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A photo essay by Tzvi Freeman
| How do you know that something is truly one and not many parts sewn together? Try to tear it apart...
298 Comments Posted
Through tears it is hard to type, but this was too worthy of praise to wait on commenting. Truly a most beautiful and dignified photo essay, thank you for sharing this gem which reminds us, no matter what, we are all still part of the same family.
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Do you really want me to believe and be inspired by the trained, preprogrammed, 'compassion' shown by the IDF?
One of the cruelest things you can do is to 'fatten a calf in preparation for its slaughter', because you are cynically doing an act of compassion with a totally opposite intention, as in the case of the expulsion.
I think that defending such behavior and dressing it up in a positive light is even more intolerable, because it plays right into the hand of the perpetrators, naivley legitimizing them.
The way the evacuation was executed was not an expression of brotherly love; it was was an expression of psychological warfare at its cruelest.
I think you deserve an A for effort and creativity and an F for accuracy.
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What a beautiful and moving photo essay. Indeed the evacuees of the Gush are true heroes and heroines.
The kiddush ha-shem the soldiers made with their compassion, love and feeling will stay with me forever.
Mi keamcho yisrael, goy echod baarets ["Who is like Your people Israel, a nation that is one on earth"].
Guila -- proud and priviledged to be a Jew.
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I can't imagine anything (except for some of the things my government has done lately) as stupid as your government's forcibly moving all those people from their homes, homes they made with their sweat and blood from a wasteland. They should have been able to proudly stay in their beautiful homes all their lives, enjoying the blessings of their incredible hard work and sacrifice as they grew old in peace. Instead, they were made pawns in a stupid, useless attempt to win some kind of respect from the Palestinian murderers and savages, who will see it only as weakness.
Still, I can't imagine another country where such a barbaric rape of part of the population by their government could have been carried out with such compassion and respect by those tasked to do this horrible deed. The people affected, settlers and soldiers, can be very proud of themselves, but the government should be ashamed of itself. It frightens me for the future of Israel that they could do this to themselves.
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Your photo essay was really moving. We also felt torn appart , as most Israelis felt, when the whole expulsion from Gush Katif was underway; it was like a part of each of us was being expelled. It was like an open wound in the heart that is slow to heal.
But it shouldn't have happened. No Israeli government has the right to force a Jewish army to expel their brothers and sisters from their homes and communities and leave them homeless and without jobs. The IDF (Israel Defence Force) was created to defend us against our enemies, and not for this dirty job. The trauma that these young soldiers suffered will hound them for the rest of their lives.
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Very touching. But wrong. The soldiers performed an immoral, illegal act. The fact that they knew it was wrong does not rectify their crime!
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Very moving presentation
However please do not even mistakenly infer that the Gush Katif residents were brave or glorious for being evicted from there.
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Beautifull, touching, we are one.
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It isn't true to say that no shots were fired. A Jewish terrorists fired many shots and killed several Arabs. This was a tremendous Chillul Hashem that Chabad should condemn forcefully. Murder is murder...
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I was expelled from Neve Dekalim after joining the community for 4 months prior to its deporation and destruction by these "crying soldiers". I am not interested nor do I believe it is appropriate to show empathy for soldiers that (in most cases) efficiently performed a highly-immoral, if not illegal, action and were partners in one of the greatest acts of Chillul Hashem and national self-effacement and strategic suicide in Jewish history. What they did was intensely wrong, the fact that some (few) of them had emotional trauma--GOOD! It means they still have some remnants of a Jewish soul. Focus your sympathy on the victims and not on the gangleader Sharon's henchmen and women.
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THANK YOU!!!
Cannot stop crying, still...together with the enourmous pain maybe, perhaps, still Hashem will deem us as deserving to be "TOGETHER" and not be able to be torn apart!
That day should come soon! And we should all pray and merit that Hashem sees our pain and remebers that we are all his children and we should merit to be redeemed by the One, Blessed be he, who is the Only ONE!
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How do we post this extensively - for the world to see?
We live in the hope that this great sacrifice will wrok. Our foreparents made theirs. And so far , their gift has sustained our precious legacy for these millenia. Thank you.
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A most moving and beautiful essay on a very painful subject. It is difficult to comment on so hurtful an event except to say, "I don't easily cry, but by the time I saw the last frame, the tears were blurring my vision."
We have lived through hard times and harder times, but have somehow managed to survive as a nation despite, (or maybe because of) these many set-backs. Hashem is the "Manhig" of all things and we have to believe this is part of a greater plan, one that will eventually work out for the good. All we can do, especially in this month of Elul, is to strengthen our faith and hope we will be deservent of G-D's more forgiving and merciful attributes. Hashem Melech, Hashem Moloch, Hashem Yimloch L'olam V'ed.
It is most important that this presentation be distributed in every way, and by any means possible, to as wide an audience as can be reached.
I would very much like to have a DVD copy or a C D Rom so I can show it to our people here.
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We witnessed the senseless destruction of 21 productive and ambitious Jewish communities in Gush Katif and northern Shomron, and the irrational unjustified creation of 9,000 refugees. In the early days of world war ii, when England was forced to retreat from Dunkirk, Churchill made the astute timeless observation, that "war is not won by evacuation." The ultimate lack of sensitivity and desecration came about when the 48 kedoshim buried in the Neve Dekalim cemetery, were forced to be exhumed, and their parents and immediate relatives had to re-live again their immense tragedies!
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This presentation speaks to the heart. It makes one cry in pride. Chabad is doing the right things for the Jewish nation.
A word of critique -- your presentation glorifies the IDF without criticizing those who gave the orders. If expulsion of Jews is a source of sad pride why not continue with it? I wish it included a statement -- NEVER AGAIN!. I also wish you make a similar strong statement against the demonization of religious Zionism and against intimidation and punishment of Jews who object the policies of expulsion.
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This was a very moving presentation, I was just recently in Israel and I visited the "hot spots" west bank, gaza, gush katif, sderot... I stood on the place that is now the most vulnerable place to the terrorists and I talked to the mayor there, as much as he was afraid for his people, he said that it must have happened, it was the only way to move forward, there is no communicating with someone if your soldiers are in their homes stopping them from killing you... you can only exert force on a place that is not partially yours... he was interesting and just as moving as this presentation...
thank you
a fellow heartbroken Jew
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Required looking, listening, learning and pondering for everyone.
Thank you so much!
Moving, memorable, and meaningful. Truly touching.
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A marvelous and moving presentation. Except the one slide that seems to place a value on failing to follow orders in a democratic society.
The beauty of the presentation is that it that soldiers could excute their orders with tears because they realized that a democracy in our nation had made a decision. Their embracing the settlers is part of the beauty of our nation. The joining of the two--the settler and the soldier--is our glory and what makes Israel special.
To cry with and for the settlers was the theme of your presentation. Adding this slide made no sense at all. If we live to gether, like a marriage there are sometimes tears. Walking out is not a solution.
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Beautiful, meaningful pictorial. Both sides were very brave in carrying this out (the soldiers and the residents). Nobody ever said we would be able to understand Hashem's master plan. We must take comfort in knowing that it is all good, even if we don't see that right now.
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Thank you for creating that marvellous presentation.
It has been an agonising process watching from so far away the disengagement but this presentation of yours has made me personally feel so proud to be a Jew. To be a part of this fine nation/tribe/religion/people who handled the sad inevitability of this move so humanly.
I personally feel in particular so very proud of those fine young men and women in the IDF who quite rightly had to carry out the rule of law however painful it was to them, they appeared to have handled the whole process so well I am proud and grateful too to their commanders for the excellent training these soldiers had so clearly received.
My love to all of us.
Shalom
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What was not shown were the black-clad goon squads of Yassam, the ones who beat and abused the Jews for days and weeks before the expulsion and who stood behind the regular soldiers who did the hands-on expelling. They sent our children, the regular army, while they stood ready to shed blood if the young soldiers faltered.
I have seen no comment on the fact that Sharon's psychopath squads used our children the way the Palestinian terrorists use theirs: to front for the operation and inhibit the appropriate response. No blood was shed because our own children shielded the criminals behind them. This is what the State of Israel has become and our religious leaders are proud of it? We can be exiled without a drop of blood being spilled, if only the State of Israel, the false god that we worship, sends our children in the vanguard.
Yes, thank God, they love us and our Jewish nation. They should be encouraged to refuse the commit such a crime. Let the criminals go in the vanguard.
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This was a very touching and meaningful example of what the Israeli people really stand for. Sad to say they are often misquoted and misrepresented by a careless media who refuse to accept or understand the truth. Seeing the stong feelings displayed by the IDF is certainly heartwarming and makes us proud of our heritage. God Bless them all.
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A very moving photo essay. But it did not mention the few criminal settlers who threw acid on our heroic IDF soldiers who had to follow the orders of their civilian government leaders in the Knesset whether they agreed with them or did not. Those criminals should be thrown in jail and pray to G-d to forgive them for their sins. Just because you think you are right does not give you the right to maim a fellow Jew. And by the way, I think Sharon made a big mistake to withdraw from Gaza, and Israel made mistakes to withdraw from Lebanon, Sinai, Egypt and parts of Jordan because the Arab hordes in general have not made the conscious decision to live in peace with any Jewish country of Israel with any borders. Giving up land in return for nothing does not appease terrorists bent on your destruction. England found that out with Chamberlain selling out Czechoslovakia. Sharon will find it out with Gaza.
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To debunk a misconception by one of the commentors, Howie of Toronto - Acid was not thrown on the soldiers - this has been verified.
Another misconception - that this was a democratic decision - when a PM fires those who vote against him in order to acquire a false majority and ignores the wishes of his party - this is not democracy.
A moving presentation, obviously this could only have happened in Israel, but unfortunately none of this should have happened.
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This is a remarkable piece of work. My husband and I have been alarmed by some of the comments we are hearing since the terrible disengagement. The blame game; the "We will not forget, we will not forgive" slogan; the condemnations of entire groups of frum Jews by other frum Jews... Certainly, as we approach the Days when we will ask to be forgiven, we should find ways to forgive each other, and to promote love of a Jew. This video will help with that goal. May Hashem grant you success in getting your message out. We will help, in our small way.
Thank you. May we, together, hear good news for all of our holy people.
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Excellent job, emotionally and artisticaly.
It is not possible for us Jews, geographicaly so far away from Eretz Israel, to make any judgments on what is right or wrong. I am sure HaShem knows how to guide His people. PM Ariel Sharon for sure has all the information needed to take a decision that some of us may not understand.
Hazak U'Baruj.
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I had seen a few of the photos serialized in TORN TOGETHER in disparate presentations. Yet, I never experienced the emotional trauma of what this event meant till I viewed Mr. Freedman's ideas as they coalesced in his photo essay. Upon viewing TORN TOGETHER, I had my first true appreciation of the meaning of Psalm 137 and the effect of the loss of land in the State of Israel on Jewish consciousness.
Thank you.
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I was very touched and moved.. I thought this was a beautiful 'healing' production that was put together..
THEN I TURNED TO THE COMMENTS..
Oi vey, I said to myself.. it is really a pity how deep 'hate' for one's own family can lie.. with some of these comments.. that clearly conveyed to me 'this hate'..
I had to cry with 'different' tears.. how destructful to our people/ to one's self this can be... how long will these 'feelings' remain.. how does one remove these feelings...
May HaShem provide for us the 'ultimate' of all 'healings'... Shalom to Eretz Yisrael.. and mainly Shalom 'within' our own hearts for each other ..for our own selves..
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Peace at any cost? Or peace for all despite the emotional toll...
Thank you, Tzvi Freeman for the succinct way in which you capture the spirit and share it for all to see.
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The greatest GENERAL in our generation has indeed trained his soldiers well.
Chabad alone, by merit of it's leader, has the ability to take something that for them PERHAPS MORE SO than all the other Jewish groups is a SEARING PAIN THROUGH THE HEART, one that can accurately be compared to swallowing molten lead, and yet, they insist on seeing the positive in a Jew! Insist to focus on the Ahavat Yisroel, and touch the hearts of ALL JEWS who absorb it, regardless of their stance.
May G-d forgive us for our errors, and yet, reward us for sticking together even whilst making those errors.
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A heart-rending presentation..
My heart breaks to see what is happening to our beloved "Home". HaShem gave this land to the Jews. Please.. let us not give it away.
Will evacuating our people buy peace? I think not. Only for the Palestinians - maybe - and even then, only once they attain their voiced goal.. to wipe Israel off the map.
May Hashem give the leaders of Ha'aretz the strength and know-how to do what is necessary to protect Israel, and her people.. OUR home.. OUR people. And to keep HaShem's covenant.
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some thoughts
those settlements should have not been there in the 1st place. why need a soldier and sometimes 3 or 4 end their lives guarding this peple. they knew the price. they should guard themselves.
its all politic , people. then they were able to stay there cause the government wanted some cards to negociate.
you knew you have to go, why make it difficult on the soldiers. why use violent toward soldiers who guarded you with their lives?
its all about fanatics. muslem and jewish use the same method while beeing fanatics. violence. what the diffrent? none.!!!!!
