Maof

This year the Women For Israel's Tomorrow's Hannukah trip went to a few of the communities in the South Hebron Hills.  Leaving Jerusalem in two bullet-proof buses, we packed in yet more friends from Efrat and the Gush Etzion area, and began our trip by visiting with the Community of Telem, where we made our first brief stop.  Here we learned that this previously secular place had recently been strengthened by a group of families from a nearby Hebron yeshiva. These new families had brought new hope and optimism for the future of Telem.  Even though most of the children of the yeshuv were out on a day trip, we left presents and chocolates - almost all of which had been generously donated by overseas friends of Women In Green.
 

From Telem we drove less than a mile to the sister community of Adora.  Here the community was having a much more difficult time.  Following an appalling terror attack, over half of the families moved away and now only 23 families remain - stalwarts and survivors. The WIG group was addressed by Anat Harari, herself a survivor of the recent terror attack.  Arabs, dressed in Israeli army uniform had broken into Adora and shot people mercilessly in their beds, in their own homes.  As in Telem the majority of the children were out for the day, but we were able to leave gifts for them all, with the few who were there. One gift deserves special mention. Two of our most creative and faithful Women in Green, had made miniature Shabbat tables to be given to each nursery that we visited. These beautifully hand-made gifts were very much appreciated.

From Adora we drove on to Neguhot, the main focus of our trip. Neguhot is a flourishing hill-top community only a few miles from Hebron. But, because of the iniquitous Wye agreement, their access road to Hebron and Jerusalem was been placed under Palestinian control. This cut them off from work and nearby Jewish communities, and they were forced to take another road via Kiryat Gat, making all journeys well over an hour in each direction. However, in spite of the problems, their settlement was flourishing, with new families arriving and new babies being born!  We were shown into a special room and there WIG hosted a great party for the kids with balloons, face painting, toys and presents and of course Hannukah chocolates! The children were incredibly appreciative! They are really very isolated and it was a great treat to have Elazar and Ya'acov with their music, balloons and their conjuring with fire! The parents were a lot more anxious than the children, who giggled happily!

Neguhot resident Nechemia, [he and his wife, were survivors of the aforementioned
terror attack], showed us a detailed map of the situation in the area.  He made it very clear that if this Jewish community were not stationed on the apparently isolated hilltop, the whole plain below, to the west, would be exposed to Arab incursions.   We could readily see the towers of Ashkelon to the south and all the way to Hadera in the north. The determination of these 30+ families to live on this strategic hill, to protect many families who live in the surrounding areas of our Holy Land, was an inspiration to us all.

In addition, the parents had taken the decision, at the beginning of the current school year, to send their 1st graders [four 6-year olds] to school in Otniel, rather than Kiryat Gat. This brave decision ensured that the original road remained open and the IDF provided an armored escort for all traffic in both directions.  However, the children often suffer interminable delays and hold-ups, which they face with fortitude.

On leaving Neguhot, we had the same delays that the residents have with the IDF escort and, rather than waste precious 'trip time' we paid a fleeting visit to the new tiny neighborhood of Neguhot. Here 4 dedicated families with young children hold the western perimeter of this community.

Our penultimate stop was the community of Eshtamoa.  Space prevents a detailed history of this crucial hilltop settlement, but even though they hope to return to their original location, there were all the signs of a well established community. We were shown all round Eshtamoa, including some beautifully appointed homes and their synagogue. All of the homes were trailers [caravans], but the way they had been furnished and decorated was a tribute to their creativity.

Lastly, we stopped at Carmel, next to Maon. We had completed a circle of the South Hebron hills. Carmel boasts an amazing medicinal herb factory [Esveh Kedem]. After many years of research and continuous hard work, they now have a flourishing factory producing medicinal creams and treatments. All the herbs are grown and harvested within this community - using only Jewish labor. They already have a busy international market and we would strongly urge any who cannot get to Carmel themselves, to go to their website - <http://www.herbsofkedem.net>

On a personal note we can both testify to painless knees and silky skins after using their products.  And this result, after only one week!  In addition, we were more than happy to have bought Blue and White - Made in Israel - and last but not least, supporting the industry of the South Hebron hills.

In ending our one day trip, we realized once again that although we had gone to bolster and strengthen others, we ourselves had received a burst of adrenalin and encouragement. We came back very uplifted and ready to go on with the battle for the Land of Israel.  In these difficult days, we look forward with great anticipation, to our next opportunity to visit with such stalwart pioneers as those who live in these outlying communities which we were privileged to visit on this occasion in the Hebron Hills.

(Gemma Blech is the official volunteer photographer for Women In Green and Anita
Finkelstein works very closely with Nadia Matar, one of the co-leaders of our very active  organization)

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