Netzer Again and Again and Again

Eight times the outpost of Netzer has been destroyed. Nine times it has been rebuilt. This afternoon was one of its rebuildings.

Netzer was created to bring Jewish continuity from Alon Shvut to Elazar, the Biblical Heartland of Israel, the center of Gush Etzion. It stands on a hilltop only a few hundred meters from Alon Shvut's Givat HaChish and from the top of Netzer, you can see Elazar's beautiful Jerusalem-stone homes.

Netzer became a symbol long ago of the Jewish determination to build the land. Its outpost stood for many different lengths of time, only to be destroyed , but then rebuilt again with even greater determination.

Gush Etzion was well-represented on Netzer today. Dozens of Jews of all ages gathered there to show their steadfast attitude that Gush Etzion and all of Yesha must be strengthened, and this would be achieved through continued construction, construction, construction.

It was cold and windy on the hilltop, but there was no freeze. Three generations of pioneers carried small and large stones to build the walls of a stone house on the remnants of a house that stood once before. Teenagers sawed and hammered to build the skeleton of a wood and aluminum house, as well.

The building was done to lively accordion music, as the accordionist walked from worker to worker, cheering him on with his tunes.

After hearing a shiur (lesson) by Alon Shvut's Rabbi Gidon Perl, the visitors lit an improvised Chanukiah (menorah) on the side of the mountain. Its flames were visible all the way from Efrat.

While this building event was partially symbolic, there is actually a movement underway to create a "Build the Land of Israel Fund." This Fund will finance Jewish builders in the construction of a 48 sq meter home at the cost of 100,000 NIS (completed within five days) or the construction of a 70 sq meter home at a cost of 200,000 NIS (within two weeks).

This will enable young couples to move to Israel's hilltops at very reasonable susidized costs. The couples will not pay for the construction, but will pay rent to the Fund, which will then subsidize other housing.

If the houses are destroyed, G-d forbid, the Fund will finance new homes. Continued new homes throughout Judea and Samaria will thaw the freeze, and continue the warmth of building and growing.

There are already ten young families on a waiting list for the hamlets of Aish Kodesh, Sussia and Negohot. With the help of the "Build the Land of Israel Fund", founded by Nadia Matar and Yehudit Katzover, the families will be able to expand on the hilltops with REAL houses.

The people of Judea and Samaria want to continue building. This Fund will make it even more possible.
If the Fund is not able to collect the monies that it believes is possible, then chas v'shalom, the only building in the next nine months and beyond, will be the symbolic stone and wood structure a la Netzer.

For more information about the "Build the Land of Israel Fund," readers can contact Nadia Matar <nmatar@netvision.net.il>, 0505500834 or Yehudit Katzover 0507161818.

The photos in this blog were provided by Israel Katz.

IY"H a video about Netzer can be found on Voices TV at: http://voices-magazine.com/voices-videos.php?id=87