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Tears came flowing down my cheeks when I watched the pictures but this is wrong. It is cruel, evil, unethical, immoral, and most importantly, against Halacha.
Kicking Jews out of their homes, destroying 20+ Jewish communities, and giving parts of Eretz Yisrael away to non-Jews is not Jewish and is the antithesis of Zionism. And hugging, kissing, and crying while one is doing it does not make it any better. It's like a rapist who says "I'm sorry but I can't help it!"
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The expulsion was the brutal abuse of the human rights. But because it happened to Jews, no voice of world organization (ex. Amnesty international) raised a voice. Very "human " kick out from the home even with tears in eyes doesn't make look IDF solders excused or proud of. And where are those IDF solders now, when evicted people live for unknown period of time in refugee camps - tents in parks of Medinat Israel cities? They should continue to cry and volunteer those hurt people. This will make others tobe proud of .
Disengagement brought unity amoung Jews - all our hearts are broken for the treatment the "democratic" gouvernment lashed their own people. They are afraid to touch any Arab. And if a solder loose his temper, even beaten after to death, the head of the israeli government labels his own IDFsolder as bloodthirsty jewish terrorist, refusing to burry him as human. The govertnment of "national jewish unity".
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Your photo essay really touched me, but is really missing the point.
10,000 Jews were evacuated from their homes, and still have no place to go, in essence refugees in their own country.
The State did not provid solutions for them and destroyed houses, businesses, factories, playgounds, synagogues, mikvahs, and yeshivas.
The story of the destruction of Gush Katif is a tragedy even if we can find positive images.
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Thank you for this moving session. Seeing it as something that already has happened, I could know see it with less anger. Only the tears remained. Feeling the tearing still of my own heart.
Let this be the only torn tisseu.
In a strange way I felt even a little comfort, or digestion of my grief. The acknowledgment of the tormenting grief of the settlers and the pain of soldiers sharing this, also helped me giving this unrighteous act a place.
Of course, Gaza will come back again and will be inhabited again by more heroes, as the scriptures tell us.
And this can NEVER be broken.
Erik. (not a Jew; a christian actually)
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Yes, this is the most humane army in the world - I and my fellow Frequent Hasara Flyers can attest to it.( We speak on behalf of the army all over the USA).
What was done in Gush katif - using the Israel Defence Force to become the Israel Evacuation Force is criminal!
The army should have stayed in the background to protect all from potential Arab attacks.
I spoke on the night before last to many army personnenl- the truth be told many felt they were being used for politial reasons.
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I appreciate Chabad's most noble attempt attempt to find a silver lining in a bad situation and to create unity amongst Jews. The emphasis on the good behaviour of the soldiers is an error. First of all, they were trained for months to show compassion. This was a strategic tool in easing their task of removing Jews from their home and the land of Israel. Secondly, even if they were moved to tears, they still should not have done what they did. Any self-respecting Jew would simply have not followed orders and suffered whatever consequences. The arguement that "I was just following orders" has been used by other soldiers against us in previous generations. If there were some Nazi soldiers who cried while doing their job, would that make their actions any better? The fact that they cried while being a participant in a crime makes no difference. Each soldier now bears his/her personal guilt. There are some very, very hard feelings in the country right now. The soldiers did tear us apart.
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Thank you Chabad for making this video (film). Something every Jew should see.
I cried all the way through it. These are my people and I am one of them. If they bleed, I bleed.
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What a most beautiful, true and moving essay
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Heart rending and beautifully presented. So many tears, so many hearts "torn together". We are told that every tear a Jew sheds, Hashem [G-d] cries with us. When will He stop crying?
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An excellent perspective on a very heart-wrenching experience for the State of Israel. As an observer from far away and someone who believes that leaving Gaza is necessary for Israel to move towards peace, seeing the way the IDF and Israeli police doing their very difficult task showed the world the deep humanity that exists in Israel. This photo essay has conveyed that message.
Congratulations.
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I cried thru the whole photo display. What decency & Love shown
on both sides. Thank you Yisrael, for your offer in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Much love & respect
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I read, tears coming down, while I saw this touching video made by Chabad.
We not only have a brave IDF army, but mensch with heart and love.
What a terrible mission they had to accomplish, and they did it bravely with their hearts.
My congratulations to all these brave heroes of Israel.
Shall they never have to carry such a difficult mission again.
Shalom/Peace
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Whether an Israeli soldier sent to execute Judenrein policies by illegal orders of his fascist leader first kisses his victims before betraying them or not, he is still engaging in the ethnic cleansing of Jews from precious parts of the Holy Land of Israel and should have had no part in such abominable actions of an army perverted to do the dirty work for Nazi-Muslims. History rightly condemned those who attempted to hide behind the excuse about "just following orders." Torah would demand they consider such immoral orders null and void.
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How can a person of culture respond to this event? It really should never have happened. It is the fault of the leadership of Israel because the government should have annexed the strip and the west bank with a declaration that if you want to live here in peace, you are welcome because you are citizens of Israel, but if you do not want to live here in peace then go where you can find peace. The government of Israel did not do this and therefore it is the fault of the government. It cannot be changed now, but if this move does not bring the peace that is expected, there may be another chance. The government should make it perfectly clear that if there is just one rocket launched into Israel that it will be a declaration of war and the people living in the strip will have to pay the price.
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I am crying so much, as the music from your beautiful video is softly playing in the background.
Every word you wrote is the real truth about the Jewish People. Thank you for this uplifting presentation.
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In every generation they rise to destroy us. We delude ourselves that it can never happen again. Throughout history, we were deported and slaughtered. Through it all, Jews lived and died to reestablish a nation in Eretz Yisrael. We did, prevailing against our enemies. Now, it is Jews who deny our heritage, deport their own, imprison them and abandon the land to those who would destroy us.
The betrayers of Israel once earned the wrath of Jeremiah: "Ye defiled My land, and made My heritage an abomination. And they that handle the law knew Me not, and the rulers transgressed against Me."
That Jews would deport Jews, that the cowardly would imprison the brave, is an abomination. Yet the voice of our people is muted, as in the Holocaust. We appease rather than resist. We say "never again," but are complicit in our own annihilation. We learned nothing from history. This betrayal of Israel, this everlasting shame...shall not be forgotten."
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The IDF has become the private rmy of Caesar Sharon; Zionism has beocome a mockery. There is a war against the religious by the government of Israel. The government of Israel has become the enemy of the Jews.
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Dear Chabad:
I have viewed "Torn Apart". This movie documents how easily Jews and The Land are Torn Apart.
Judaism does not teach pacifism!
The thousands of Jews who allowed themselves to be peacefully removed are now deeply traumatized and impoverished.
Torn Apart shows how easily we Jews are led astray, and that we prefer a false peace to Jewish survival. SHAME ON US!!! And H-shem had given us a way to prevent it, too.
Torn Apart documents why we Jews have remained in exile - we give in to foolish politically correct brainwashing. Were the religiously observant Jews less pacifist, the others would have been there to fight by our side.
The film commemorates not beauty, but a horrible Chilul H-shem -
- that we failed to fight for our land & brethren;
- that we listened to the propaganda of our enemies; and
- that our traditional leaders have their heads, not in sand, but in mud.
WHAT HAPPENED TO SELF-PRESERVATION?
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We are not Jewish. We happened to watch Fiddler on the Roof just the night before watching those horror scenes on CNN. The movie was suddenly alive. How could this be happening? Our hearts were truly moved. No one should EVER be made to leave their home. One can only hope that HOME can always survive in the HEART.
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Lovely essay about a difficult situation - unfortunately made much more difficult by irresponsible rabbis and political leaders who tried to paint this as an "illegal" or "immoral" action.
The truth is, that the government of Israel (not just Sharon) voted to take this strategic step in order to become stronger, and in the long term bring more good to millions of Jews in Israel. When you fight a war you don't try to win every battle. You choose the best strategy that will ultimatly win the war. True, the 10,000 settlers were not happy to move, but we are often not happy with decisions that our government makes. The Talmud teaches us that "DINA DEMALCHUTA DINA" - one needs to respect the laws of the land, for if there are no laws people will "eat each other alive".
In China the government moved hundreds of villages in order to flood an area so that a giant dam could be built which in the long trem would supply much needed electricity to millions.
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Unfortunately, at this time I do not live in Israel. From all I have read and all I have seen, if the army had all just said no, this disgrace would not have happened...
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I saw the essay with a great deal of pain.
I love Chabad for trying to pull everyone in Am Yisrael [the People of Israel] together.
You are true bringers of the Mashiach.
But it is so hard for me, as an Israeli, to truly believe that we are one.
When soldiers cried the day the people from Gush Katif were evacuated, I felt it saved my image of Israel the way it is today.
Maybe the politics and leftist media shows us the wrong side of Israel so we end up believing our fellow Jews don't care. But I was here all through the process and did not hear enough of a scream, enough of a cry from all of Israelis saying: Enough, can't you see this is wrong? So you see why tears of the soldiers are good, but they seem like too little too late.
I hope Chabad are right.
I hope I am wrong.
I still believe in Am Yisrael and this is the only place to live.
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I refuse to believe that the Government of Israel would make such a gigantic leap if it wasn't Best in the long term for Israel. So far it hurts to see our Jewish brethren fighting within and without for a project that took 2 years to start. Ariel Sharon has my love and loyalty. He has my complete faith that he is doing the right thing. It is too hard to imagine soldiers guarding Gaza and getting wounded and killed on a continuous basis when doing the hard move at one time, weathering the storm and succeeding in changing the world's opinion are the final benefits. G-d Bless you Ariel Sharon.
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This was truely touching and beautiful. My heart and prays go out to the people of Israel. I hope that this gesture will not be in vain. I hope that the people of Palestine realize the sacrifice that these people and this country has made. Peace is the only chance we have!!
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As a Lubavitcher and the organizer of the largest group of Americans to go to Israel DURING the Expulsion, I am both embarassed and shocked at such a selective glorifying presentation by Chabad!
Of the thousands of soldiers and policemen I PERSONALLY encountered during the final 8 days in Neve Dekalim, I maybe saw a handful crying, and that was when we had a dedication of a new Torah procession. The VAST majority (95% at least), coldly and numbly fulfilled orders to expel Jews from Our Land. They overwhelmingly turned away from hysterical mothers and crying children, looked at the ground when grown men were reduced to tears like a 5 yr. old because they were being ordered by these same soldiers and policemen to permanently leave their homes which were to be destroyed only a week later!
And what was the PENALTY to these soldiers for disobeying orders that contravened our Holy Torah? 28 days in jail. That's all that separated the dozens that refused from 60000 that obeyed!
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The Gush Katif 'Torn Together' presentation was one of the most heart-wrenching things to which I'd ever been exposed. What a people! Sh'ma Yisroel.
Shalom,
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Beautifully done and so true.
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Thank you Rabbi,
You brought me to tears.
One day we will come together without struggle and pain. We will be United in Love for Hakodesh Baruch Hu.
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This film project sanctifies the name of G-d and elevates the human spirit. It focuses on the uniqueness of the Jewish People......role models reflecting loving kindness, humanity, civility and mutual respect. Yasher Koach to the author and producer.
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Dear Rabbi Tzvi Freeman:
Thank you so much for your wonderful and moving Photo Essay Torn Together.
It is a beautiful tribute to everyone who had to leave Gaza, and, at the same time a portrait of the Jewish soul.
God bless you for your enlightening images, photos, messages and music. Shalom!
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I felt so connected by watching the essay my soul was crying. To rid the world of the problems today and forever I can only pray for Mosiach to come right now !!!! Please pray with me.
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1. This is a wonderful presentation
2. Maybe it can be slowed down a bit so some of the pictures and captions can go together.
3. There are also a myriad of pictures of soldiers crying while evacuating the people, wouldn't these pictures be appropriate to fit in here as well.
4. To repeat - this is a wonderful presentation that I intend to share with many friends
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If it is true, what an earlier post commented that for disobeying orders a soldier had to sit in jail for a mere 28 days! Then all the tears are unjustified -because if a Jewish soul isn't ready to sit for a mere 28 days if a Jewish soul isn't ready to have a LITTLE self-sacrifice then all the tears are in vain the tears mean absolutely NOTHING! 28 DAYS!
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I would have never, and COULD have never, seen things the way they were so beautifully portrayed in this photo essay. Unbelievable. The fact still remains, though, it's so sad!
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This is one of the few instances where someone has actually shown the positive side of what may appear to be a negative situation. Life is not about physical property but of human beings and how we deal with each other. For the IDF to have to evict brothers and sisters from their homes had to be difficult, but as the presentation shows, it was done with more compassion that would have been show in any other part of the world. THIS is how Israel shows the world not WHERE to live but HOW to live.
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Beautiful and moving presentation but not 100% accurate. Maybe not a shot -- as in from a gun -- was fired but throwing acid or other caustic substances that may disfigure or blind an IDF soldier is not Yiddishkeit either. And that DID happen.
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Isn't it interesting all the connections between Katrina and Gush....an added connection: just like the israeli government betrayed us, so too did the american government betray its people...
