Praying and Planting, Planting and Praying

The decisive hour has come. The farmers of Gush Katif are facing a difficult decision, perhaps the most momentous of their lives: to plant for the next harvest, or not.

Logic says – "It's ridiculous to plant, soon everything will fall apart, our investment will be lost….".

But values, hearts and faith say otherwise:
"We MUST plant, ESPECIALLY now, to let everyone know that we will not abandon the land, that we cannot be budged. We cannot be bought off.

As we do every year, we will believe and plant, believe and plant."

But – how? The banks and partners that used to extend credit have vanished. No one is backing the farmers. They are alone.

With this situation in mind, Gush Katif residents generated the idea of turning to the wider public to request support. If every family mobilizes to finance loans for the farmers, to enable them to plant as they always do – then, if the expulsion degree is averted, God willing, the harvest will be sold and the money will be returned. If, God forbid, the worst happens, the loans will be re-classified as donations.

Keren Ma'amin Vezorea is asking families to join the farmers' as "partners", by lending 1000š ($250). Remarkably, there has been an overwhelming response.

A gentleman from Ma'ale Adumim gave 100,000š – which, we learned, is his pension!
"Take it", he insisted. "Now! There is no time to lose!" A woman from a low-income Tel Aviv neighborhood, whose sole income is 2300š from Bitu'ach Le'umi, gave 1000NIS. "This is for my dear brothers in Gush Katif", she said.

Moving from community to community, we sense faith and resoluteness everywhere. People say, "If they stand firm, there is a chance that we will win; but if they topple, God forbid, all is lost".

This is the time to let our brothers know that we are behind them, that we will not abandon them at this ominous time. All of us, together, will believe and plant.

The government expects us to go – but that's an idea that goes nowhere. Instead, Gush Katif will flower and grow green.

To make a real difference, the Fund needs 20 million shekel as soon as possible. So far, the public has given over 3 million shekel; but collecting the rest is urgent.

This past week, the first loans were given to farmers who grow tomatoes and peppers. No less important than money, they have received hope. They can lift their heads with pride and with the faith and knowledge that we are behind them.

Please join us in this enormous endeavor!
To contribute, please phone 1-800-202-288. For more details, contact Nechemia Krakower at 052-8990422 or by email - krakower@walla.com.