Fanning the Flames of the Carmel Mountain fire

Yesterday Rena, Maytal and I drove north to a Bat Mitzvah of friends who recently moved to the lower Galilee. During a portion of our journey we drove along the beautiful eastern edge of the Carmel mountain range (Reches Carmel). At one point it was clear that we could see and smell smoke from the blaze raging on the other side of the Carmel. Every hour on the hour we listened to the heartbreaking news accounts of the funerals taking place all over the country for the members of the prison services who were engulfed in flames when their bus was surprised by a 100 foot high wall of fire. So many men and women... young and middle aged...most leaving behind grieving spouses and children. Just a few minutes ago it was announced that Ahuva Tomer, the police chief of Haifa, whose car was following the bus, died from burns over 100% of her body. May their memories be for a blessing.

The Bat Mitzvah was held at Chavat Derech Hatavlinim, a spice farm just outside of Beit Lechem Haglilit, a former German Templar colony from the 19th century. The gorgeous, tranquil pastoral setting belied the terrorizing fire raging 10 kilometers away. After davenning, dancing and eating delicious food, we drove to my relatives in nearby Kfar Yehoshua. We met at my cousin Muli's home with his wife, his sister and her husband. Of course, we sat around talking about the fire still raging kilometers away from their home. Muli is 73 and his older sistere, Rachelka is almost 80. Their mother, Shoshana was my maternal grandfather's first cousin. Their spouses, Aviva and Moishele joined us as we sat outside the home that Muli was born in. It was a beautiful day, not too hot and we had a wonderful time catching up on Muli and Aviva's porch.

A few things struck me as we sat and lamented the fire, eating peeled tangerines from their tree. We always serve fruit to our guests but not once have we peeled the tangerines (clementinot) before serving them. As we all grabbed for the delicious afternoon repast, I looked at the hands of Muli and Moishele. Both brothers in law both have large, massive hands, thick and gnarled after a lifetime of farming the land. Muli just retired after a lifetime as a dairy farmer and Moishele still raises calves and sheep. Moishe lost an index finger during one of Israel's many wars in which he served in the artillery. I thought about their hands and looked around at the land that they have invested their lives in and listened in fascination to their stories.

Muli reminded us that since the fire in the Carmel began, over 20 fires have been set by arsonists around the country. All of those fires, thank God were put out, but everyone around the table understood the implications of this eco-nationalist terrorism perpetrated by Israeli Arabs who have not come to terms with the fact that we have established a Jewish state. Moishele and Muli then began to describe in moving detail how as young boys and men they used to put out fires in their fields and forests set by local Arabs. They used to take burlap bags and blankets, wet them and go out to put out the fires. Muli mused that things haven't changed, whether it is local Palestinian Arabs, or jeering Moslems in Turkey, Syria or Gaza.

The conversation then turned to the reemergence of a phenomena mentioned in the above editorial, the Watchmen. Founded in the 2nd decade of the 20th century by Alexander Zaid, the Shomrim were the first defense organization formed by members of the second aliyah. In fact, Rena's uncle, Yona Telem z"l, was a Shomer when he first made aliyah from Lithuania. Today, there is a new group, the Watchmen who are functioning as volunteer watchmen trying to halt the surge in thefts, vandalism and eco-terrorism being perpetrated by a small, violent segment of the Israeli Arab population in the Galilee.

The head of the organization is a former Navy Seal (Shayettet) commando, Yoel Zilbermann. A few years ago he spoke to Eran's pre-army program (mechina kdam tzvaiit), trying to encourage these young idealistic Zionists to join his efforts. Frankly, Eran felt that Yoel might be a bit too much of a cowboy, but he agreed that something must be done to halt the theft and vandalism. I wonder what he would say now, knowing that Yoel's group has grown and has been instrumental in stopping more forest fires.

In my opinion, the jury is still out regarding the new Shomrim, but in my mind it is unequivocal that we face a new form of internal terrorism that must be dealt with. My wise friend, Scott Forester, likes to remind me that the more things change, the more they stay the same. I don't know if Scott coined this phrase, but I'd like to think he did. This homespun wisdom, speaks deeply to me as I think about the hands of Muli, Moishe, Rachelka and Aviva...putting out flames set by terrorists in the 1930's and 40's. The opposition to the Jewish state is certainly not across the board amongst Israeli Arabs, but it just takes one clever terrorist to start another fire to consume the Zionist Dream.

This is not an attempt to cover up Islamophobia and racism that exists around the world, and in our beloved country. Racism of any kind must be repudiated and halted. But my desire to be fair to all compels me to cry out when we don't remind ourselves and the world that this kind of rejectionism of the Jewish state which is rearing its ugly head...is nothing new. Arsonists motivated by nationalist tendencies are no less an act of terrorism then a bomb set on a bus or the constant attempts to kidnap Israeli soldiers.

It is raining in Jerusalem and once again I am feeling slightly optimistic.

This blog was written in response to this editorial featured in today's Jerusalem Post - Burning the Land we live in

Rabbi David L. Ebstein lives in Jerusalem with his wife Rena and son Maytal. He is a licensed tour guide and writes for Travelujah.