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Your photo essay was beautiful. I hope it conveyed to our Israeli sisters & brothers how proud we are of them & how we weep with them, here in the Diaspora.
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Dear Composer,
You did a great job! This video left myself and everyone that watched it in tears, I never thought of the whole thing from this perspective. Thank you for telling me that the soldiers weren't cruel or meen. They just gotta do what they gotta do!
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Talk about being 'a light to the nations'!!! The IDF and the people of Gush Katif certainly were that. My heart was so moved as I watched the video and I can better understand my yearning for Judaism and the G-d of the Jews. Thanks to Tzvi Freeman and all the dear Jewish people. May you be blessed in every way and may the Land never be parted again.
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No doubt a beautiful photo-essay. I was also brought to tears, just as I was while watching the events unfolding on the evening news and via Arutz7.
The Chabad way is to see the good and the potential of any Jew. This is commendable. Unfortunately, it is a grave mistake to ignore the fact that there are indeed great religious/socio-economic rifts in Israeli society, as well as among the Jews in the Diaspora.
True, some soldiers followed their conscience and refused their orders. However, the vast majority did not. Violence is not only measured by "shots fired"; psychological & physical abuse abounded, before, during, & after.
Israeli society has suffered a grievous blow, and the repercussions will no doubt be felt for many years to come. My heart & soul ache for those displaced, and for those unwillingly forced to perform the act of displacement.
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Jamie/Steve: I don't know what is right... Israel is such a small country surrounded by enemies increasing their population by leaps and bounds (not the same with the Jewish people). It is sad to have to leave your home by force, but is it better to be left as targets by the growing Palastinians & other surrounding countries? I wish it were that simple to say this is the right or wrong way to settle this problem.
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Dear Ones, G-d has not left Gush Katif.
With all the love I have in my heart for the beautiful Jewish people.
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Beautiful, exquisite, touching, memorable, and with class. Thanks.
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Why then were the homes torn down in the west bank? Could not they have been given to the Palastinaians?
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Rabbi Freeman, that was beautiful, and some times something is so beautiful that the only thing one can utter is "Baruch Hashem"
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I was very touched by the piece, "Torn Together", because in a way, it reflects ALL of humanity: We are ALL people, no matter what our nationality or religion, and we are at our BEST when we share in each others' sorrows.
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This is one of the most amazing videos I have ever watched. I am a 16 year old boy, and even though this age is supposed to be "tough" I cried the first time I watched this video and felt I had to watch it again. And the second time I watched it, I cried again. This is an amazing work, and it is a pity the whole world cannot see this, as it really shows the Jewish nation.
"AM HANETZACH LO MIFACHED MIDERECH ARUCA"
"THE ETERNAL NATION DOES NOT FEAR FROM A LONG PATH"
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Absolutely beautiful and heartwarming to see AM YISROEL, in the best of times and in the WORST OF TIMES.
We are truly brothers united whether we like it or not and when those of us begin to embrace that very link, we will truly be deserving of the Moshiach to come .
Hashem awaits us. He awaits our understanding of what it means to be ONE FAMILY, to rejoice with our brothers and sisters, to feel their pain to experince what their struggles are, and although we might not always agree with one another, we need to learn patience and tolerance despite what our own personal views may be.
Furthermore, this goes to show that we, the Jews of America and anywhere else around the world, MUST UNITE and get ourselves back HOME to our land so we can show HASHEM we are READY for him to bring us the true and complete SALVATION and then ALL the nations of the world will know THE TRUE G-D! May the Moshiach be sent to us by HASHEM today!
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Can a rapist commit a compassionate rape, with sensitivity? The communities of Gush Katif were "raped"- yes, it was nice of the soldiers to feel the pain. They would have felt pain if they had to throw the Arabs out of their homes too.
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What a waste. Israel gives in again and it will all be for nothing. I am so saddened by the events and in my heart I know it will not make a difference to the Arabs.
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The world is far too used to seeing Jews cry due to injustice.
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I am grateful to you for pointing out how to see if something is whole--to try to tear it apart... beautiful essay. How anyone could look at those faces and read "programmed compassion" or failure is beyond me--but oh, well. Thank you again.
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I thank the soldiers for fullfilling their orders. Brainwashed or not they did what they had to and they did it with a broken heart. And did not rebel. But what do we say to our government ? our own brothers who threw us out of our own homes?
I am most of humbled by the Jews of Gush Katif. They have always been a symbol of Ahavas Yisroel [love of a fellow Jew], but the way they reacted I am speechless, I do not even know how to describe my feelings of hurt and the tears I've cried only watching them get thrown out of their homes. What could they do? I definitly do not know, but what they did do I am forever humbled by.
May their suffering be the last of this bitter golus, and may the merit of their ultimate Mesiras Nefesh (self sacrifice) bring moshach today.
amen.
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The presentation was moving and emotional and, in my opinion, showed what we're all about.
It is probably the one thing that keeps me living in this country more than anything else.
After reading many of the other comments, criticizing who you did or didn't blame, I think that they missed the point. The real point here is that we are one people and TOGETHER we will get through this like we have gotten through so many sad and painful times in the past.
It is our love and caring for one another that sets us apart.
In the light of the flooding in LA, USA, I see the different reaction of the government and the people. Despite our differences we are united.
Heartwarming.
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How does a Chabad site post such a "moving" presentation, showing both sides in a conflict where it was quite clear what the Rebbe's view was?
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It is all very well talking about a oneness when, in fact, our nation is, unfortunately, far from "one". It is also all very well romanticising the evacuation when, in fact, many soldiers and policemen had to suffer streams of verbal abuse from their "brothers and sisters" with threats of being haunted till the end of their days, no part in olam haba &, just today, no hope of a shidduch from certain families. One indeed!
How is it that Chabad has managed throughout its history to embrace & accept their fellow man non-judgmentally, and yet, these "orthodox" factions totally exclude those not like them. What gives them the right to be so superior and arrogant of their interpretation of OUR Tora and Mitzvot? It is not their Tora only.
Unfortunately, they have put the value of land above all else and, in all my years of learning, I don't recall land being more important than "Honor your father and your mother" or "Love your fellow as yourself".
There is much work to do in repairing the true disengagement
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I am only able to view the video part of your presentation, but I am moved to tears by its message. This is exactly what I thought as the drama of Gush Katif unfolded. Others may choose to spend their time arguing whether the evacuation was "right" or "moral," but when it comes down to it, two sides battling each other, we are all the same people. Look at their faces. Jewish faces. If only each one would turn to the One Who's really in charge and say, "God, You come rescue us all."
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I am not sure about this, but, seemingly, lots of people outside of Israel think that the GK evacuees are perfectly happy.
I would like to explain. The Gush Katif evacuee's are now in hotels or homes people have offered them. They are just about penniless. People/schools have taken upon themselves hotels in which GKE's are staying. The GKE's can stay in the hotels for 10 days from their evacuation, paying for any extra expences with their own money (which most do not have). Nobody got ANY compensation money from the goverment.
The list can go on and on, but, I will spare you. I hope you got the idea.
Please send this to as many people as you can. If you have anything to add to the list, you are welcome.
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Since I saw a recent movie clip of the evacuation, my own tefillos have been with more kavono. Your presentation emphasises another aspect, the love of one group for another.
It does not mitigate those who gave the orders to evacuate Jews in a most unsatisfactory way. The cruelty is in the situation many victims find themselves. Like new immigrats in their own country. Impoverished, displaced and disgraced by the unfeeling media.
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"But God gave us this land".
Have the eyes and ears of the Jews been blinded deafened by centuries of image worship in Diaspora we can no longer see and hear the meaning of Zion and the Land of Israel? Are we a Nation of Light as shown and continued by our documented survival through our Acts along our historical/metaphysical journey? Or have become hypnotized, infected and assimilated by the cultures of Image Worship whose beliefs constantly test our acts of Knowing and Seeing.
How can we not see the treasure of another unfolded story of the Jewish people and not grasp the meaning of the Failure of the Gaza Settlement.... Listen oh Israel. Wake up! Listen to the Story!
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The true oneness of Israel is in the photos and the story of this forever time.
Thank you for the essay and the daily thoughts. Shalom--
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Thank you. Torn Together is incredibly moving.
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What was said and revealed in the photos reflects my feelings and feelings of all the Jews with whom I have spoken. No other people in the world would have treated each other with such respect. We have the right to be proud of our people. I am not a Chabadnik but Kol Ha Kovod.
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You know, a clip like this I would have expected from the left Israeli media to show how good the police and how good the soldiers were and how sad they were to leave but accepted the decision of the Israeli government. For this to come from a Lubavitch website which is supposed to follow the Rebbe's ways is an absolute shock. No video clip of any website will have me forget scenes of violence, brutality, cruelty, and absolute disregard showed by the Israeli government through their police and soldiers that I witnessed with MY OWN EYES. I was at Kfar Maimon, I was at Netivot, I was in NUMEROUS SERIOUS DEMONSTARTIONS. I saw plenty of police brutality, cursing and yes beating, I saw Israeli police beating demonstartors who were already in cuffs!!!!! You guys in America are so naive to the situation here. Next time come help witness it yourself. Diminishing the severity of what occured gives support for it to happen again. You should be ashamed distorting Torah...
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Your clip gives and rightly so great credit to the fine men and women of the IDF and our brothers and sisters from the Gaza strip. Although seemingly a small detail, it is important not to forget the thousands of Israeli Police Officers who participated in the disengagement and as proffesional Police Officers (not conscripts) fulfilled their tasks dutifuly while accompanied by great pain.
Most of the Police Officers volounteered for the task.
I think I speak for my fellow officers when I say that we wanted to be there because -- If ultimately someone must take my brother from his home then it should be me.
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Very moving!
Quite surprised with chabad.org for allowing this clip on. It ignores entirely the Rebbe's opinion. One can even walk away with the feeling that the Rebbe was okay with it, as long as its done with love...
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I was not able to watch TV in August. I hardly ever listened to the radio. It was too painful. I did not go to Gush Katif, but I did take part in one of the most powerful events that ever took place - the Great Tefila [prayer] in the Kotel, and there I felt, perhaps for the first time in all of my life, how genuinly powerful we can be when we are together. This message came clear in the Photo Essay. I watched, and cried, and cried some more, and ached all over again.
My brother is one of the people holding a soldier in their arms (or is it the other way around?), in one of these photos. He was not able to tell us much about the days he spent in Gush Katif during the evacuation. Seeing his photo was like being there with him, in some way. If I could, I'd send this photo essay to every single person in Israel.
Thank you.
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I have to make one more comment. What you have yourself done to your people reminds me of the story which I can only paraphrase: They came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did nothing. Then they came for the Gypsies, but I was not a Gypsy so I did nothing. Then they came for the retarded, but I was not retarded so I did nothing. Then they came for the minorities, but I was not a minority so I did nothing. Soon there was no one left but me, and then they came to me.
What part of your country are you going to wound next trying to show the Palestinian savages how strong you are? I see Israel as being on the front line in the battle against terrorism. No one else understands it as you can. Please don't think you are in the wrong just because no one realizes you are right. You are right. Follow your hearts and your Lord or we are all lost.
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Wonderful job!!! I have been expressing the exact same sentiment in all my conversations.
Recently, while crossing the border into the US, after asking for our birth places, the only other question the border guard had for us was, "What do you think about what is going on in Israel?"
The whole world is watching us.
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I don't tend to take political side or express my opinion, but such a remarkable job deserve a "Ishar Koach"
I go for anything that will bring people together!
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"A true oneness!"
Touching, moving, brilliant!
I am proud to be a Jew!
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What a moving and powerful presentation!
Whatever one's position was on the evacuation from Gaza, the role played by the IDF and the settlers was historic, and honourable. The actions of both sides, for the most part was filled with respect and dignity.
It makes one proud to support Israel and the Israeli people.
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I pray that our soldiers will be as kind as the IDF when they have to remove the people fron New Orleans...
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You say,"Not a shot was fired from either side." How do you then explain soldiers abusing settelers and demonstrators... It's true there were some soldiers who had tears and who refused orders. Many however didn't. I think a person should do his "homework" before making a whole internet video clip available for millions of people to view. Why not make a diffrent clip were people can view the way it really was...
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Just a clarification to what Mrs. Rosenberg said, quote
"How is it that Chabad has managed throughout its history to embrace & accept their fellow man non-judgmentally, and yet, these "orthodox" factions totally exclude those not like them. What gives them the right to be so superior and arrogant of their interpretation of OUR Tora and Mitzvot? It is not their Tora only.
Unfortunately, they have put the value of land above all else and, in all my years of learning, I don't recall land being more important than "Honor your father and your mother" or "Love your fellow as yourself".
