יום שלישי, 6 באפריל 2010

From the novel - introduction to Bora...


Prologue - Bora:

"Borowski!"

"Yes, sir."

"Colonel Markov wants to talk to you."

"Yes, sir."

"Take your rifle with you, comrade!"

"Yes, sir."


Walking through snowy forest, sounds of crunching bootsteps, eyes squinting against the cold, blizzard wind.

Reached the hut, the wooden hut…commanders place, Markov's space. Warm in there.

Door closed, hands icy. Sentry sleeping? No. Frozen. Dead!

Open the door, kibbinimat!

"Open the door. I'm freezing out here!"

Yoptvoyimat. Why don't you open it!

"Your sentry is dead. He has frozen to death out here. Open up! Please open the door."

"Who is out there!?"

"It`s me, Borowski! You called me."

Door opens a crack. Blue eyes, blond beard, smell of alcohol in steamed breath.

"Come in, comrade. Come in!"

"Your sentry froze out here. He`s dead."

"Yosselovich! Wake up! Yosselovich."


Door opens more. Pistol points out.

Two shots to the head.

"Now he`s dead, Borowski. Should not have fallen asleep.
Come in quickly. The cold is penetrating my bones."

Fear. Dread.

Dead entry in the snow…blood flowing around the head.
Pink snow.

"How will we bury him?"

"We will throw him in the river later, break a hole in the ice."

Warm inside.
"Have a drink, Borowski!"

"Thank you, sir."

"Stop that, Borowski. We are drinking together!"

"You are a Jew, aren't you?"

"Yes, sir. I am."

"I said stop that! Listen to me. I am half-Jewish too. My wife, curse her, is a Jewess. I want to help you, but you must tell no one. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I do, Colonel Markov. I understand."

"Listen carefully to me. They must never know that I helped you, but I cannot stand by any longer while they continue to murder all of the Jews in the country."

"Lo Ta`amod al dam re`echa!"

"What did you say?"

"It’s a Talmudic saying, sir, but actually the verse is originally from the Bible, from Leviticus…"

"What are you prattling on about? You sound like a rabbi."

"Well, actually, I am a rabbi`s son. My father was the rabbi of Danielewicz."

"You don`t say! And what happened to him?"

"The same as all the other Jews of Danielewicz. The Germans shot them all. They murdered my entire family – father, mother and seven brothers and sisters. That is why I am here with you. I want revenge. I want to make them pay for their crime."

"I understand, Joseph, I understand. That's why I called you… to speak with you. You asked me last week to help you, to help the young resistance fighters of the Vilna ghetto join us here in the forest. Well…I have been thinking about your request. It is a complex matter. You might arouse more anti-Semitism amongst my men, if you bring them here."

"But, Colonel Markov, at least a third of your men today are Jewish."

"That's just the point. If we are inundated by a lot of these Vilna Jews we will upset the delicate ethnic balance of our Ortraid, which might lead to more internal violence than we already have. It would upset discipline. It also would cause us problems with the surrounding villagers, whose cooperation we need, it might lead to our being identified as Jewish partisans, which would undermine our legitimacy with the Soviet command, whose Nationalities Policy doesn't recognize the Jews as a nationality."

"So you are refusing my request, while expressing your sympathies?"

"Don't be too smart, Borowski! No, I am not refusing your request. I have decided to appoint you commander of a separate Jewish Ortraid – as far as I know the first such unit - a Jewish Partisan Unit which will operate in my area."

"I am honoured, sir. We will revenge our loved ones, write a glorious page in the book of anti-Fascist struggle here in Naroch. You won`t regret the decision. We will call our group, "Nekommah”, which is Hebrew for Vengeance…"

"Joseph, that's fine, flowery talk. You won`t get anywhere with speeches. You will have to get to work right away on practicalities. Relax. Have another drink. This is very fine vodka, which I requisitioned yesterday. "

"Thank you."

"Listen. I can give you no weapons. You'll have to get your own somehow. You will set up a camp elsewhere. You can choose some Jewish boys from the five existing ortraids, but no officers. You can take no more than fifty men."

"Where will I get weapons, and ammunition? What use is such a partisan unit? Unarmed? How will we get food, without weapons. We will be slaughtered by the peasants, if the Germans don't get us first. Let me keep my own rifle, some of the men who come with me must be armed as well."

