Double Mission

June 2005 / Sivan 5765

A few weeks ago, New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind returned to Gush Katif for his second Solidarity Mission. Following his March trip, Dov brought along 125 Americans, including rabbis, laymen, evangelical New York State Senator John Sampson and five midwestern Baptist ministers.

Voices had the opportunity to speak to Dov Hikind on the eve of his trip. Dov said, “People ask if this trip can make a difference. G-d can make a difference in a moment. The issue is always doing what you believe is right. There is a tragic situation in Gush Katif, and I want to do what I can as an individual. I’ll leave the rest to G-d.”

“The people on the trip are amazing people. They’re professionals, all taking off time, spending up to $1200 to fly to Israel. Many won’t even see Jerusalem, because they’re flying straight in to Israel, going to Gush Katif, spending two nights and three days, visiting every community, and then flying straight back.”

He continued, “A lot of people out there want to do the right thing. These people are not coming to vacation. They’re not going to five star hotels. They are coming to show their support for the people of Gush Katif.”

As the group approached Gush Katif, kassam rockets hit a home in Sderot. Instead of fleeing the other way, Hikind’s group went straight to the scene of the rocket. Seeing the damage, Senator Sampson said, “I don’t need to see anything else. I get it.”

Dov added, “Israelis are so used to great tragedies in terrorism, they don’t even look at the little ones. We from America are not accustomed to sitting in our living rooms or dining rooms and having kassam rockets come through our roof. Any country that has self-respect would never allow its citizens to come under attack.”

Helen Freedman, Executive Director of Americans for a Safe Israel, told Voices why she made the whirlwind trip. “The reason we come is love of the land, and love of the people. These are the best people, and we have to keep coming back until we make it our permanent home.”

Voices spoke with Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum, director of the Rabbinical Alliance of America, representing 800 rabbis. As we stood beside the threatened cemetery of Gush Katif, Rabbi Tannenbaum said, “The Shulchan Aruch says, ‘In the border cities, we’re not allowed to give up one piece of straw. Even on Shabbat, you have to get up and fight.”

The Rabbi said, “The people of Gush Katif have to empower themselves and persevere. Then it’s hashgacha pratis and the Heavens direct things.”

Meeting Dov Hikind’s Mission were four buses from the Greater Jerusalem area, traveling to Gush Katif as a memorial to Gush Katif supporter Suzanne Davis, o’h. Suzanne had joined Hikind on his trip in March, and then became ill. While in the hospital, she received an invitation for this month’s mission. Suzanne wanted to be part of it. Her son Eric said he’d sign up Suzanne and himself for the trip. She died not long after.

Eric said, “During the shiva, the idea came up that instead of making a reservation for two, maybe we could multiply that by ten and bring 20 people. It turned out we multiplied it by 100.” Eric, a resident of Efrat, commented, “My mother had a great passion for the people of Gush Katif, and a great sense of right and wrong. This trip would have been something she’d have wanted to do.”

When the Double Mission arrived at the Maoz HaYam community, Nadia and Ruth Matar of Women in Green, dedicated a preschool there in Suzanne’s memory for the many children who had already moved in with their families.

Following a full day of visits to the communities, the two groups went their separate ways. Kassam missiles had rained down on the area that day, but the Hikind group remained in Gush Katif. When the three days were done, Dov called out, “I’ll be back.” He has already chartered a plane for his next Solidarity Mission, IY”H, and is considering bringing two!!

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