There is much work to do in repairing the true disengagement
Posted By Mrs. Rubinstein, Jerusalem, Israel "
The Lubavitcher Rebbe made it very lcear that the main issue here is not about returning holy land but rather an issue of "pikuach Nefesh" "Saving lives" which indeed overrides all but 3 laws in the Torah
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I am strongly opposed to Sharon's politics and to giving up parts of Israel. I think that soldiers who refused to carry out the Disengagement were heroic and brave. But it's wrong to call the others cowards or worse, to compare them to Nazis. I love the way Tzvi Freeman was able to strain out the human element in this tragedy and to see beyond the politics. The soldiers were not at fault for the governments decisions, and both they and the settlers were pawns in a political chess. Thank you for giving us perspective.
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Well done Tzvi, G-d bless you for the tact and dedication that you put in this slide essey, and The Above One should give you and all the nation the nachas of Moshiach
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Very good that you made this public. I am not sure what to think of it either, but seeing this at least made me stop worrying about it.
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Heartwrentching! It gives us hope that we will once again see the ONENESS of all of the Jewish people with no obstacles blinding our eyes. Thank you so much for putting it together!! We NEED Moshiach NOW!
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Thank you for creating something so very beautiful.
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I sent your presentation to my friends in Nablus. They were moved but rather amused at how myopic a people can be. When will we take our glasses off...
When will you dare make the real presentation (e.g. put in the photos that you censored and left out, of the screaming of abuse, of the paint, of the fighting, of the pain of soldiers being insulted, of the tears that tore the souls of the soldiers because of these insults.) I see no sign of remorse...
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Dear Tzvi,
I have enjoyed many of your writings. Torn Together is especially moving. I have emailed the link to my whole congregation of 900 families and posted it on my notice board. G-d bless you to continue producing more inspirational material reflecting the Rebbe's teachings and values.
Ksiva vchasima toivoh,
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What a beautiful, touching movie. Thank you for putting the disengagement back into its proper perspective.
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Thank you so much. How fortunate you are to be able to express the hearts of so many. Please continue in strength.
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I have just returned from the Jerusalem Gold [Hotel] where I (a Lubavitcher) and my neighbor brought cakes and other goodies to the refugees who have been torn from their homes. My friend and I are both religious Jews with a different outlook on many things. The women who baked represent a wide variety of outlook, ages, origins. I left praying that this Shabbat would bring piece to my neighbors who have no home. I came home to my home in the Judean hills near Beit Lehem and saw your video and cried. We are indeed one people. If only you would move here and be one with us. Shabbat Shalom.
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Very well put & made. Very soon we will see the good in all this. As the Rebbe said "WE HAVE TO OPEN UP OUR EYES" & when we do, we will see the good in all this. May this happen speedily NOW!!!
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To romanticize and sanitize what just occured in Israel, for the first time in Jewish History, strengthens the forces of evil that perpetrated this crime against the Jewish people by Jewish people.
The crime of the expulsion was perpetrated with the collusion of many who were supposedly on the victims' side, including the producer of "Torn Together."
The IDF ("Israel Deportation Forces") is NOT a humane army. It has just been proven before all the world that its soldiers --including religious ones -- are capable of any atrocity against their brothers. Only a handful refused to drag innocent, crying women and children out of their homes in order to turn the communities they had build with much sweat and even more blood over to their murderers.
Not a shot was fired, but plenty of youth were beaten up and plenty of children were imprisoned indefinately and the masses of citizens were intimidated enough by the violence to follow the rabbis and Yesha leaders who dampened the struggle.
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I was very moved by this film. It was wonderful to see the humanity displayed by the Israeli Army & the Settlers--this is what Judaism is all about--and it made me feel very proud to be a JEW.
JEWS SHOULD LOVE ALL JEWS---NOT ONLY THE ONES that we agree with.
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Beautiful and touching work.
Tzvi, you're the greatest. Yasher koach.
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After viewing "Torn Together," the video on Gush Katif, I was hysterically crying. "Mi k'amcha yisrael"; may this painful galut come to an end and may we all be zoche to witness the coming of Mashiach in our day.
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G-D has shown me an example of a true love walk. Through all their pain, which I believe the US government is responsible for, one of the first, if not the first, country to respond to the devastation of hurricane Katrina was Israel in the midst of their own loss and grief. We forced the Jewish people off their land, watched as they were made homeless and everything they had worked their whole lives for was destoyed and their land turned over to terroists. G-D warns us yet again. Katrina kills thousands, hundreds of thousand are left homeless with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and no where to go. Sound familar? And who, out of LOVE is aiding us - the ones we caused so much grief and despair to. Now that's LOVE! LOVE of the HIGHEST DEGREE! How ashamed I am of our government and their ignorance. I attended a Billye Brim Conference this past weekend. The topic was centered around Israel. We travailed in prayer for Israel, & for our leaders to heed the Word of G-D. My heart aches,
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Thank you. I cried and cried as I watched it over and over.
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I have read that only 5% of IDF were emotionally bound to the refugees. The vast remaining IDF fulfilled their orders w/o remorse or hesitation. That makes your presentation suspect.
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In the spirit of this presentation, we also have to embrace the holy anger of the precious Jew from Uruguay who posted his comment below. Both points of view are true. We Jews have many expressions of truth, but the Truth is One. In our oneness we can never be defeated.
A joyful Shabbos go all, and a happy, sweet New Year,
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What a powerful presentation that many, many of our Jewish people need to see! It will definitely have an impact on my Shabbos spirituality.
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It makes me proud to be a small part of a beautiful people. During our most difficult times we do stand united. Thank you
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Wow, Tzvi. This is beautiful. I cried, watching and reading, embracing with my heart all of the embracing that you present in these photos. You have honored everyone. The soldiers from Gush Katif were as torn as the rest of us. For me personally, seeing the exquisitely beautiful shul and people of Netzarim at the end was the perfect touch.
Yashr ko'ach! May all of Am Yisrael appreciate our oneness and contribute to the unity of our people. Thank you.
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This clip is confusing. It is sort of like raping a women gently and with compassion. The act of the expulsion was cruel and brutal no matter how gently it was executed. The soldiers of the IDF along with all the citizens of Kush Katif who deserve a clip are those who have been violently prosecuted for demonstrating and refusing orders. They are the real HEROES!
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I am very cynical of this presentation. I am positive that devastating events happened that are not covered in this little emotional slide show. We are subject to media exploitation of our emotions for everything these days, but the main fact remains that we have lived in those lands for many years and built Jewish communities. WE should NEVER have torn our people out of their homes and given back territory to those who will do everything in their power to destroy us. I cannot believe Sharon and many others really believe this will provide some solution. It is simplistic, at the least. So, what has our "leader", Bush, promised to Israel in return for turning on ourselves??
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Reshit, Kol Hakavod to Chabad for presenting this. We all know that Chabad was deeply involved in the affair and yet had the "menschlichkeit" to stress with this that Am Yisrael did not regress into barbarism and that we have too many external enemies to not respect our own brethren. As someone who served over thirty years ago in the IDF I knew and know what I am willing to give my life for and what I am willing to take a life for. Whatever we believe regarding the disengagement our love and respect for our fellow Jews is and must remain paramount. "Lo yisah goy el goy cherev" must come after "Lo yisah Yehudi el Yehudi Cherev". Am Yisrael chai, with tears and heartache maybe but live it does.
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A beautiful piece of work! It makes you appreciate our nation.
Thank you for sharing it with us.
Last week G-d tore people from their homes in Louisianna.
If that doesn't tell us that what happened in Gush Katif was wrong, I don't know what does. If officials in the Israelli Parliament made their decision to do this for personal gain, I hope this Hurricane Katrina puts fear in their hearts.
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You mentioned how another country would react if hit with the same sad story and ironically, we now in the United States have somewhat observed the same tragedy occur here with the question of forced evacuations to prevent harm from hurricane katrina....
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Stunning and inspirational.
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What should have happenned is that these emotional soldiers should have become soldiers and said "I can't do this". We hoped and prayed that most of them at the last moment would have done that.
Now the hope and prayer is that the same soldiers who expelled will soon be the same ones who help them go back and rebuild.
And for all of you who think the expulsion was necessary, read "From Time Immemorial " by Joan Peters and israelnationalnews.com and wake up from your deadly sleep. You may think your sleep is good, but you are not permitted to let your sleep cause the death of your people. To heck with your "feel good" politics. You need a serious reality check as to what is truly going on in the world and what the Jewish mission is. Jews are the ones really trying to bring goodness, kindness and truth into the world, not your "poor" Arab brothers. Their only intention, which they constantly state is to destroy israel. Do you get "it" yet?
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This is the spirit of Israel and the very soul of our country. It made me realize how much I missed being there and want to return at the earliest possibility..
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I am not a Jew, but I follow the G-D of Isreal. I would like to forward this clip to as many people as I can... Keep up the great work.
Shalom,
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Rabbi Tzvi, truly you have been blessed with many gifts from HaShem. This was wonderful. Ignore the harsh voices. Maybe they lack the soul or wisdom - or compassion - to understand. Yasher koach.
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Absolutely poigniant... What an expression of the intense realities we are involved in as Jews...
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I read all the comments after watching this incredibly moving presentation. Was the government wrong in what it did? 100%+ Were those soldiers who refused to participate in expelling innocent people from their homes right? Absolutely. What happened here was immoral and horrible. And yet, in all of that, there is this gem: ahavas chinam, love without reason.
On Tisha b'Av we gathered to say tehillim for our fellow Jews in Eretz Yisroel, and especially our soldiers, who were going to carry out this terrible deed. To me, the timing was everything: Hashem saying to us "With the emotional stakes so high, with passions running so strong, with feelings of right and wrong so overwhelming -- can you still love each other? Can you do teshuva for what occurred 2,000 years ago, when factionalism and powerful feelings of right and wrong destroyed our nation's unity, and broke our Beis HaMikdash?" And (for the most part) we did! Now Hashem has to do his part, and send Moshiach!
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I cried. We are one. All Jews. Everyone. It hurts to see what we do to ourselves sometimes, but even then the beauty and love and holineness of being a Jew comes out.
Hashem loves us and our Rebbe told us we are the generation that will experience the total redemption. No more birth pangs of Moshiach. It is now. Sometimes it hurts and makes no sense. But the Abishter is running the world and His plan may hurt at times but as we know it will soon be like a dream. May today be that day.
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The Rebbe teaches 1) that the holy land belongs to the Jewish people and 2) that any negotiations about this fact AT ALL causes Jewish bloodshed. It is a true shame that this videoclip makes the IDF kosher and the actions of the government somehow acceptable. It is even a worse shame that a chabad website thinks it is perfectly okay to screen it!
True Ahavas Yisroel means you care about people's LIVES. How can one screen this glossy emotional, tear-jerker of a video, trying to appease Jews and make the expulsion 'acceptable' in any form, when all that has happened is WRONG and should never be OK? These refugees are living their lives this very minute in suffering and deprivation - because of this IDF and State of Israel cruelty. Making light of it is disgusting.
The Rebbe and the Previous Rebbe write about making the State of Israel into an idol. When secular zionism overrides Torah (as in the 'duty to the IDF' stance taken by many during the expulsion), this is what they meant...
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This photo essay reminded me of the midrash that says the Kroovim ["Cherubs" of the Holy Ark] were hugging each other during the Destruction [of the Holy Temple].
At a time when the Shchinah [Divine Presence] left and the people of Israek were kicked out of the Land of Yisrael, *that* was the time when Hashem *HAD* to show us it was being done out of love. The kroovim didn't turned their backs on each other, as is true when Hashem is angry, instead they hugged.
So too, the IDF and the people from Gush Katif, during (unfortunately only) rare moments showed their love for each other. Through such love we should merit to a real Redenption, speedily in our days.
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In the main, a great piece about a wonderful nation.
But.... how come you left out the VIOLENT attacks on the soldiers and the police by the hooligans on the roofs who threw sand and objects onto the forces? The disgusting INSULTS that were thrown at the men and women in uniform? Also what about the ACID in the blue paint? The distasteful use of emblems of the Holocaust etc.?
Those young men brought shame to Israel and the Jewish people so don't try to white wash the situation. Your documentary would have been even better if you had presented the indecent acts of those so called G-d fearing bullies toward the tolerant and noble Israeli forces who in spite of these acts were kind and accommodating.
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Poetic as it might be, this photo essay depicts a monstrous reality. Rather than crying, when the suffering they realized they were inflicting on the people of Gush Katif got to them personally on a gut level, the soldiers should have refused the utterly inhuman and immoral orders they received directly from Ariel Sharon via they their commanders.
By not doing so, they have hurt the villagers of Gush Katif, themselves, the IDF and the entire Jewish nation.
After the destruction of Jewish communities by a Jewish army in order to make more room in the Land of Israel for a completely corrupted, murderous Arab population, an immoral act Jewish commanders and your crying soldiers justified by saying that they "had to follow orders" we no longer can point an accusing fingers against Nazi soldiers who also claimed that they "had to follow orders."
This is nothing to be proud of !!!
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A beautiful rendering of a heartbreaking moment in our history. This was the beauty that comforted my soul as it happened. The settlers of Gush Katif are the heroes of our day and our soldiers are their brothers - it couldn't have happened this way anywhere else in the world. May this outpouring of love on both sides help bring the Messiah quickly. Many thanks to Rabbi Tzvi Freeman for his brilliant work of art and soul.