"All right, Borowski. You can keep your own rifle and can have four more pistols from my store to give out, but that's it. I need the rest for my best fighters. Stop looking so worried! You are a resourceful man. You will find a solution, I’m sure. Finish your vodka! Here's to your health."

"You have four days to get organized…. Now, get out of here."

Revenge he had, but there was never enough of it. After the war ended, his private war against the killers continued. Others sought life, to rebuild and grow. He pursued murderers , dealt out death.

And where was God?
He had none, his was dead.

They called him 'Bora".


##############################################

יום ראשון, 21 בפברואר 2010


The Bedouin school of Tires at Han El Ahmar


Last August an unusual, ecologically-friendly structure of used tires and mud was opened as a primary school for the children of the Jahalin Bedouin tribe in the Judean desert. It was immediately served with a demolition order by the civil administration of the I.D.F. in Judea, a consequence of speedy intervention by the security officer of nearby Kfar Adumim.


Tomorrow the High Court of Justice will deliberate on whether that demolition, temporarily stopped by court order, will be carried out. The nearby settlers and the organization, "Regavim" ("For Saving the Nation's lands") insist it must without further delay.


Three Jahalin children have been killed, two injured and maimed for life, trying to reach the U.N.R.W.A. school in Jericho to which they had been assigned, being refugees from the Negev. The tribe had been expelled from the area near Tel Arad in the early 1950's. The parents stopped sending their little children at all. They started planning their own school and turned to the authorities for aid. They were met with administrative silence, and worse. All their tents and rough huts were served demolition orders. They were supposed to disappear, not appeal for help!


The school was built by the Jerusalem Bedouin Cooperative, a self-help group, with the assistance of local Israeli volunteers (mainly from "Rabbis For Human Rights") and an Italian socio-ecological N.G.O., Vento Di Terra, which specializes in aiding poor, indigenous populations by encouraging self-help and civil society.


Four temporary classrooms, designed by architect Valerio Marazzi of Milan were constructed from used truck tires, mud and some wooden beams. The Bedouin collected and purchased the materials, filled and plastered the tires with mud from local red clay and coated the outside with used falafel oil. The whole thing cost very little.


A reluctant promise by the Palestinian Authority to supply four teachers would only be fulfilled if there was a building standing by the beginning of August. This was an act of desperation after decades of neglect by both the Israelis and the Palestinians. Repeated requests for their basic rights to health, education, electricity, water and building permits have been either ignored or rejected. They watched their neighbours in Kfar Adumim just above them, pampered by the authorities, receive all the amenities and building rights they were denied.


So they built themselves a school.


Since August 60 children, aged 6-10, have been learning there daily. The look of delight and enthusiasm on their faces that first day of school was unforgettable. The look on those faces if the bulldozers come is unimaginable. The State of Israel, while encouraging Jews to settle nearby has taken no responsibility, despite humanitarian international law, for their situation. This is area C, where only Jews are allowed to build.


As a Jewish Israeli, a son of Holocaust refugees I know personally what education means to the children of refugees. As a religious person I see in education not only a basic human right, but also a spiritual value. I identify with their educational aspirations, and think we all should. I also admire their courage. I pray that tomorrow's court sitting will exemplify the noblest Jewish ideals of love of mankind, but fear that we will again see Jewish indifference to the rights and suffering of the non-Jews in our midst.


In chapter 1 of Isaiah's well known prophecy (Ketzinei Sdom, Am Amorrah") he describes the corruption of ancient Israel, words which still ring true today. He demands justice above all. Isaiah tells us of the indifference to the suffering of the poor. None are poorer than these Bedouin. It is in a case like this that our humanity is tested.


"Tzion BeMishpat Tipadeh" it says...Zion in Justice will be redeemed.


Rabbi Yehiel Grenimann

Director of Field Activities, Rabbis For Human Rights
The Bedouin school of Tires at Han El Ahmar


Last August an unusual, ecologically-friendly structure of used tires and mud was opened as a primary school for the children of the Jahalin Bedouin tribe in the Judean desert. It was immediately served with a demolition order by the civil administration of the I.D.F. in Judea, a consequence of speedy intervention by the security officer of nearby Kfar Adumim.


Tomorrow the High Court of Justice will deliberate on whether that order, temporarily stopped by court order, will carried out. The nearby settlers and the organization, "Regavim" ("For Saving the Nation's lands") insist it must without further delay.


