miracles, witnessing the divine in every step and at �me of trial, it worked," said Rabbi Yigal Kaminetsky, the Rabbi of Gush Ka�f. 13 Even council officials who did not live in Gush Ka�f could not help but no�ce the unique atmosphere in the place. Moshe Hamiel from the se�lement of Elkana, in Samaria, who served as a psychologist in the council's educa�on department, said: I met there with some remarkable individuals who were ready to do everything for the people of Israel. It was a supreme experience that kept me there. I saw how they coped, their solidarity, genuine faith and spirituality, and it gave me a lot. Gush Katif was a symbol of love for one's fellow person, settlement, community, helping others, a culture of learning and a desire for knowledge, something that is constantly growing and developing. 14 Rachel Schnerb of Karnei Shomron, who was the regional supervisor of the day-care centers: 1 The family beach and next to it, the separate beach 2 Reuven Rosenbla�, the first Head of Council (le�) and Zvi Handel, the second Head of Council (right) shake hands 3 Zvi Handel passes the baton Ahrale Zur, the third Head of Council 4 Avner Shimoni, the fourth Head of Council (le�) in his office in Neve Dekalim with MK Reuven "Ruvi" Rivlin 5 Agricultural produce display of Gush Ka�f at an agricultural exhibi�on 6 Playing on the beach I enjoyed going there, seeing the simplicity merging with the beauty of the desert. Everything there differed from other places: a calm and accepting place, an ideological society, sharing, absorbing Aliyah, with unique camaraderie. The residents withstood the ordeal and did not leave because they were great believers. It also affected the children, the tranquility and joy.15 The community of Gush Ka�f included small agricultural se�lements, which were established first, and the communal regional center - Neve Dekalim. From a historical perspec�ve, it can be said that the beginning, founded on the values of working the land and pioneering, influenced the character of the en�re region, marked by simplicity and modesty. Even the residents who joined later avoided building mansions and preferred the more straigh�orward construc�on style. There was no pursuit of luxury, fancy cars, or mass trips abroad; at most, going to classes and bathing in the sea. There was no jealousy but contentment with what was there. And if there was a bit extra, we established a charity.16 The fact that many educators lived in Gush Ka�f added to the value-oriented, op�mis�c, glass-half-full atmosphere, which invested in educa�on and received doses of community and social resilience.17 The Gaza Coast Regional Council with its leaders and employees also contributed significantlyh to the building of Gush Ka�f's community. Council employees from all departments saw themselves as part of a human body that goes above and beyond their official municipal du�es, and the family atmosphere shaped their work in all areas.18 The council was a�en�ve to residents' wishes and needs and knew how to maximize the use of local resources to help the residents' livelihoods, even though the government budget had not yet been received. When the issue of separate educa�on for boys and girls came up, the classes in the religious state school were separated. When the council realized that transporta�on difficul�es in the area would prevent the opera�on of the community center and culture in general, it ensured two buses ran every hour from Neve Dekalim and back to allow regular daily transport to classes, the library, the pe�ng zoo (Ka�fari), to birthdays, par�es, the shopping center, or to visit friends from different communi�es.19 The residents who benefited from the council's services for 25 years in a row were sa�sfied with how it func�oned and with its employees' kind service and personal a�tude.20 The council's employees also tes�fied to the good mutual rela�ons between the council and the community and of council employees amongst themselves: "You could talk to everyone about anything, everyone really cared about you, without you constantly having to prove yourself," said Efrat Zimmerman, an employee of the welfare department at the council.21 In some years, the workday used to open in the Head of Council's room, with some words of the Torah by Rabbi Zvi Schwartz. These carried a value-related message and a connec�on that strengthend everybody for the rest of the day. This atmosphere was channeled to all residents; it strengthened them and greatly empowered them. Communal Way of Life - Ac�vity The community in Gush Ka�f stood out for its ac�ons. Residents were involved in all ac�vi�es there. Many of them ac�vely volunteered in various ventures, both in commi�ees of their own residen�al locali�es and in regional posi�ons, such as: The PTA , the council plenum, and a regional culture commi�ee. The very act of doing this part or other, connected the people to the place. Educators invested in the educa�on of children and youth far beyond their formal du�es and held a�er school tutoring, Torah lessons and more. The residents took shi�s guarding the se�lement and its ins�tu�ons, driven by a sense of mission to protect their friends and neighbors and preserve the region. This connected the guards to themselves and to their place of residence. Being on duty at the kindergarten brought parents closer to kindergarten teachers and all the children, and led to further apprecia�on to those involved and to the en�re community. Synagogue goers turned their daily mee�ng into a social event of fundamental family value, and the farmers who worked the land, developed a natural connec�on to it and managed to yield wonderful crops out of it.
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