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Dear Reb Tzvi, I'm sorry, as a Chabad Shliach I must protest against this slide show.
I'm sure your intentions are pure however the result, the bottom line, as you can see from the comments, are catastrophic!
1. You have poured salt on the open wounds of thousands of fellow observant Jews.
Their hurt is still fresh and , it seems, in order to "gain some brownie points" by the, as of yet, onobservant Jews, you wrote these "politically correct" lines.
That is wrong and unaceptable. In my Shiur I had a Jewish Kapo, without judging him, I still would not rationalise what this man did, at the expense of the other victims, even though this took place over 60 years ago! What is wrong is wrong!
2. People actually are understanding from your slideshow that what the soldiars did was actually acceptable and "Chabad" agrees with this action of Expulsion of Jews G-D forbid, this is WRONG!
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They should be slapping the soldiers not hugging them. These pictures make me sick. This is why we lost Gush Katif. We let the soldiers think it's okay by hugging them. Next time I promise it won't be so easy. Remember everyone has a choice, and I don't feel sorry at all for these pathetic cruel soldiers and neither should you.
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- The evacuated people from Gush and Shomron have been "relocated" multiple times since the brotherly evacuation since no proper arrangements have been made. Some of the families are larger than 7 people !
- The "moving" charges have been around 17,000 NIS (~ $3,000) and there is not really a place to move to
- Terror continues
- No formal / national plans have been tied with this baseless act surrendering land of ISRAEL to YISHMAELIM
- Thousands of families are going to spend the high Holidays around "nowhere"
- A special organization from Gush and CHARDAL had to be improvised to assist the families on the streets to come-by the lack of organization of ISRAEL
- Israeli soldiers have played soccer in one of the Synagogues
- All CHABAD in Israel tried to stop this madness - including signs of the Rebbi stating - THIS EVACUATION IS A DANGER TO ALL THE JEWS
- THIS WAS the first time Jews gave up territores allocated by Moses and Joshua!
MAY G-d HELP US
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Rabbi Freeman: Thank you so much for your beautiful presentation. It brought many tears to my eyes. The kind of tears that flow from a deep-seated joy, gratitude, longing, hurt, pain, and most of all love. All we have is each other, and G-d, that is everything...
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I believe that in the words of this presentation only truth lies.
Being a soldier in the I.D.F, I thank G-d I didn't have to participate in any dreaful or forceful actions. I assure anyone who might think otherwise, that the scenes shown on television were no hoax. After meeting people and soldiers who were in the disengagement their broken hearts werent unoticed. And as much as I was relieved not having to be part of it, there was another part of me that only wished I could have been there to see maybe one of the only chances I might have in years to see the people of israel together in tears trying to put their broken hearts together with hugs song and prayer, as Jews, as one.
And with G-d's help may they realise from this that a jewish heart is always broken. May the hug of the alimighty bring us together, and give us the strength to put our hands together and hold each other's hearts.
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I wonder if these same soldiers were ordered to cut off the fingers on their hands would they obey, or would they tell the government where to get off, and would willigly give up their careers?
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I did enjoy the photo essay but I think that is interesting the after 38 years there were not any tears (or hugs) that were shown between the Jews and Palestinians. I would think that even if the majority of Palestinians "hate" Jews there would still be a minority that would have befriended them. Perhaps the Jews living in Gaza were not as "rightous" as you portrayed them to be.
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I overcame my reservations and visited your site.
I found a beautiful and balanced presentation
I pray that those who have commented irrationaly, about the evacuation process, will take the trouble to understand your sensitive message and to appreciate the reality of Israel.
My immediate family contains supporters and objectors to the evacuation; children and grandchildren who have served either in the Army or in National Service; those who displayed Orange and those who displayed blue (blue/white). We remain a united family in which each of us suffers the pain (and the pleasure) of the other.
I would like to think that we are a normal family and part of the Israeli culture.
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Thank You, that was beautiful and very very very what I need to see after all the sick things happening right now. Thank you thank you
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Regarding the Habad video, it seems to try to "leyapot" - beautify the suffering of our Gush Katif brothers.
I'm not sure if I am ready to forgive so quickly, especially since the campaign against the "metnahalim" (settlers) is still in full force. Why is there NO media coverage of the people still suffering in the hotels, and student dormitories? Why did the Left come to Talmon on the day the army was opening the graves in Gush katif? (A busload of Shalom Acshav came to protest Harasha, an "illegal" settlement in our area.) Why did I have to show my "tuedat zahut" ID card yesterday at the army checkpoint in order to get home? (The Left were holding a big protest against the fence near Kiryat Sefer.)
We are so easy to forgive, but the other side is not too interested in our forgiveness, but rather keep attacking us in our moment of pain.
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As an Israeli living in england, it was heart breaking for me to watch everything from afar. The way the Israeli people and our soldiers have behaved and treated each other made me feel so proud of being a part of this wonderful nation. Stay Strong!!
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The Rebbe screamed and cried about creating an Arab terror state here in the Land of Israel, and you put out some propaganda honoring those that carried out orders to create that state...
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SELF-SACRIFICE! Self-sacrifice means to have SELF-SACRIFICE! Like mentioned earlier if the IDF were commanded to chop off their fingers would they "obey orders" or would they not?! Evacuating your OWN people is more extreme than chopping off one's fingers. There were heroes -the REAL heroes that disobeyed orders despite the harsh punishment -they had SELF-SACRIFICE, they had self sacrifice not to evacuate their own flesh and blood, their brothers and sisters - these soldiers were the REAL heroes.
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A beautiful and accurate presentation. I hope its message is spreading beyond readers of Chabad.org. The IDF is truly the most humane military force in recent and perhaps in recorded history.
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I do NOT buy this! Those are crocodile tears... If those same soldiers were ordered to shoot to kill, they would have done it with tears too!
As an ex-IDF paratrooper I know the means the IDF uses to condition its soldiers.
No matter how sorry and painful it was for those IDF troops to carry this out, they are each personally responsible and at fault for implemeting those orders. Their carreer in the army was more important than continuity of Jewish life in the Land of Israel.
They simply followed corrupt orders, like so many MK's followed Sharon because Sharon is never wrong... if Sharon orders this it MUST be because he has a plan we do not know about.
Am Yisrael wake UP! The ruling clique of Israel is corrupt and care only about itself, no one else!
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The Knesset should have left things well enough alone and not appease the Arabs. Then, again HaShem will take care of everything and HaShem does.
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Beautiful ! The video brought tears to my eyes. Mi K'Amcha Yisroel ? !
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Although torn by the actions of the Israeli government and their decision to do this shameful thing, I do feel somewhat heartened by these pictures. I felt and feel it was a horrible mistake that we will all continue to pay for. G*d is not mocked.
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By the waters of... we sat and we cried. We are still in golus, despite (or maybe because of) 1948. I will remain outside of Israel and pray for the real Moshiach, not Ariel Sharon.
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Although I understand the reasons behind the disengagement, I don’t necessarily agree with its timing. Where else on this earth other than Israel do you see a strong army in such a difficult task perform humanly for the world to see? I hope that my prayer for a better life for all Israelis comes soon and without additional cost to us. I am proud to be a Jew.
Today, as the Palestinians pillage and plunder the returned settlements and synagogues that were evacuated so humanly by the IDF, I can’t help but wonder if this will make us stronger. It takes two sides to create peace and it is clear to me that we want peace and they want total annihilation. We must be united, we can’t afford not to.
Great photo essay, thanks!
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I appologize as I am not certain that what I want to say is nice to read. I am shocked about the text that is near those pictures. Why do we have to dedicate something to IDF? Because they are so humane as you say? Sorry I don't beleive that. I think that IDF is not that strong that we thought he was during to many years. I don't have to applause because IDF soldiers cried at this tragedic time... IDF should have done a real human thing: not accept to do it. If all the IDF had been enough strong to say NO to this government, but not as an individual ALL the IDF together against this decision, nothing would have happened. But thanks God we have a unique chance we have the Rabbi! we know from the Rabbi that the land of Israel will always belong to Am Israel. IDF is just like us! a people who is sad and who is criying because he misses the Rabbi... We don't need the tears of IDF, we just need moshiah NOW.
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Have you made a version with Hebrew titles and are you sending it to the general "chiloni" population in Israel?
The message you are trying to convey is a good one - a worthy one; the question is whether withIN Israel the average person believes the message you are sending. I'm not so sure that is the case. There is tremendous resentment in other parts of the country among non-religious Israelis regarding the entire Aza enterprise and the withdrawal - sad to say.
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This video really touched my heart it brought many tears to my eyes. Who is like you Isreal!
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The IDF did a magnificent job of moving their own people. No shots fired, no bombings. Though it may not have been peaceful to the participants, the IDF are to be commended for their patience and koved. They are a mitsveh. They have my respect.
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I found the presentation very moving. We, the Jews, are really, only one. We have seen that we are really the chosen people.
From here, from my country, I have seen with pride the Army of Israel, my beloved country made these, without a shot...
Congrulations Tzvi Freeman!
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It is very well known that the systematic removal of Jews from a territory, also known as making the land Judenrein, is a fundamentally Nazi concept and practice.
That many thousands of Israel soldiers and police were able to obey orders to make a part of the Land of Israel Judenrein, instead of rejecting those orders as they well should have, qualifies those people not as the Israel Defense Force, but as Sharon's Grand Expulsion Army.
That many soldiers and police shed tears and otherwise expressed regret is very nice. But what really matters is that in the end they followed orders and tore eight or ten thousand of their brothers and sisters from their legitimate homes and lives.
The IDF and Police, indeed the entire state and everything associated with it, have suffered a radical loss of respect and legitimacy because of the expulsion which they were able to carry out with stunning efficiency.
Which Jews will be the next for expulsion?
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I know exactly where you're coming from, and what you're trying to accomplish... but I've been in Israel numerous times, the secular leftist humanistic hedonistic Israeli, from whose ranks the overwhelming majority of soldiers and policemen come from, HATE traditional Jews and Judaism, don't fool us or yourself...
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A very powerful piece... it moves your soul... You know you are a Jew when you can relate to those in a far off place and wish that your tears could wipe away their pain.
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Very moving. Unbelievable scenes. Thank you for bringing these images to us.
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Thank you for showing the hearts of the Jewish people and knowing that even in tears we are one. Where in the whole world could this have happened? Only in Israel. The world media wanted us to kill each other, they wanted to have pictures of Jews fighting Jews. They don't know us. The Holy One will keep us always, through all trials, will keep us so long as we keep each other.
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Thank you for creating this essay. It was such a beautiful and powerful piece...
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I cried watching this video... I hope that the Israeli govrnment undrstands the message! May it come imediatly in our days the coming of moshiach,for i can not see any other way to end the hell that goes on in Israel eveyday...
Sincerly, your Jewish brother,
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What about a little praise for the Police as well?
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Thank you, very moving...
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Rabbi Freeman conveyed the true kiddush hashem [sanctification of G-d's name] that arose from within the ashes of a chilul hashem [desecration of G-d's name].
Although I truly understand that you should not give back land etc, and of course Rabbi F also understands this, the point of the presentation (by the way which echoed my sentiments [and the feelings of most humans viewing] when the story unraveled) was that deep deep inside *every* Jew there is a spark that bonds all Jews, and this spark ignites under extreme conditions. This is EXACTLY the teaching of Tanya and the Rebbe! (And all Rebbes, by the way.) Yes, the left hates us, this, that, BUT a Jewish 'left' still has the spark and the job of chabad is to ignite that love amongst them.
Thank you Rabbi Freeman for a presentation that transcends politics, views, and brings out the point that after all, we are one!
Please do another presentation with more pictures and videos. The kiddush hashem is obvious in the voices of the reporters (Foxnews for example) that reported on the scene.
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Blessings on the messanger, if not the message. Secular goverments have made mistakes before and the Knesset and Prime Minister are only human after all. Not Perfect. Through the pain today we will only know the true message over the fullness of time.
Perhaps the Palestinians believe they have attained a victory today, they are one step closer to their goals.
But perhaps they have really crossed a line in the sand. A last, final concession they will not be offered again! Not the West Bank and Terriories! Give up Jerusalem? Never!
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Presentation was excellent and made a clear point. Only it is not over. The former residents of Gush Katif need moral and financial support. What concrete ways can we demonstrate that we are one family?
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Baruj Ata HaShem She lo Hassani Goyah!
I love my People
I love Eretz Yisrael
And I love this presentation....
Jazak u'Baruj Zvee Freeman (did you see in N.O.? all men have a spark of the Creator, we must preserve our Ayin Tovah)
Soon, very soon, we shall dwell, all together, in our land for ever BZ"H
No more weapons, only Mitzvot
No more tears, only Brajot
No more hatered, only Love... Love to Mitzvot, love to Brajot...
Love to the Torah... LOVE TO HASHEM!
This is the only "road map"... to the real "Oneness"
HaShem Yaasor!!!
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So moving, so true, so inspiring.
