June 28, 2009

Good week to all,

Devar Torah

The weekly Torah portion is called Chukat. On this evening of Shabbat, the residence of Nitzana and all of the Shin Shineem (national volunteers) along with their parents gathered at the central look out point of Nitzana. The sun was starting to set and in one direction we could see the desalination plant of our area and on the other side was Kadesh Barnea of which the Parasha speaks of this week.

There at Kadesh Barnea the nation complained to Moses and said to him "And why have you brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die here? And why have you made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? It is not a place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink."

Now - contrary to expectation - from the hill of Nitzana overlooking this desert area of which the people badmouthed and said it was evil, we see the fields and the greenhouses of the farmers that produce vineyards, pomegranates, figs, olives and other beautiful fruits.

And in regards to the water issue, in the Parasha we see that Moses and Aaron under great pressure from the people entreated the LORD and He enabled Moses to bring forth sweet water from the rock. Today our water source comes from drilling and withdrawing the water from under the ground and after being treated at the desalination plant, it becomes sweet.

In my eyes, both are in the framework of being classified as a miracle. At that time the nation had a low motivation but today we have people with a high motivation which helps and enables them with their endeavors. So now it is possible to see that this "evil" place is instead a place that has many good things but they were hidden and now are being discovered.

The Weekly Report

 ---   Last week the visit with the manager of education from Kedumeem went well. I request from Michal Lemon to contact them in order to bring the whole education division for a tour and to further our potential alliance.
 
--- Last week, our presentation of Nitzana at the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency went well. Part of those who attended was interested in visiting Nitzana. Sima please invites those who are interested. Offer will know several of the key people and give us their names.

---    We met with Yoel David about the Ormat project, and consolidated our relationship between them and the Jewish Agency in regards to the solar electricity station that is planned to be built here at Nitzana.

---    The meeting with Doug Seserman, Offer Isseroff, Jeff Kay, and Leah Golan was very good. 
The important significance was that our connection with the Federation would be strengthened and contacts deepened.

--- Therefore at the end of last week we were honored to have Doug and Sue Seserman visit Nitzana, along with Gretchen Koplin who also works at the Federation. We were given the opportunity to show them our village and future plans of educational activities and building projects. The idea for the MASA program for North American youth was well received and we asked for collaboration with the Federation in order to make it a success and a reality.
 
--- On Shabbat evening, the farewell party of the Shin Shineem (national volunteers) was impressive. There was a great display of talent and the mood was very pleasant. These young people have shown maturity in their behavior and even through their difficulties, they have considered the needs of the village first. We want to thank you for your service, congratulate you and wish you much success in the future. The one thing that I hope that they will remember from my speech is that after their army service that they will consider moving to the Negev to settle.

--- On Sunday June 28th, we will attend a board meeting at the regional council. Projects of the Ramat Negev and Partnership 2000 in the coming year will be introduced. Doug Seserman has been invited to attend.

,---  On Monday June 29th, Irina and myself will meet with the committee in Jerusalem about the MASA programs for the Former Soviet Union and also North America. The committee will ascertain that we are worthy to develop and run these programs. Discussion of: professional help and financial support in different stages. 

--- On July 1st, there will be a ceremony at Ayaleem in the garden of Marsha Gardenshwartz in her honor and memory. She was a Jewish woman that was a role model and that did much for the sake of her community in Colorado and also on behalf of the Negev. Marsha was active in the Federation of Colorado for many years. She and members of the delegation came to test this area as a place that was possible for partnership. She encouraged such a partnership with the Colorado community and Nitzana.

Every visitor that came from the Negev to Colorado found a warm welcome in her beautiful home.Each guest was treated with love. She and her husband Ian kept the mitzvoth and a wonderful kosher kitchen; it was a comfortable place to lodge. In spite of her battle with her difficult illness she was an active woman filled with vitality, up until a short time before her death last year. If there was ever a search for a woman with the right Jewish consciousness and spirit, Marsha Gardenshwartz was the model specimen. She is remembered as a blessed woman.

--- On Thursday, July 2nd, Lova Eliav will arrive, along with a film crew from the Knesset Channel. Their mission is to do a piece on Lova and Nitzana for their Channel.

Also on Thursday we will meet with the architects, Mr. Mopsik and the masterminds of the Rehabilitation Center in regards to the furniture and equipment for the Center.
On Sunday, July the 5th we will commence with our summer camps.