3 4 5 1 2 4 60 61 Chapter Five | The Se�lements Neve Dekalim A religious communal se�lement, east of Khan Yunis The planning of Neve Dekalim, the large and central se�lement of Gush Ka�f, started by the Se�lement Division in the late 1970s. They wanted a regional center for the small agricultural se�lements in Gush Ka�f, where all the region's inter-rural, produc�ve and communal services are concentrated. The main goal was massive Jewish se�lement in Gush Ka�f, located in the heart of a dense Arab populated area within the Gaza Strip. Secondary goals - crea�ng a good educa�on system for all residents and rich consump�on and cultural services, which will sa�sfy all the needs of the residents and prevent them from wan�ng to venture outside. The ini�al plan was for 100 families and 50 students of a Hesder yeshiva. As part of the architectural planning, it was proposed to leave a physical op�on open to increase the center's popula�on to 500 families.1 The regional center was planned to be called 'Amber,' but under pressure from the residents, the name was changed to 'Neve Dekalim,' reflec�ng the region's nature and beauty.2 The construc�on and infrastructure works began near the Gadid Nahal stronghold, and shortly a�er, the place was civilianized, and the stronghold's buildings were transferred to the use of the Gaza Coast Regional Council.3 Neve Dekalim's civilianiza�on ceremony was held in the 25th of Nisan 5742 (04/18/1982) in the midst of the evacua�on of Yamit.4 The first se�lers were the couple Yigal and Tzipora Kirshensa�, from the Atzmona evacuees, of the Yamit region. A month and a half later they were joined by another couple - Meir and Gila Cohen, who got married and decided to live in a place that was s�ll considered 'remote,' and is supposed to be the regional center of all the se�lements in the future. The third couple were Yael and Yossi Neuman. For several months the three families lived alone on the sands, un�l the wave of se�lers started to arrive. The construc�on boom in the se�lement was helped not only by people, but also by the houses from the Yamit region. While the bulldozers destroyed the Yamit region, many pre-fab buildings remained in the moshavim, some even new, that were never used. The Ministry of Housing decided to move them to the new se�lements in Gush Ka�f. 153 housing units arrived at once in Neve Dekalim. The feeling that "there are pre-fab houses and there is no problem" gave the se�lement its first impetus. These houses allowed for the increased number of se�lers - 250 people within a few months. 23 families registered as candidates for Neve Dekalim and addi�onal 50 Hesder Yeshiva students.5 On the 21st of Tevet 5743 (01/06/1983) a ceremony was held which announced the establishment of Neve Dekalim as a se�lement. It was also the ceremony of laying the cornerstone for the 'Yamit' Yeshiva and the inaugura�on ceremony of the elementary school, 'Neot Ka�f.' The guests of honor were the Minister of the Interior, Dr. Yosef Burg, and the Minister of Housing, David Levy. Dr. Burg emphasized the importance of se�ling the place, and enjoyed seeing the abundance of crocheted yarmulkes on the heads of those present, representa�ves of the Religious Zionism. Minister Levy pledged that his office would provide real incen�ve for the construc�on of Neve Dekalim, as soon as possible. The spiritual aspects were emphasized by the words of Rabbi Moshe Zvi Neria (May His Memory Be Blessed), who taught some of the future se�lers in Kfar HaRoe, and his son, Rabbi Ptah-Ya, was among the first se�lers. Rabbi Yaakov Ariel and Rabbi Yigal Kaminetzky reiterated their Rabbi's words.6 1 Aerial photograph of Neve Dekalim 2 Children of Neve Dekalim next to the entrance sign to their se�lement 3 The Neve Dekalim Hesder Yeshiva building in the shape of a Star of David 4 The Ka�fari - Pe�ng Zoo in Neve Dekalim 5 The green and well-kept entrance to Neve Dekalim (pp. 26-36) A collage of photos from Neve Dekalim The noises of studies and construc�on complemented each other Rabbi Ariel: At the end of 5742, the construc�on of Neve Dekalim was in full swing. Bulldozers and concrete mixers, presses and cranes were everywhere. And inside this commo�on, the yeshiva students sit in a study hall, temporary but spacious, and engage in Torah studies. The noise inside and the noise outside merged into a mighty symphony of voices. One day, the Head of Council, Reuven Rosenbla�, asked the Head of the Yeshiva, Rabbi Ariel: "Doesn't the noise and commo�on interfere with the peace needed for studies?" Rabbi Ariel replied: "On the contrary, not only is there no contradic�on between the two, they also complement each other. When the building boom started there, one could also feel the increase in spiritual tension in the studies. Just as we believe that strengthening the study of the Torah increases the ambi�on to build the country and develop it. Our yeshiva teaches harmony between the Torah, the people and the land. Studying the Torah is what guarantees our hold of this place. The city of Yamit was uprooted because it did not have deep enough roots, neither for its se�lers, nor for the people, nor for its elected ins�tu�ons. We arrived in Yamit too late, a�er the se�lement had already been founded. Here we are the first. The se�lement will be based on deep and solid conceptual founda- �ons - that no spirit will be able to uproot them from their place."
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