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I cannot believe what these soldiers where faced with. In a way I think their job was harder than the actual people that where removed. I am not Jewish, I am Catholic, but we all bleed red and we all hold honor and a sense of pride in our homes. Through history, it is what we all have fought furociuosly to protect at all cost. This is what made the United States free. Simple farmers and peasants fighting for their little piece of land. As a man, it is all I have ever wanted to build a home from the ground up, along with that home, a family, a neigborhood, a tradition, a feeling, all these are born with a home a symbol and a representation of the man who fastly sleeps inside with his kin.
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Why is this all happening? Why are there tons of people crying their hearts? We must do all we can to stop this, and bring Moshiach.
It is amazing how all of the people of Israel, especially in Gush Katif, are strong and have faith in G-d to save them.The pictue that makes me cry is with the Israeli soldier carrying a young boy who has tears in his eyes.
WE MUST STAY STRONG!
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Truly incredible through tears I watched... and then smiled at the thought - AM YISROEL CHAI!
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Amazing... I was just in Israel this past year and it hurts me so much that I'm not there. This video was incredible because it doesn't matter what "side" you are on, anyone can see the importance.
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As a 16 year old Jew from the United States who has not contributed anything to Isreal exept my prayers. I feel a great attachment to the land of Isreal and a feeling of emotion and pride whenever I even hear the national anthem!
As a Jew who lives in America I have no right to decide what is right and wrong for the Isreali governent to do to make peace between Isreal and Palistinians! I have never lived trough the horror of what my people the Isrealis have lived through and cannot judge or make decisions for them! At my young age I advise all fellow Jews to look at this video and realize that us Americans, no matter how much money, learning, and prayer we do for the Nation of Israel, we still don't live the life of an Isreali!
This video is a video that makes me realize that no matter how much controversy and anger and fighting we have within the Jews, we are still one nation who have compassion and love within us for one and other.
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Your Torn Together Essay is wonderful. When I watched the Gaza pullout, I was so proud of all soldiers, settlers, etc. I cried over the news photos on TV and on this pictorial essay. It certainly says something for the Jewish people---we are one. I have shed many tears of sadness and real joy. Thank you.
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I'm torn between the love of Israel and what should never have been the occupation of Gaza and much of the West Bank. In the next 30-50 years, beautiful Israel will not be able to defend those territories. I want the next generations to be able to live free and strong and not another 50 years of war and devistation. Am Yisroel Chai.
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I was fortunate to visit Gush Katif while I stayed with my family in the Shomron.
I saw viable communities - homes, schools, synagogues, greenhouses, shops - all signs of life.
Now there will be desert and nothingness.
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The chassidishe look that Rabbi Freeman managed to find in this tradgedy is truely amazing. I send it to anybody I know here that speaks english but I do suggest this be translated into as many languages as possible. Let Every jew appreciate the riches he has and let's hope that this will protect us from ever getting into such mud again.
THank you and a Happy, healthy and sweet year to all of klal Yisroel with Moshiach of course.
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I am a Jew and proud of it.
Also, I grew up during the Apartheid years in South Africa.
What has been done to the Palestinians on the part of the Sharon government is a human rights violation and is unforgivable. It is equavilant in many ways to what happen to the Blacks of South Africa during Apartheid.
I believe in the State of Israel but I have little sympathy for my fellow Jews of the settlements.
The land does not belong to them.
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I would just like to say that this is one of the most moving things I have ever witnessed. I had the priveledge and honor to travel to Israel for the first time this past summer of 2005, and this video moved me and made me remember my friends and family of this amazing country. My heart and prayers are with my friends who are soldiers in te Israeli army, who have since explained to me what a horrible and hard time they had with the evacuation. This video brought tears to my eyes and more love for this country, for my country then I have felt since I have been back in the US. Again my love and prayers to those involved and affected by the evacution.
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Thanks for displaying. I was waiting to see some emotions thru the disengagement of Jew to Jew! I wish we could see more POSITIVE
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The land of Israel INCLUDING Gaza is G-d's gift to the Jewish people. Source: The Bible
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Very moving, very real. I have served in IDF, we are exceptional people we are worthy nation, we are proud to be like we are. We are Jews. And yes we are serious and ... companioned.
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The IDF became slaves... We are already paying for this
From now on when one meets an Israeli you will have that question "Where was he? What did he do?"
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Rabbi Freeman keep up the great work. The slide show idea should cuntinue.
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How did this happen? How could it have happened? It all feels like one big nightmare came crashing down upon us... No one even had a time to catch their breath, and look at what has just happened to us as a nation, as AM YISROEL. Then nation of G-d.
We were given this land, all of it belongs to the Jewish people. And we watch it getting grabbed out of our hands, and thrown into the hands of killers, of murderers... who not only kill us with hatred... but kill us days after we make peace treaties with them!
Is it not enough??? Is it not enough that we fought for our land and were torn apart from it, now we need to watch them blast up our own people before our eyes?.. And Ariel Sharon... what does he say? what can he say? what can he do to make it up to the jewish people?.. Nothing.. absoultly nothing....
May G-d give us the strength, to go on with our lives, to go on with victory.. and never ever have to give up any land again....
With prayers for the revelation of Moshiach now!
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Great photo essay, they hate us because they can't stand our higher moral ground.
How Israeli hospitals treat Arab [viloent Intifadah] wounded free of charge.
How Israeli courts are extra strict with Israeli soldiers facing mass murderers.
How Israelis are risking their lives when going door to door on the lookout for terrorists, while they have no problem in massacring deliberately at masses, and snipers aiming at babies.
How Israel is NOT teaching to hate, and not teaching its kids to become murderers of civilians, and do NOT use kids as human shields.
How Israel is super careful not to hit at civilians even on the expense of letting baby-butchers go...
How Israel is represented by all ethnic factions including back stabbers like Ahmed Tibi, that uses Israel Democratic forum to lie that it's "not" democratic...
How Israel does not intimidate western journalists to force them to "report" in a certain way.
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A very moving essage, truly trying to capture both sides. While avoiding showing the extremes- it beautifully depicts the inner conflict of the state of Israel- and its people's victory at a time when Israel couldn't sustain by "being right" or "logical." It did what it had for the sake of hope--hope of peace--and its generations to come.
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I am still crying after reading and looking on the scenes ... and yes I applaud your kind way of looking on klal Israel... that is the way of our nation, that is the way of Hashem and Torah, that was always the lessons of our beloved rabbis, and that was and will be always be the way of Chabad..
Yeshar koaj and keep on going with ahavat Israel as it should be.
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This is a true picture of how Jews act. Even divided and on opposite sides, we attempt peacfully to march towards a goal to hopefully better our lives.
May G-d see our true struggles for 'peace' and our true love for each other. May G-d also open the eyes of the world as well to see what a Jew truly acts like.
Thank you and also very proud and privliged to be a Jew.
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It was a touching and heartbreaking time that proved that we are humane and respect human life. For this I am grateful. But the errors of the past, that is to have allowed these settlements in the first place, will never be forgotten, by the men and women who died defending them and those who now have to begin new lives in Israel.
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Tzvi F. at his worst. Putting a heksher (kosher certification) on treifus. Having been a fan of his from his first efforts on the internet, I am deeply saddened by this essay which is like saying that all the efforts by a Jew in 1666 were really for good so we should feel like we have grown from our tzaros.
Yes that is indeed a Chassidic concept but not in this manner...
A geulah end that will come ultimately regardless the means can not be justified by the worng means.
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All we can say is: Moshiach Now!
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Wow! thank you so much.
I was in Israel as the evacuations were taking place -- our son's wedding was in a hotel where evacuees were moving in. I couldn't cry during the simcha, but thanks to this, now I can cry.
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It all comes to a simple strategical concept: it's easier to defend the border than protect the population surrounded by armed gangs.
Did not Ariel Sharon betray his people.
Jewish and non-jewish, we are watching this piece of land from around the world so intensely, because we realize: whatever happens in Israel today will be repeated tomorrow in what we call "Free World"
So learn your lessons
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You want me to cry over this? I watched with my own eyes as these soldiers tore the families from their homes. I watched as our 5 year old neighber cried and pleaded with the soldiers to refuse orders yet their hearts remained hardend...
I was one of 50 Lubavitchers in Gush Katif. Chabad owes the Jews of Gush Katif a apology for abandoning them.
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As a chabadnik I am perturbed as to why a chabad rabbi would try to find the light side of this.
We all know that the REBBE OB"M would still be screaming in his sichas [talks] about this disgrace of G-d's name and blatant violation of halacha if he were alive today!
We still have the sichas of the Rebbe where he writes how according to Torah law (Syman SHIN CHAF TESS hilchot shabbat) it is completley forbidden to give an inch, even to discus it. The Rebbe could not have said it enough times!
The few that didn't follow orders (the very few) COL HAKAVOD!
The thousands that did, what can I say, they were confused by their own leaders, in the religious community anyway, rabbis saying yes to it , rabbis saying no to it.
Where was chabad all this time?? Can anybody tell me? Were they to scared to say something? Was the Rebbe's message not clear enough to all of them? Why was there no outcry? Is what the Rebbe said on a back burner now that he is no longer alive?
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I agree with you that the Rebbe would have been against the disengagement.
But my question to you is this:
Knowing what you know about the Rebbe, would he have told the soldiers that they should have broken the law? Can you find a precedent for this? Did he tell them to break the law when they removed the settlements in Sinai?
After the fact, what would the Rebbe's response have been? My sense of it is that while he didn't pull any punches he always looked for the good in each Jew. It was his Shita and personally I think that Rabbi Freeman's presentation is more in keeping with this principle than some of the responses that I have read here.
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That was touching, it brought tears to my eyes.
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Right, only people of high morals and great restraint could have acted as did the sweet people of Gush Katif. The One Above is surely full of joy!
I'm not sure, but hope that a government who believes and practices wouldn't chase us away, or give away land!
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Anyone who says it was a big kiddish hashem only saw the pics, and not the real thing becouse in reality the solders and cops where beating up Jews regardless of age or gender. But on the bright side there where a lot who did make a big kiddish hashem by refusing orders.
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Thank you ever so much. The very first email comment by 'anonymous' states that it is hard to write through the tears; this is what we feel each time we view Tzvi Freeman's essay. It is an important work, needs to be seen by as many as possible to understand the bravery of of the People of Israel.
May G-d preserve the nation of Israel, and us amongstthen.
(I would like to know from where the guitar accompaniment, so aptly chosen...)
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The title "Torn Together" is the essence of the essay, the text, "try to tear it apart... if the parts will cry.... oneness is forever..." It is an eternal bond which cannot be broken.
With hearfelt thanks for this gift to us, this beautifully expressed work by Tzvi Freeman,
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If the army is as humane as u all claim then they would not have been able to take part in this crime, and after seeing soldiers crying to the camera and 2 min later laughing with their friends I do not think any soldier who took part in this war crime desevers any compassion...
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We are part of the Universe. And the Universe is one.
Are we victims of politics? Is this wrong??
If this process of evacuation can save the life of one Jew, then it was all worth it. We can only pray to God that all is done in the purest motive and nothing to do with political motivations.
I personally think that something good always comes from something we think is bad. I think there is something very good in the horizon for all those that were moved away. Be patient and God will reveal his plan sooner than you think!
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I agree with the person whose comment is titled "Are u serious". I personally spoke to many kids who were in Gush who told me how the soilders used their hugs to hurt the kids so they wouldn't be able to fight as they were carried out.
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Touching and magnificient. Something that had to be seen and said -- a deeper truth of love amidst terrible pain and hurt. Personal, human, a love of brothers beneath uniforms and sides -- both sides seen as victims of a surrounding politics, but in an insight -- flash of meaning within from without -- of the true outermost surroundings of the ultimate Divine Plan.
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Terrific presentation, sweet and moving! I think it was a mistake for strategic reasons, but I am not there, so maybe I am not qualified to judge or know.
Am Yisrael Chai!
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I've never received the same file this many times. And I'm on zillions of lists.
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In any other country going through the struggle Israel is, we'd have seen bombings and assassinations galore, soldiers beating settlers, settlers setting off bombs and sniping, etc. The fact that we didn't says something about us Jews.
For those of you who are mad about Gaza still, and don't want to listen to TF's point, let me tell you one thing. I am not sure about the whole settlements thing. But when you see our brothers and sisters behaved, it has to strike people like me hard -- we Jews MUST be different. I tend not to give the whole "G-d gave us everything from here to here" thing much credence. Because at some level, I am not sure we really ARE chosen. But after this, I am learning more towards us having G-d-given rights to the West Bank. Because the Jews behaved in a way that wouldn't make sense were we NOT chosen. If that makes sense. This is what I took from TF's essay.
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My heart feels like it is torn in two also. I pray the people of the land will totally turn to G-d so that He will hear from heaven and heal their land.
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I have seen this movie just recently and I believe it perfectly shows what is going on in the world we live in.
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I jusr watched your photo essay "Torn Together" and I am writing to you through my tears. Yasher Koach on a beautiful, powerful presentation that should be mandatory viewing throughout the Jewish world. Thank you for showing us what is really important - Achdut Yisrael.