Three Jahalin children had been killed, two injured and maimed for life, trying to reach the U.N.R.W.A. school in Jericho to which they had been assigned, being refugees from the Negev. The tribe had been expelled from the area near Tel Arad in the early 1950's. The parents stopped sending their little children at all. They started planning their own school and turned to the authorities for aid. They were met with administrative silence, and worse. All there tents and rough huts were served demolition orders. They were supposed to disappear, not appeal for help!


The school was built by the Jerusalem Beduin Cooperative, a self-help group, with the assistance of local Israeli volunteers (mainly from "Rabbis For Human Rights") and an Italian socio-ecological N.G.O., Vento Di Terra, which specializes in aiding poor, indigenous populations by encouraging self-help and civil society.


Four temporary classrooms, designed by architect Valerio Marazzi of Milan were constructed from used truck tires, mud and some wooden beams. The Bedouin collected and purchased the materials, filled and plastered the tires with mud from local red clay and coated the outside with used falafel oil. The whole thing cost very little.


A reluctant promise by the Palestinian Authority to supply four teachers would only be fulfilled if there was a building standing by the beginning of August. This was an act of desperation after decades of neglect by both the Israelis and the Palestinians. Repeated requests for their basic rights to health, education, electricity, water and building permits had been either ignored or rejected. They watched their neighbours in Kfar Adumim just above them, pampered by the authoities, receive all the amenities and building rights they were denied.


So they built themselves a school.


Since August 60 children, aged 6-10, have been learning there daily. The look of delight and enthusiasm in their faces that first day of school was unforgettable. The look on those faces if the bulldozers come is unimaginable. The State of Israel, while encouraging Jews to settle nearby has taken no responsibility, despite humanitarian international law, for their situation. This is area C, where only Jews are allowed to build.


As a Jewish Israeli, a son of Holocaust refugees I know personally what education means to the children of refugees. As a religious person I see in education not only a basic human right, but also a spiritual value. I identify with their educational aspirations, and think we all should. I also admire their courage. I pray that tomorrow's court sitting will exemplify the noblest Jewish ideals of love of mankind, but fear that we will again see Jewish indifference to the rights and suffering of the non-Jews in our midst.


In chapter 1 of Isaiah's well known prophecy (Ketzini Sdom, Am Amorrah") he describes the corruption of ancient Israel, words which still ring true today. He demands justice above all. Isaiah tells us of the indifference to the suffering of the poor. None are poorer than these Bedouin. It is in a case like this that our humanity is tested.


"Tzion BeMishpat Tipadeh" it says...Zion in Justice will be redeemed.


Rabbi Yehiel Grenimann

Director of Field Activities, Rabbis For Human Rights

יום ראשון, 14 בפברואר 2010

בית הספר בחאן אל אחמר: בסכנת הריסה

באוגוסט האחרון נפתח בית ספר יסודי לילדים בדואים משבט הג'הלין בחאן אל אחמר שבמדבר יהודה. בנית בית הספר הקטן הזה היה מעשה של גבורה, העצמה אזרחית, ושיתוף פעולה בין הבדואים המקומיים, וישראלים ואיטלקים, חברי ארגונים אזרחיים אידיאליסטיים. על בניית בית הספר כתבה בזמנו העיתונאית עמירה הס בעיתון הארץ. אז, כתוצאה של עבודתו של עו"ד שלמה לקר, ופרסום העניין בתקשורת צו ההריסה שהוגש לבדויים הוקפא בצו ביניים.

לפני כן קבוצה של מתנדבים, בעיקר מטעם "שומרי משפט, רבנים לזכויות האדם" הגיעה יום-יום בחום הכבד של יוני - יולי לסייע לבדויים ולאדריכל הסביבתי ממילנו, ולריו, לבנות את המבנה הייחודי מצמיגים משומשים ובוץ, בנסיון להעמיד 4 כיתות לימוד מוכנות לפני פתיחת שנת הלימודים. בכך קיוו לזכות ב4 המורים שהבטיחה הרשות הפלסטינית לספק, אם יהיה בנין. זה היה מעשה של ייאוש של הורי ילדים קטנים. הם ידעו שלא היה כל סיכוי שהמנהל האזרחי יאפשר בניה כזאת, למרות הזכות האנושית הבסיסית לחינוך שיש התעלמות מוחלטת ממנה מצדו , כמו משאר זכויות האדם שלהם .

