Human Rights Watch finally called Hamas’ firing on Israel a “war crime,”
however, a month after Operation Pillar of Defense,
new rockets were launched toward Israel from Gaza that fell short.
As the year 2012 comes to an end, how about some good news?
Last week I got out of Jerusalem, Israel, and went south,
near the Gaza border, where the sign was only in Hebrew and Arabic.
Kinneret was kind enough to show me around Kibbutz Alumim,
whose fields are 4 kilometers from Gaza, which can be seen in the distance.
Carrots from the fields are sorted in this factory,
whose bomb shelter is at its entrance.
Another shelter is placed on the children’s playground
and all the housing has safe rooms added on.
Alumim also has cows and avocado trees,
and impressive sunsets.
Like a pearl that started from a grain of sand in the ocean,
in this seemingly unlikely place, and because of “the situation”
a new program began called Southern Task Force-Yonatan
or Mechinat Yonatan, for Yoni Netanyahu.
Started last year by a few idealistic girls who found others on Facebook,
this co-ed, religious group of 25 young people
are taking a year after high school to work on the kibbutz,
study Torah, and volunteer in schools in nearby cities.
They get up early and work hard, but still find time to relax,
and all of them plan to join the army next year.
With young leaders like these, I say we have 25 new reasons to hope
for a better future in Israel.
The young people I spoke with talked of wanting
to work the land, learn Torah, and make a difference.
As 2012 comes to an end, can you think of a better hope for the future?
To see more photos, click HERE.
