AFTERMATH - II

Simcha was devastated as she had to both support her five children and to create a new home in a completely unfamiliar and unstable environment, facing an uncertain future. We were not aware of the great toll it took on her physical and mental health as she put on such a brave front. It was only when we discovered that she was suffering from malnutrition (she lost 11 kilo) that steps were taken to boost her both physically and psychologically. All the children suffered traumas which have repercussions - until today. The only bright spot was the warm and unstinting support she received from her community all of whom stayed together, the strong helping the weak.

The members of the moshav who had been working outside in various jobs were able to continue to support their families. The majority, who were farmers had no land to work on, even if they would have had the necessary will, stamina and ability to start all over again. Also many of them had been employed in the Gush with no written credentials needed to find new jobs. Simcha had been working as a receptionist in the hotel with no formal training. She had completed three years in university but her move to Gush Katif cut off her studies a year before she would have received her degree.

Since the Arabs would most certainly have desecrated the graves of the Jews buried in Gush Katif, most of whom were victims of terrorism like Gideon (of blessed memory), the bodies had to be dug up and alternative burial places found. So our family, together with the other bereaved families, had to go through another heartbreaking ceremony when Gideon was buried for the second time.

Instead of trying to make life as easy as possible in these terrible circumstances, the government seemed to put so many obstacles in their way that the end seemed nowhere in sight. Simcha and others from Galei Tal spent the first harrowing two months in a youth hostel with no facilities  (such as laundry machines). Their next move was to two adjoining caravan where they spent the next seven years! Eventually a permanent place situated in the fields of a kibbutz was assigned to the moshav and very slowly the infrastructure and houses (each individually built) were erected.

Seven and a half years after the eviction, Simcha moved into her permanent home in the new Gannei Tal, situated adjacent to  kibbutz  Hafetz Chaim. By a remarkable coincidence “heaven sent” - while the workers were digging in the immediate area of the moshav, they discovered an enormous, unique “boutique” wine press from the 6^th century, almost unbroken and even with a mosaic floor. Since the family had been planning for a long time to commemorate Gideon z”l in some beauty spot in Israel,  what could be more appropriate than this site which was amazingly within sighting distance from  the family’s new home. Fortunately, all the relevant bodies involved - Antique’s Authority, Land’s Authority and the local council agreed to name it “Gat (Hebrew for wine-press) Gideon”. They have also made it into a permanent historical site together with an avenue of olive trees, proper fencing, benches, etc.

While still living in the caravans, Simcha married Eli Bar-Asher who is a divorcee also with five children, and both families get on remarkably well together.

before..........

after..........