בעוד שבוע, ב22.02.10 יישב בג"ץ לדון בעתידו של בית הספר. העותרים הם ארגון רגבים, "להצלת אדמות האומה" והנהלת הישוב היהודי השכן ,כפר אדומים. הם דורשים לבצע צו הריסה שהוקפא כאמור מתחילת שנת הלימודים. אנשי כפר אדומים, הידועים בין היתר בגלל השקעתם הרבה בחינוך ילדיהם (יש שלט גדול בכניסה לישוב המצביע על כך) אינם שקטים מהמשך פעילותו של בית הספר הצנוע והעני לידם. המתנחלים חוששים כנראה שזאת התחלה של ישוב קבע במקום, והרי ידוע שהבדויים, שהגיעו לשם אחרי גירושם מהנגב ב1948 הינם "בלתי חוקיים", כל האהלים והצריפים שלהם כבר מזמן קיבלו צוי הריסה. לאן עליהם לעבור? אין תכנית ואין תשובה. העיקר שייעלמו ויפסיקו לקלקל את היופי המדברי שם והמשך התפשטות כפר אדומים, ה"חוקי".

הזמנות הבדויים לשכנים לבקר ולדבר איתם לא זכו להיענות עד כה. אחד ממנהיגי הועד המקומי של הג'הלין שאל אותי באירוניה " האם יתנו לנו לבנות שכונה לבדויים שם בישוב שלהם כמו שבנינו אנחנו את שאר הבתים שלהם? אנחנו רוצים לחיות כמו כל בני האדם" אמר לי אבו חמיס בפגישתנו האחרונה, "עם חשמל, מים, כבישים טובים, בית ספר ושרותי בריאות. להם נותנים לבנות, רק לנו לא."

לבית ספר מגיעים בכל יום כ60 ילדים בדויים מהסביבה בגילאים 6-10. אני יכול להעיד מביקורי במקום על שמחתם הגדולה ללמוד סוף-סוף. עד השנה לא היו יושבים ללמוד באופן מסודר. הם סבלו מהעדר תחבורה לבית הספר לפליטים של האו"ם UNRWA ביריחו אליו הופנו ובגלל הסירוב של המנהל לקחת אחראיות עליהם, למרות שהם בשטח C, אזור שליטה ישראלית מלאה. בקשות במשך השנים נענו בשלילה. פניות לרשות הפלסטינית זכו לתשובה ש"אתם באיזור שליטה ישראלית".

מאז בנית גדר ההפרדה המצב הוחרף בגלל העדר תחבורה ציבורית ערבית סדירה בכביש ירושלים-יריחו ואיסורי חנית אוטובוס ליד הכפר. שלושה ילדים נהרגו בתאונות דרכים, ושניים נפצעו קשה בדרך לבית ספר. ההורים הפסיקו לשלוח ילדים קטנים. אבו סולימן, ממנהיגי ההורים הסביר לי שיש גם בעיה מיוחדת לבנות בחברה השמרנית שלהם הורים היו מוכנים לתת להן לנסוע לבית ספר מעורב רק עד כתה ד'. רוב הבנות כלל לא למדו. לדידו היתה ירידה בדעת קרוא וכתוב בשבט בשנים האחרונות.

לכן החליטו לעשות מעשה ולבנות לעצמם בית ספר.

כיהודי ישראלי בן של פליטי שואה המכיר אישית את משמעות החינוך לבני פליטים וכאדם דתי שרואה בחינוך ילדים מעשה בעל משמעות רוחנית אני מזדהה עם שיאפותיהם החינוכיות. אני מתפלל שהיותנו יהודים יהיה מקור לחסד בהחלטות המשפטיות והמנהליות בעניין הזה, ולא מקור לאכזריות.

נאמר ש"ציון במשפט תפדה" והכוונה כמובן למשפט במובן של צדק, לא ככלי של עוולה.
גם נאמר -פעמיים! - בפרשת משפטים שקראנו בשבת האחרונה בבית הכנסת:

"וגר לא תונה ולא תלחצנו כי גרים הייתם בארץ מצרים" (שמות, כ"ב, כ')
"וגר לא תלחץ ואתם ידעתם את נפש הגר כי גרים הייתם באץ מצרים" (שמות, כ"ג, ט')


הרב יחיאל גריינימן,

מנהל מחלקת שטחים,
שומרי משפט, רבנים למען זכויות האדם