West Bank Mama

What Exactly Is “Natural Growth”?

24 May 2009 2 Comments

by westbankmama in Israel Update

Well, “we” are in the news, again. It seems that instead of being bothered by the idea of  a homicidal maniac getting closer and closer to having a nuclear bomb, the President of the United States is more worried about my house.

Bibi has now come out with a statement that the “illegal outposts” will be taken down, but that “natural growth” in legal settlements will be taken care of. 

Which means what exactly? My yishuv is completely legal, with permission for another 200 housing units (thirty are presently being built). The only problem is that it is illegal to bring in caravans (temporary housing). We have a waiting list of more than thirty families that want to come live in our yishuv – but they want to live in a caravan first, in order to see if yishuv life is what they really want. (We lived in a caravan for almost 7 years until our house was built – partly because we were among the first families to build in a new project, and it took awhile for it to get off the ground).

So Bibi, does this mean that if my yishuv wants to grow “naturally” (a good portion of the new families building houses are married children of yishuv residents), we will get permission to bring in caravans?

The Pope Goes to Yad Vashem, and Peeks at the Road Not Taken

11 May 2009 Leave a Comment

by westbankmama in Israel Update

IDF radio is broadcasting the Pope’s visit to Yad Vashem now, and I am listening. His visit to Israel itself is somewhat controversial in some circles – many believe that it will be damaging to Israel’s interest.

Personally I have mixed feelings about it – but I do know that the only real positive thing about it is his visit to Yad Vashem.  The “king of the goyim” as I think of him, was himself part of the Nazi youth as a teenager. Many have “defended” his participation by saying that there was not much he could do at that age to fight it. I am not sure about that, but I do think that it is a stain that should have kept him from rising to the position he has.

Apparently someone else thinks so too. As part of his visit, he is to meet Holocaust survivors, and one other very special person. He will meet a “Chasid Umat HaOlam” – a Righteous Gentile. For those of you who are not familiar with the term, this is the way we Israelis describe non-Jews who have saved Jews from the Nazis. The Pope, who was a teen in the Nazi youth, will meet a non-Jew who saved Jews from the Nazis when he was 17.

I do not know who came up with the idea to introduce him to this man, but it is brilliant. Meeting the survivors is moving, but it doesn’t have the same impact, because in the end the Jews are  the “others”. A Chasid Umot HaOlam is someone he can better relate to.

All of the blah, blah, blah comes down to the crystal clear reality of looking into someone’s eyes, who did what a truly righteous person should have done in those times.

(oh, boy – another dig. They are ending the ceremony by the singing of “Ani Maamin” – “I Believe” (the whole text for the song that we as Jews sing at the end of ceremonies is: “I believe, with complete faith, in the coming of the Messiah, and even if he tarries, I will wait for him”. In other words, he’s not here yet, WE’RE STILL WAITING!