Ktiva VeHatima Tova,
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The Land G-d gave to us was never to be given away and/or sold. The Almighty is not pleased with leadership who made this decision. Your enemy cannot be plea bargained with. You give your enemy the Gaza Strip not many days hence and your enemy will beg and try to enforce you to give up another piece of our territory... You can't make friends with them... You have to wipe them off the face of the earth. END OF STORY.
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This is a beautiful photo essay which was put together with what I am sure were the greatest of intentions. I must however say that I personally felt no such compassion when I was dragged onto a bus by 4 border policemen. For the heinous crime of walking and singing peacefully in the road. Nor did my wife receive such compassion who was also phyisically herded onto the same bus in a simillar fashion.
It pains me greatly to say that the tear in the Jewish people will not easily be repaired thanx to the efforts of the perpetrators of this maddness. But, hey, a nation divided is easier to control. And that is no doubt the ultimate goal of the profiteering criminals that are called a government in this country. They are all culpabale! The right and the left and unfortunately, most of all the religious parties.
May Hashem bring us the Moshiach now! cause he knows we don't deserve it.
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What an incredibly touching reflection of conflict, humanity and evolution. Through all the pain and tears we see the Israelis remain truly one people. Though fragmented in the snapshots of current issues, united through time by a sense of wholeness, love and purpose the rest of the world can only hope to achieve. Perhaps in time.
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Having been a soldier myself I understand how hard it is to one's duty in the face of adversity. The IDF soldiers diplayed compassion and restrait far greater than any other nation's military. They literally stood there while the people they loved lashed out at them, cursed at them, and in some cases physically assaulted. But these soldiers stood there to accept the frustrations and anger of their brothers and sisters. To do this takes an incredible amount of love.
The IDF soldiers should not be applauded nor critiziced. No one should, the settlers nor the IDF. Everyone there experienced a moment in time that will forever change the lives of those who participated as well as those who saw these events from thousands of miles away.
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I am moved. I have learnt. I appreciate this film.
Thank you.
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In response to Tzvi Freeman (and I'm a longtime fan of your essays and Files):
If you wanted to highlight the positive, then why didn't you do a photo essay on Avi Bieber, the hero of a soldier who sat in jail when he refused orders, saying, "They are hitting Jews. It's not right, it's not just" (zeh lo nachon, zeh lo tzedek) and the few other soldiers who refused to perpetrate the crime of destroying Jewish communities, yeshivos, shuls, and mikvaos?
Is it because there weren't enough gripping photos to work with?
If you think a photo essay like this is justified, despite the chilul Hashem this churban caused, then somewhere, somehow, you should have included the Rebbe's position. And you can still do so! How about including video clips of the Rebbe in which the Rebbe says that merely TALKING about giving away land endangers Jews? You owe it to the Rebbe!
And then you can also include a clip in which the Rebbe speaks about how precious every Jew is, even one who sins.
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A brilliant video. Perfect for Ellul and for my heart and soul. I am sending this link to all appropriate people in my address book...
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I am speechless and very proud to be a Jew! Thank you Tzvi Freeman
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The tune and the message are suffused with the humblest piety of a victorious Army of hashem.
The refusing soldier shown twice is my roommate 'Hazeljew', who would come home every fortnight and recount other heart wrenching stories of an army equipped with Achdut, Bitachon and Courage to get any job done that ensures the safety of the People.
Distancing ouselves from a population of bloodthirsty killers which doubles in number every 20 years makes good sense. Living next door to them cannot be healthy, so we decided to move our brethren and sisteren to a nicer neighborhood.
Until their leaders, too, are dragged kicking and screaming to the table to sign Peace, and let the world take responsibility of enforcing it, because we're a little tired of looking after the caged animals--alone.
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As a number of people who were there during the expulsion pointed out, those who cried were a tiny minority. You use the expression "here and there" which implies a scattered few, but the rest of the video gives the uninformed viewer the impression that making l'chaims and crying with those being expelled was common!
You end the video dedicating it to the IDF soldiers, the most humane army, but if only a few soldiers cried thus expressing their humanity, why then do you dedicate the video to ALL the soldiers? Why not dedicate it to the FEW who expressed their humanity, whose photos you show?
And you write about "anger on both sides" which sounds like the perfectly politically correct thing to say, thus equating those perpetrating the crime and chilul Hashem with those whose lives were ruined. I am disappointed in you Tzvi Freeman.
You want to bring out the good, and that's laudable but something is wrong when you do it at the expense of the truth.
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I just saw this email and am shocked and ashamed that Chabad would put out anything that turns the villains into victims. What the soldiers did was not "wrong" in an abstract sense. It was a violation of halacha. The fact that you found it fit to "soften" the face of the disengagement - and those who actually carried it out - bears testimony to the fact that you have bought in to the subtle mind games of the Sharon government and the cultural orientation of Western society.
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The concept of turning the other cheek is a Christian concept. We are not Christians, we are Jews.
So tell me, is this what we are meant to do? To say?
"You committed a crime against Torah, against me, you threw me out of my home and endangered numerous Jewish lives, and the security of the land of Israel but hey you are a Jew and were only following orders, and so, come and get a hug and lets dance."
I think not.
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The subject and its presentation were beyond beautiful. From within terrible tragedy shone Kiddush Hashem. Thank you.
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May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels.
For the sake of my brothers and friends,
I will say, "Peace be within you."
For the sake of the the L-rd our G-d,
I will seek your prosperity
(Psalm 122:6,7,8,9)
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Thank you for making this beautiful essay. It was moving and truly touched my soul. We are one.
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We have a tendency I believe to "get caught up in the moment" and forego seeing the real picture or the big picture of what someone has tried to do to solve a menacing problem. In this case of the Gaza being evacuated--and I do mean evacuated (with intentions of returning)--the author of this deed, I believe, has all good intentions for the Israeli people and peace to come. I can see the author's intentions. We have created a "box", shall we say to put all the terrorists into after they get thru playing all their nasty games and if they want to come out and play nicely, in peace, then they will have to do just that or else.
The picture paints itself in the Gaza, but one has to look beyond "losing" the Gaza and realize that we haven't really lost anything and have gain a whopping peace actuating foothold on the terrorists. Try to be patient and let "nature take Her course", we have a wonderful country and a wonderful Father who is looking out after us in more ways then you can imagine.
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In an effort for peace, our people were told to evacuate and abandon their homes. It is not right that we did this. To an Arab the only good Jew is a dead Jew and they will always fight us and try to drive us into the sea. By leaving this territory for them, we have given them not inches or feet, but miles over us....forever making us smaller and driving us to the sea. It's not right!
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I would like to appologize for my English. I'm an Israeli. During the week of Gush Katif's expelsion I had the privillage to be in Neve Dkalim's sinagogue. To say the truth i'm still a bit shocked by all that has happened. This is not the way to save the land of Israel!
This evacuation happened too fast! As I heard from Rabai Stavski n"y, hugging the soldiers and forgiving for what they did is horibble for the soldier himself because by this he gets the wrong impression that what he did was o.k- It is not o.k! Like this he will never do "tshuva" for his horrible sin. Right now our vicious government is talking of whom will be next and I hope the Jews all over the world will "wake up fast"! We have suffered enough! don't you think?!
About the photo essay, Nice pictures but not very clear message. The soldiers were not the victims here nor the hero's they shouldn't be the one's who are crying, they knew exactly towards what their going! The people of Gush Katif are the real hero's here!
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Thank you for your web site and especially for the photo essay on Gush Katif. It was very moving. I tried to click send to a friend, but it wouldn't go through.
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Imagine: If the People of Israel were all Torah observant - this would never had happened. Why? Because Moshiach would already be here, may it please G-d.
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Dear co Jews,
Regretfully the photo essay is not representative and we must not be misled by that. Of the tens of thousands of troops that effected the pogrom, only a small minority showed any emotion in a positive fashion....
There is an IDF Staff preparing those assaults to come. We must prepared to defend ourselves and our ancestry or the internal enemy will continue to destroy us and our history as well....
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As we come together to "davin" (pray) on these High Holidays I pray that the Almighty may respond favorably to the prayers and pray-ers of His people and reflect on theur sacrifices, add up there tears and grant us the privilege of glorifying His name through the miracles He will perform for us. We shall be truly " tearing together " as our eyes fill up as we contemplate what our role is and what remains to be done in a world torn asunder.
Thank you for your brilliantly evocative work.
Shana tova u'metuka,
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I appreciated the presentation - Thank You.
I thought your response was accurate. Touching on one point however, I don't understand why you wished to point out that the rabbi's could have avoided it. I thought you focused in the presentation not at justifying (to an extent) the masterminds behind the event, rather the soldiers who were ordered to the task.
I also don’t believe that the government’s adherence to the rabbi's clear view of not destroying the shulls could confidently be used as a proof.
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That was very touching--it reminded me how proud I was to be a Jew.
Thank You!
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I must add my voice to those who expressed outrage at this video which presented a distorted picture of the reality of what went on in Gush Katif. Interesting that the responses of those who were eyewitnesses to the expulsion totally negate the image given off by this video.
Since when is it Chabad's task to come along after the fact to sanitize and whitewash a travesty that was committed? True the soldiers were only foils for Sharon and don't deserve the brunt of the blame, but does that make them HEROES? Any one of them could have refused. And remember they were trained to show emotion - it was a STRATEGY to neutralize opposition and introduce moral confusion.
Along with many other viewers I am disturbed and upset that a Chabad website does not see fit to trumpet the Rebbe's views and words on the issue of giving back land, when we all know that this was one issue that the Rebbe spoke passionately about throughout his years of leadership!
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The tear in my soul who has seen this coming and the teasrs in my eyes and throat as it tightens up watching my fellow Jews doing what has to be one of the hardest moments in ones Jewish life. I feel complete sorrow, yet a joy that comes from underneath my insides at knowing there is NO other people under G-Ds eye that could of done what needed to be done, with such respect, sensitivity, love of one from both spectrums. I am so proud to be a Jew even at this delicate time.
May G-D bless all that were involved in the loss of their spirtual ground and to those brothers and sisters in the military and police forces who had a the Heart and Soul to do it with love.
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This photo essay nearly made me sick.
Not a word, not a glance at what our great heroic compassionate army has done to the Palestinians of Rafah. While all the cries of protest and moans of complaint from the settlers, who shouldn't have gone there in the first place, were occupying hours of screen-time, when the Israeli government was being accused of 'crimes' against these same opportunistic Jews, nobody mentioned the criminal actions of the IDF in kicking Palestinian families out of their houses at five minutes' notice before the homes they'd lived in for generations were destroyed before their eyes. "No bullets flew?" No. They were flying elsewhere....
An Israeli citizen filled with utter shame by the things the author of the essay seems to think we should be proud of,
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I thought the whole world was laughing at us, while we were destroying ourselves... they were expecting shootings, beatings, tearing gas.
They didn't expect soldiers refusing orders
They didn't expect settlers hugging the evacuees
They didn't expect soldiers trying to comfort children
They didn't expect cuz this would never happen anywhere else
Only Jews can be torn toghether...
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This video was so very well done. The words and the accompanying pictures say so much about the soul of the Jewish people. I've shared it with family and close friends. This production helps me understand more fully of why I am so proud to be Jewish!
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Wow! I really needed to c tht 2 remind me tht wut happened wasnt made up, but that it actually happened. thank you so much 4 reminding me of that! It made me cry so much. Tears cant change the past, but if we r strong enough, they can help us bulid a new future, a stronger future. Thank you again 4 making this presentaion.
Next year in Jerusalem!
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Do you really think that Rashi on the Midrash was referring to our soldiers in the current Israeli army, the way it is configured today? Yes, they are good people, but their mistake! The mistake of all of us!
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I read your response to people's comments just now, and you are right. I was in Katif as visitor and Kfar Maimon as protestor. Only teshuva can take away the pain. Thank you.
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The applause should be reserved solely to the evacuees. The army is humane, but need not be lauded for tolerance of their fellow Jews. They did not abstain from violence. The lack of fire was due only to the lack of resistance. Do NOT BE SO NAIVE!
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This is a very unfortunate essay with 'shmaltz' used to cover the ugly truth of what Jews, who have free will and mitzvot, did to other Jews to satisfy a government that tramples on Torah, Israel's own legal code, international law, and breaks every lesson supposedly learned from the Shoah: e.g. that "just following orders" does not excuse one from actions like dragging civilians from their homes, -- or creating areas of nations that must be JUDENREIN.
The author must have edited out "you shall rebuke your [Jewish] brother" when he sins by, for example, expelling Jews from their homes in Eretz Yisrael. And a gov't that 'owns' the land of Israel & supplants the true Owner and the tenants [Jews] he demands to settle there...
This author clearly could be a Chief Rabbi of Israel or win praise in any other government -paid position, so skilfully has he trimmed his sails. Sad, and disgusting.
