By Ashley Englander
Kfar Etzion – what a remarkable site. Each of us fellows had an idea of the historical background of the land, but we were not prepared to hear its story. As we walked into the box theater, the dubbed English movie began to play. I started to laugh a little at the translation, but I quickly was immersed into the story.
Each character in the story survived the Holocaust. These new, European immigrants decided to take the opportunity and develop Palastine and turn it into the country they always dreamt of. I say the word “Palastine” because these events occurred right before 1948, before the state of Israel was established.
The movie began to tell the story of each immigrant’s life. All of a sudden the projection of each story surrounded us in the box theater. I could feel myself entering into each person’s world, and their history. After each story, we listened to the events that occurred a few weeks before the state of Israel was established.
Women and children were forced to leave the Kibbutz and flee to Jerusalem for safety. Arabs were ready to attack the village, and the men, and some women needed to stay to defend their land. My mind started to think, “What would I have done in a situation like that?” “Do I leave with my child to Jerusalem, or do I stay to fight with my husband?” My heart began to race as the attacks by the Arabs started.
I knew the immigrants would not survive, but a part of me hoped God would create a miracle. As the last grenade was thrown and all the settlers disappeared, I felt sorrow. Fortunately, their kids and grandchildren are alive today to tell the story.
As the movie disappeared, and so did the screen, we had the opportunity to see the bunker where the last grenade exploded. T’fillin and pieces of Torah scrolls were preserved. The survival of those religious objects shows me that the Jewish people will always continue to survive.
