2 3 4 1 44 45 Chapter Five | The Se�lements Ganei Tal A Religious Moshav Ovdim (worker's village) near Khan Yunis, that belonged to the Hapoel HaMizrachi Moshavim Union Ganei Tal was the third se�lement established in Gush Ka�f, between Moshav Ka�f and Neve Dekalim regional center. The first name of the moshav was Ka�f C. (Ka�f A became moshav Netzer Hazani, Ka�f B became the se�lement of Ka�f). It was designated as a worker's village of religious Zionists from all over Israel, Bnei Akiva graduates, who planned to establish a se�lement in that spirit. The founders were IDF veterans, graduates of the Nahal and Hesder Yeshivas from across the country.1 The nucleus started to crystallize in 5736 (1976). Informa�on about the nucleus was passed by word of mouth and newspaper ads. At first, it was suggested to those interested, to join the exis�ng se�lement, Netzer Hazani, but the members of the nucleus wanted to establish a new se�lement of their own and rejected the offer. The Moshavim Union refused to allow them to establish a new se�lement, and the nucleus disintegrated. A�er the poli�cal 'upheaval' of 5737 - when the Likud party came to power - the remainder of the nucleus was summoned to the Secretary of the Moshavim Union, Haim Nedivi, who asked them to immediately inhabit Kfar Darom as a transi�onal phase, as part of the establishment of Ka�f C. "If you do not agree, we will lose Kfar Darom to the army or something else," Nedivi explained to the nucleus members. A�er a forma�on Shabbat at the Kfar Maimon Yeshiva, where an ini�al introduc�on was made between the members, some of the nucleus members agreed to move to Kfar Darom as soon as possible.2 In Elul of 5737 (August 1977), the first 13 nucleus families arrived at their first temporary se�lement point in Kfar Darom.3 This was the 'first migra�on.' The first arrivals at the temporary encampment were the Hendel family. Two hours later, on the same day, another family arrived - Ita and Moshe Fryman, Rachel Hendel's brother. The condi�ons were difficult. The houses were small, and the water, Gaza's drinking water, was salty. Electricity also worked lazily. This did not stop the admissions commi�ee from seeking addi�onal families. 4 In the summer of 5738 (1978), in the midst of the peace nego�a�ons between Israel and Egypt, the 17 families who were interested in the possibility of se�ling in Ganei Tal were invited to Kfar Darom. There, on the central lawn, it was decided that the men would arrive in the beginning of August to Kfar Darom for work, and the families would stay in their places of residence un�l the new houses were ready.5 Henceforth, they were called 'the second migra�on.' On the 27th of Tamuz 5738 (08/01/1978) 17 men arrived in Kfar Darom.6 About a month later, their family members arrived at temporary homes in the Ka�f se�lement. The pressure exerted by the se�lers led to their being granted permission to temporarily reside in the empty houses of Ka�f B - later named Moshav Ka�f - un�l they finish construc�ng their permanent homes in Ganei Tal. A different community - far away from the city Shlomo Wasserteil: When a community resides far away from a city, entertainment and leisure culture must be brought in. The synagogue was the gathering place for the members - a�er and between prayers. The women envied our get-together. They would come with the baby strollers to par�cipate in the conversa�ons. On the 12th of Av 5739 (08/08/1979), when the nucleus comprised 33 families, the se�lers moved to the permanent se�lement, Ganei Tal, north of Khan Yunis.7 The secretariat of the se�lement chose the name Ganei Tal because it was located between two mounds: Tel Jinan, which translates as 'gardens', and Tel Ridan, which translates as 'dew' (Ganei Tal = Dew Gardens). The governmental Naming Commi�ee approved the choice. This is how the name 'Ganei Tal' came to be.8 The first family that arrived in Kfar Darom in the 'second migra�on' was a young couple in the first week of their marriage, Simcha and Gideon Rivlin. Since there were no vacant houses, they brought an old bus that they bought from the 'Dan' company, adapted it for living quarters, and lived there for quite some �me.9 (Later, the bus was placed in their greenhouses at the permanent se�lement.) Gideon (May God Avenge His Death) was murdered when an explosive device was detonated at the greenhouses of Morag on the 2nd of Shevat 5765 (01/12/2005) as he was erec�ng a security fence at the site. Ganei Tal's agricultural sector was ini�ally based on cul�va�ng part of Netzer Hazani's greenhouses and Kfar Darom's open fields. Only later did they set up greenhouses in Ganei Tal itself. In so doing, they realized that plas�c greenhouses are be�er than glass ones, mainly due to their cheaper cost. When each se�ler received 1 Aerial photograph of Ganei Tal 2 'Ahuva's Garden' - the amusement park in Ganei Tal commemora�ng Ahuva Emergi (May God Avenge Her Death) who was murdered on the Kissufim road 3 The synagogue in Ganei Tal 4 The interior of the synagogue in Ganei Tal 5 The Club at Ganei Tal 6 Ganei Tal greenhouses 7 Aerial photograph of Nisanit 8 A street in Nisanit
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