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This is truly a very powerful photo essay, it hard to see it and not crying inside and out. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
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Avi Levy, I read your comments...get over yourself. This piece was not dedicated to the political ramifications of what was done, nor was created to be approving of the expulsion. Rather it showed the one'ness' of our people; strong, proud and compassionate and despite forwarnings of massive violence, there was virtually none.
My friend, a cop, spent several weeks there. Do you know most of the soldiers/cops had no place to sleep but other than on the street? Still they acted humanely and lovingly. They are kids, acting out what they were told to do by the government...right or wrong was not an option for them to consider. Even those that agreed with the policy were completely devastated by the task at hand. I am so proud of them. I am so proud of my people. Kol Hakavod L'Tzahal! I am so proud of my daughter, a chayelet bodedah in the IDF... she too has the love and compassion for the land and her people.
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From where I can see, my view, whether uninformed, ignorant or not, is that this is akin to the act that those people do when they blow themselves up. Akin to someone killing their own child or committing suicide or some other unnatural aberration. It is against nature to misplace, displace, make homeless, desterrar, give away holy land, give away someone elses land, or any thing such as this kind of thing to one of your own!!!! There is something drastically wrong with anyone who agrees to this type of behavior. I am stunned and utterly sickened by this. It is not the first time this is done. It should be kept hidden, as it is shameful for us as a people to be bragging about having done such a lowly thing. Can anyone convince me that anything good will come of this? What kind of individuals are commanding that this type of thing be done? What is their excuse?
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Two weeks after the release of "Torn Together," the flood of responses is still pouring in through every channel, from voices of the entire political spectrum. Obviously, it struck a chord.
A chord--or a nerve: Most responses were extremely positive, but some were infuriated. So I'll address a few points:
A writer has the power to heal. And since it is in his power, a writer who does not attempt to heal with his words is abusing his art.
In healing, there are two paths: One, by repairing the damaged tissue, the other by nursing and fortifying whatever remains healthy. To paraphrase the Lubavitcher Rebbe, "You can't help a person until you can see the good in him."
For us Jews, there are three things to keep whole and healthy: Our people, our land and our Torah. When any one of these is weak, the other two are affected. When any one is strengthened, the other two gain wholeness as well.
Yet, of these three, the most critical is our identity as a single people. And today, in Israel, this bastion is under deliberate and ruthless attack. The retreat from Gaza, the treatment meted to its settlers and the arrest and detention of peaceful protestors are all no more than symptoms of this deeper, virulent malady.
Where do you apply your healing to a nation that has succumbed to such a life-threatening disorder? I chose to look for some cells that were still breathing strong. I found them, I found something beautiful in the midst of the burning flamesand that is what I presented.
Some claim that I am fueling the fire by looking beyond its ignominy. These people are falling directly into a set trap. One side shouts, "Fundamentalists!" so the other screams, "Atheists!" One side shouts, "Ultra-orthodox right-wing extremists!" so the other yells back, "Nazi thugs!" Who is winning? Not us, not the Jews.
Do they really expect to heal bruises with rocks, cure ailing tissue with infected needles? That we will bring the Moshiach, peace in the land of milk and honey and all the other goodies by condemning, vilifying and alienating one another?
Do you love the Jewish people? Do you love Jews? If so, I have a suggestion: Go to your friend and say, "It was ugly, this thing that happened between us. I know you feel bad about it, as well." Say that and theres room for conciliation, for healing, for Am Yisrael to live.
I am not a fool or a political troglodyte. I know of what went on, of the most repulsive moments. But I love every soldier of the IDF. When I am there, I go to each soldier I see to thank him and shake his hand for risking his life to protect us in our land.
As for those who were involved in the removal of Jews from their homes, I cannot hold them culpable. Nobody can convince me that they faced a clear decision between right and wrong when our own rabbis were fickle in their decisions.
Were the soldiers justified in removing families from their homes? Should they have refused orders? Even those who honestly believe the disengagement was necessary, cannot fail to admire the integrity of the many soldiers who went to their officers and declared, "I am unable to carry out these orders"--and suffered the harsh consequences: an end to their military career beginning with a month or more in military prison. As for those who could not muster the guts to do so, or who decided they were justified in their actions--I will cry for them, I will mourn and tear my shirt for the destruction that was done by their hands. But I will in no way condemn them. They are my holy brothers and sisters, the defenders of Israel.
Do you need more evidence that beneath the colors of their shirts, the soldiers and the settlers hold a thousand times more in common than they hold apart? If the pictures arent enough, let one of the soldiers speak for herself, as she did in a recent letter to a family she helped throw out of its home:
"...For a long time now, ever since that Tuesday in Ganei Tal, I have been walking around with a heavy burden of depression. Something like all the soldiers who took part in the evacuation of Gush Katif and northern Shomron. I suffered a deep emotional wound, and I regret every moment... I am sorry about the whole evacuation process, and I am sorry that I had to stand there opposite you and hold back my tears, even though I felt totally that I am one of you. I am sorry for the misery that was caused to you and to all the other families in your wonderful community...
"I felt at that moment [in your house] hatred and anger to the agencies that sent us on this difficult mission, that made us look like robots towards you, towards great people like you..."
So you ask, whom will I blame? Will I just cover the whole story with candy coating and pretend everything is fine and healthy?
Unless you want to live through life a hopeless pessimist, get this straight: It is not a matter of whom to blame, but of who will listen. Rebuke, the Tanya teaches us, is to be reserved for your dearest confidants and colleagues. If a Jew does not yet carry the yoke of Torah and mitzvahs as you, then you must "pull him with strong cords of love." But, on the other hand, if he is your partner in Torah and may possibly listen--then you must speak to him words from your heart with love and respect, lest you yourself be considered an accomplice in his crime.
So I will say it: If our rabbis had declared clearly and unequivocally that it is forbidden to endanger human life by retreating from terrorists and giving them our land, that the only authorities in this matter are the military and intelligence experts whose warnings were deliberately silenced by those who had become politicians--if our rabbis had spoken out in a unanimous voice--then none of this would have happened.
How can I be so confident? Until a few days ago, I could not. But then we all saw the fate of the synagogues of Gush Katif--how the Supreme Court had already ruled that they must be destroyed by the army and yet the rabbis were successful in overturning their decision. Why were they successful? Because, as one MK put it, "we must defer to a unanimous rabbinic decision."
Such is the power of Torah. Commensurate is the onus upon those that wield its power.
There is a story told in the Talmud--every small child learns it: "Why was the Temple destroyed, Jerusalem set afire and we Jews exiled from our land?" the sages ask. And they respond: "Because of senseless hatred."
And then, do they go on to describe the hatred against the Torah? Against the rabbis? Against religious Jews? No, they continue to tell a story where the rabbis were quiet. They blame themselves.
What were the rabbis quiet about? About a Jew who was invited to a party and then thrown out by his host.
There are parallels, you can see. But they don't end there. At the conclusion of the entire episode, the sages describe how a rabbinical leader chose inaction rather than making a potentially dangerous decision. "The humility of Rabbi Zera," they conclude, "destroyed the Holy Temple, set Jerusalem afire and exiled us from our land."
That is not where I want to conclude. Rabbi Yehuda Loewe, the famed "Maharal of Prague" asks a simple question on this story: If the malady was the lack of an integral community, a failing of Jews to feel empathy for one other, then how does the cure match the disease? Will spreading us to the four corners of the earth bring us to feel for one another, to feel that we are one?
Yes, he answers. Because if all that makes us one is geographic circumstance--that we are stuck in the same slice of land with each other--that oneness is superficial. To create a true oneness, we had to learn to care for one another no matter where we are, simply because we are Jews.
Wherever we are, we must scream with pain when another Jew is hurt, just as we delight at his time of joy. We must protest loudly when he is dealt an injustice, regardless of who is the oppressor. We must look for whatever good we can find within each one--even those who carry us from our homes--speak about it, fan its flames, bring it to light for all to see.
On Rosh Hashana, the Rebbe Maharash (Rabbi Shmuel of Lubavitch, 1834-1882) once said: Hundreds of angels eagerly wait for one Jew to speak some honest praise about another. Why? Because they know well how much the One Above yearns to hear His childrens' praise.
If we want a good, sweet year, living together with peace upon the land, I suggest we use our brains before our mouths. In the place of harsh and bitter words, we can use words that heal and give G-d a little nachas.
There is hope, if only we can learn to look deeper, with a discerning eye.
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It seems people can trust the military more than the government.
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A truly beautiful photo essay. As Chairman of the Operation Wheelchairs Committee formed over 30 years ago to purchase medical and rehabilitation equipment, I frequently visit Israel and meet with many hundreds of soldiers. I am always so impressed by their pride in Israel and their committment to duty, however, difficult or dangerous. Last Purim I was with a paratroop regiment, the majority of whom had fasted all day, the shul was packed to capacity and the atmosphere was just so special. Indeed where in the world would you find such a phenomenon and where would you find soldiers who care so passionately for their fellow countrymen that they suffer for them and with them.
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Very beautiful, very moving, very true. May our unity in this painful transition be a merit to hasten our final redemption.
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What a powerful and true message
Not for the world to see - but for us to know and feel
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Yuck...! Do not purify the IDF so easily. They were like missionaries full of love. They were programmed by evil people to act that way. They have ruined our homes and families and I am insulted that Chabad in this case compare the attacker and the victim. So what if both are Jews?
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Very touching and well done. A positive view of the relations of man to man in Israel. We may disagree but we are still a family. We are still ONE.
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I would have rather been watching a video of the soldiers laying down their weapons and refusing to carry out the hypocritical and racist order of "disengagement", while the Jews in Gaza were able to stay put in their homes....
For those Jews in Tel-Aviv who think they are safe, think again....
One day "disengagement" will make rear it's ugly head by you and the last Jew out of Israel can shut off the lights....
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We may be divided on issues, but we are truly am echad, a unique nation, and ultimately we believe in the Echad (oneness) of the universe.
Well done!
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We are still torn and as watching your presentation, I have tears in my eyes.
People are still living penniless in their temporary residence (I dare not say homes), forgotten and shamed. They have lost their homes and livelihood - their families are falling apart, many reaching rock bottom spiritually, financially and psychologically.
Maybe we are just plain dumb that nobody fought back. Maybe instead of so many tears there should have been violence G_d forbid?? Maybe they are being taken for granted? Would anyone dare do that to an arab?
So I we have left to do is mourn. I find it hard to see the light
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Thank you for the opportunity to keep our purpose on this earth, in this life, at this time in check at the click of a button long after the fact.
The Divine Providence that allowed this to happen should be the same one to reveal the true purpose.
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Beutiful and touching dedications! I could not stop crying while viewing it.
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Thank you so much for this very beautifully done and oh so necessary message. May everyone in the world see it and HEAR it's vital words. So nice to cry about something which gives one hope for a change.
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that is a lie look at the police who are brutally injuring jews from amona this is not right
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I have just re-played this after having stored it in the PC Archives.
Being "divorced" from Israel i.e. living in S.A., but keeping close tabs on all happenings in Israel, I still believe that what was done had to be done if any form of peace is going to prevail. Yes, it has caused major divisions amongst us, but, as Jews, it is our duty to show empathy to all in the world - and regardless of what it may do to ourselves, we see that we are, indeed, ONE!
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Nicely done, looking, finding and presenting the truth and good side of the Jewish People. Continue to use your wonderful presentation skills for Peace.
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Unfortunately, this photo essay shows only the better part of the expulsion process. Had every soldier felt the way these soldiers did, the expulsion would never have taken place.
I hope B"H we will never have to witness these scenes again.
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Well made and probably done with the best of intentions. This was one of the most disgusting things that a country could do to their people. There is nothing that could put a good face on this crisis. It evolved to the violence later in Amona and will only get worse if it happens again. The tears I want to shed are the ones of happiness when the heros of Gaza return home to rebuild their communities and the arab terrorists are marching over the border into Egypt. Let's see how many hugs they get from their bretheren. I'd be so happy that I'd help them pack.
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How can there be among us some so calloused and unloving towards our own? I've personally heard the cries of the expellees, and the lament of the soldiers' mothers. Your presentation is powerful and inspiring! I was moved to tears as I thought of the convergence of emotions and questions, and doubts of all those involved...both soldiers and civilians, ultimately, victims together of the foolishness of those whose pride and concern for the views of the wicked exceed any love of the G-d or people or land of Yisrael - men of hearts not sown with the seeds of Torah. These victims were all forced out, not only of their rightful home, but out of a place of hope and promise. But they could only drive them out of Gaza - for now. We will return, and Hashem will restore 100-fold. Civilian and soldier will work and enjoy the land side by side, their families joined in singing the praises of the Almighty! G-d bless you for capturing hearts of faith, hope and love in this beautiful presentation!!!
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Wonderful job with the photo essay. This is a very moving depiction. The statement is strong and affecting. Props to the author.
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This video must be available for download. Please! I need to show this video to my friends in college for a program. I want it on my computer. Please have it available for download soon.
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You can download the .swf file by right-clicking (option-click on a Mac).
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Thank you for this. It made me cry, but you (Tzvi) did a beartiful job of showing the compassion of the IDF. Israel, precious Israel, I weep with you. I weep for you.
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