REBUILDING THE GUSH KATIF COMMUNITIES

July 2013, Av 5773

Map of New Gush Katif Communities

Permanent Communities

About 1667 families lived in Gush Katif. Nearly 1450 families remained with their community framework. There are 22 new Gush Katif communities throughout Israel. About 720 families (almost 50%) have entered their permanent homes. An additional 30% are in varied stages of the building process.

4 communities still don’t have infrastructure and have not yet started building permanent homes.

150 families have either emotional, financial or personal difficulties preventing them from completing their house.

The Eshchar company mapped out 60 families who need monetary assistance to finish building their permanent homes.

Permanent Communities

Needy Families

•40 families seek to move their caravillas to the permanent community site. •Cost $2,000,000.00The Gush Katif Committee has already helped 20!

•40 families seek to move their caravillas to the permanent community site. •Cost $2,000,000.00The Gush Katif Committee has already helped 20!

•Additional families are stuck in the building process:1.Provide $1,428,571.00 in loans until Tnufa releases funds.2.Create a Public Investigative Committee headed by a judge to determine families worthy of receiving monetary assistance. This committee should have $2,285,714.00 to help needy families.

Public structures

Completing Synagogues: costs in US Dollars

Palmachim285,714.00

Neta285,714.00

Be’er Ganim714,286.00

Bnei Dekalim571,429.00

Talmei Yafa142,858.00

Ganei Tal228,571.00

Netzer Hazani ?857,143.00

Mesciot ?857,143.00

Neve Yam – a temporary synagogue.

142,858.00

•Men’s ritual baths are needed in seven communities:

1. Be’er Ganim2. Bnei Dekalim3. Bnei Netzarim4. Neta5. Nev’e6. Shomriah7. Shvei Darom

Also…

Cost : $200,000.00

Youth Centers

Youth Centers provide important formal and informal educational activity for youth during after-school hours. These places are a refuge for youth, allowing them to spend their free time in a positive environment.

Communities without a youth center:

NeveCarmei KatifNetzer Hazani lacks $571,429.00

Bnei NetzarimNetaMesciot

Mavki’imShomriahNetzer Ariel

Nitzan – lacks $457,143.00 to complete.

Bnei DekalimShvei Darom

Be’er GanimGanei Tal – lacks $85,714.00 to complete

Synagogue equipment

Synagogue furnishings

Cost in US dollars

Chair for Eliyahu500.00

Ark57,143.00

Bima28,571.00

Mechitza1,429.00 per square meter

Doors at the entrance11,429.00

The amud for the cantor7,143.00

A basic unfurnished synagogue seating 200: $172,857.00A basic unfurnished synagogue seating 200: $172,857.00

Altogether our communities need 30 synagogues!

Katif Center

Aims: •The Katif Center will commemorate the Gush Katif and Northern Shomron heritage.•The Center will install national and educational values through this heritage.

The Israeli government funds the Center’s daily activity, just as it funds the Rabin Center, and the Begin Center.

The cost for building a permanent Katif Visiting Center: $3,428,571.00

Religious world

Yeshivas:•Netzer Ariel•Yamit Yeshiva in Ashdod•Nitzan Yeshiva•“Otzem” religious pre-military academy in Nev’e•Religious boys’ high-school in Nev’e•“Torat HaHaim” in Yad Benyamin•Small Yeshiva in Shomriah

The Gush Katif religious world aims to renew itself and even surpass what it was in Gush Katif. It plans to do so by helping community residents and also helping with religious outreach programs.

The women’s Beit Midrash “Kissufim” in Nitzan helps empower religious women, showing that not only men enter the Beit Midrash. 150 women study once a week, attracted by the excellent lecturers and friendly environment.

Total annual cost: $42,857.00

Youth

1. Yulis Basketball TournamentThe Yulis family, formerly from Neve Dekalim, annually organize an exciting youth basketball tournament among the Gush Katif communities. This event is in memory of their son who passed away from leukemia at the young age of 14.

This inter-community tournament has become a Gush Katif tradition, currently marking its 22nd year!

Cost: $ 4,286.00

Gush Katif youth are quality youth living according to ethics and morals which build the nation.

Youth

2. Katif Scouts

This summer camp is for graduates of 7th and 8th grade, who are formerly of Gush Katif. We’ve made this camp into a new Gush Katif tradition, 6 years in the running.

Attractions Field trips Social togetherness

And most important… discussing the meaning of our being from Gush Katif!

Price to attend: $71.00Cost to run the camp: $25,714.00