Three weeks ago, just before Mordechai, Chana and I went up north to visit friends and hike through the beautiful riverbeds of the Galilee and Golan, word spread that several hilltop communities in Yesha were going to be uprooted. At one point there were rumors that maybe our small community would be one of them. Can you imagine how we felt hearing such news after having purchased and renovated our portable home, adding on a wooden porch and preparing the land to plant trees and flowers? At first, I was disheartened. How could our government cave into terrorism and uproot us in order to appease our enemies? Would even our absence appease them? After talking to Mordechai, however, I was reassured that in the end we would prevail. He said, quite certainly, that if they take us down, we will build up ten more hilltops. Since then we have not only kept a firm stand on our land, we have continued to build and deepen our roots. I have planted a vegetable patch, which has already begun to sprout. In addition, we will soon be planting fruit tree which, G-d willing, will bare fruits for many years. However, the wonder doesn’t stop at our continuance to preserve the land, rather at the fact that in less than a month, with G-d’s help, Mordechai’s sister will be joining us, one of the single men who has lived on the hilltop for several years, will be bringing his new wife home to a house which he is in the process of building. Soon, we will be six families living happily together on our hilltop.

With all that is happening simultaneously, whether up here in the clouds or in Israel in general, I forget to write about our little Chana. Now almost a year and two months old she is becoming a real toddler. Approximately one week ago she began taking her first steps. When she arrives at her destination (usually Mordechai or I) she applauds enthusiastically, opening her mouth wide, now full of teeth, smiling. Not only is she almost walking… she is talking too! Her baby vocabulary consists of several words including: “Nana” = banana, “Mo” = more, “Bab” = bottle, “Ana” = Chana and of course “Ima” and “Aba” = mother and father in Hebrew. She plays, talks and has a good time with her two neighborhood girlfriends. When I look at her now, I am amazed to think that only a little over a year ago, I wrote about bringing her home to Kfar Darom from the hospital as a tiny new-born baby.

Kfar Darom has also grown extensively. In addition to the families who joined last year, this summer ten new families became part of the community. It looks now as though the small community which we knew will soon B”H be a large bustling one. Not only is Kfar Darom growing, but the wounds of the families victimized by terror are beginning to heal. Approximately one month ago Laizer Amitai - widower of Miri Amitai (”HYD”), who was murdered in the school bus bombing over a year ago, announced his engagement to Hagar Zar, widow of Gilad Zar (”HYD”), head of security in Samaria, who was shot to death by Arabs. She and her six children will be moving to Kfar Darom to rebuild their lives.

As for Kfar Tapuach (nearby) and all or our precious volunteers, things are looking good. In addition to the volunteers who have occupied and brought life to houses which have till now stood empty, tens of University students from the Ariel College have come to dorm in Kfar Tapuach. As I watch all of this I can’t help but smile and thing the Jewish people will always be connected to their roots here in the Land of Israel. One of the volunteers after a night of Guard duty and only a short rest, comes up the hill to help us plant, make stone paths and babysit. As we were planting some beans in the vegetable patch, she taught me a song “We are the farmers of Israel”… which she teaches her kindergarten students back home. Now we plant we sing half jokingly. However, really, we know that it isn’t a joke. May it be G-d’s will that the land which we so love and work on will bare many fruits for us to enjoy for generations to come.

* A representative of the community Kfar Tapuach will be in America on a speaking tour, a month from now. Anyone interested in hearing him speak may inquire when and where through the following e-mail address: Haivri@inter.net.il

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 30th, 2002 and is filed under series.