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.
When I was 18 I stayed and helped out on Kibbutz Alumim, working in the gezer factory the avocado patches and even visited the reffet. What a great experience then and its amazing to see so many years later. thanks for posting!
Glad you liked I had so much more to share, (took 500 photos) but thought this was an overview.
I loved the hard hat sign in the factory with a man and a woman for example.
Our future is with/in our young people. Thank you for your reminder of this with such delightful and committed people.
Really such a wonderful group was inspiring!
Nice post, Sharon, thank you, and we invite ALL your readers to come visit us here in the south – we are optimistic, idealistic, and Southern hospitality is alive and well here!!! Of course, it would be even better to have many more permanent residents in the south!
Thanks Bracha! We know how great Southern hospitality is.
What a wonderful, heartwarming trip – thanks for sharing.
Appreicaite that you liked this Leora.
Amazing. Pictures are worth more than 1000 words.
Thanks Sara!
interesting post !! enjoyed it very much
anni
Thank you, probably a bit colder where you are and we should not complain?
Beautiful. 🙂
It’s like a ray of light that makes me feel somewhat better about the situation here; the news is making me want to go back to America, if you know what I mean.
Have to share good stuff when and where ever we find it!
Is that a question or an exclamation?
If it’s a question, I don’t understand it.
Ok took away the ? I have been working on new post, but hard to do with so much negative election noise…
Thank you; now it makes sense. 🙂 I thought you were being sarcastic, and criticizing my comment for being negative. 😛 See, I knew I should ask before getting upset.
Yes, you are right – we have to share all the good news we can.
You’re doing a pretty good job of that, from what I see.