Where flowers and grass grew, a shul would sprout, and, with Hashem's help, last week, Moshav Roie celebrated 37 years since its establishment with a grand celebration escorting its first Sefer Torah dedicated by Prof Fein and his wife of Karnei Shomron to its newly built synagogue.
Dedicated to the memories of the murdered young boys Eyal Yifrach, Gilaad Shaar and Naftali Frenkel, Rabbi Raanan shared his proposal with the local council who accepted it and visited the grieving families to comfort them. The families themselves could not be present as they were still within the week of mourning.
Israel's Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs Rabbi Eli Ben Dahan was among the 200 dignitaries and participants present at the ceremony. This included Kurt Rothschild, President of World Mizrachi, Member of Knesset Moshe Faiglin, Rabbi Ephraim Laniado of the Beit Yaakov Safra Congregation in San Paulo as well as Chief Rabbi Menachem Glitzenstein and David Alchayani of the Jordan Valley.
It was a scene of mixed emotions but, in typical Jewish optimism, it affirmed the belief that Jewish life must continue and blossom in spite of, and sometimes because of our tragedies. Orit Harel told the large crowd that this was the second shul she'd helped establish in a place where there had not been one for probably 1900 years. She assisted and encouraged the building of building one in the secular town of Timrat together with Ayelet Hashachar.
4 years ago…When Rabbi Shlomo Raanan, Director of Ayelet HaShachar received a phone call from the Moshav Roie over four years ago, he was swift to move into action. Leaders of the community turned to him with a request. Could he help them establish a regular Shabbos minyan? This lit a red light in his head – no minyan, no Shabbos? His Jewish heart ached. Something had to be done to help them infuse the community with a spark of yiddishkeit.
Moshav Roie nestles on the Northern side of Habika, the Jordan Valley, the white stoney Israeli desert forming its backdrop.
Setting out from Jerusalem, he began his journey from the built up golden city of Jerusalem on the road towards the Dead Sea. Descending swiftly signs declare how close to Sea level finally reach Sea level itself. This area is the lowest place in the world. Home to natural fauna and flora not found anywhere else on the planet.
Continuing on the road one takes a left at the Jericho junction, traveling north towards Beit Shean. This region boasts vast sweeping lengths of Banana and Date trees plantations. Their palms showing off their prowess, these trees not only bear fruit for the locals and for export, but also provide the population with lulavim (palm branches) just in time for the Succoth festival.
Approaching the Adam Junction a left turn onto route 57 down a deserted 15 kilometer treck. Arab villages swathe the area; the threat of the unknown in the air.
Roie, a jewel in the 'midbar' shines in the sunlight even from afar, the tent-like arches that protect its growing produce resemble the white cloth sails on a windy ship. The description is apt for Roie whose green beauty rivals the empty spaces it calls home. This oasis filled with promise, mushrooms out of the land like a desert island in the ocean.
45 families, a population of 300 residents, dwell on Roie, named to commemorate a fallen Israeli Paratroop Commander Uzi Yairi, who gave his life attempting to rescue the trapped occupants of the Savoy Hotel in Tel Aviv in a showdown in 1975. The building had been overtaken by terrorists, threatening the lives of those inside, and the Israeli Defense Forces, made a brave evacuation attempt.
Founded in 1976, the moshav was established by Jews whose vision was to make the desert bloom, and bloom it does.
Greeted by workers on tractors with ruddy sun-baked textured skin, they are quick to offer to show Rabbi Raanan around. With justified pride they show him their achievements, a thriving, beautiful cooperative settlement.
But for all these achievements; homes and flowering gardens, kindergartens and schools, a community centre building, the Moshav has existed for almost 35 years without a synagogue.
After being shown around and some in depth discussions, Rabbi Raanan was overjoyed to receive another call some months later informing him that, with his encouragement, they had applied, and been allocated a shul building, by the Israeli government. Now their needs had changed. They required furnishing; an ark (aron kodesh), Bima, benches and basic library, plus a mechitzah for the women's gallery.
Rabbi Raanan and his trailblazing organization Ayelet Hashachar is in the ‘business’ of building synagogues, but his dream is Jewish unity and understanding and the synagogue is the outcome of his endless efforts, acting as a 'meeting place' between the secular and the religious. There is a new awareness in the land of Israel, a great awakening, and it is his privilege to be able to harness this enthusiasm and turn it into a great and wonderous reality.
It will be his joy and privilege, to watch the desert bloom, in more ways than one.
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