Comments on: Interview with Shifra Shomron, Author of Grains of Sand: The Fall of Neve Dekalim http://www.myjewishlearning.com/blog/culture/interview-with-shifra-shomron-author-of-grains-of-sand-the-fall-of-neve-dekalim/ Mixed Multitudes Mon, 23 May 2011 06:56:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: katiforever http://www.myjewishlearning.com/blog/culture/interview-with-shifra-shomron-author-of-grains-of-sand-the-fall-of-neve-dekalim/comment-page-1/#comment-1801 katiforever Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:42:37 +0000 http://www.myjewishlearning.com/blog/culture/interview-with-shifra-shomron-author-of-grains-of-sand-the-fall-of-neve-dekalim/#comment-1801 I recommend Grains of Sand to anyone who visited Gush Katif and would like a tangible reminder, and to anyone who did not visit our "Garden of Eden" and would like a glimpse of the beautiful string of communities that once flourished and will again, G-d willing. Ms. Shomron put to words so wonderfully the thoughts and feelings of so many of us. As a translator I often have to grapple with the terminology of the Disengagement. It's not easy, however "evacuate" is definitely not the correct term. An evacuation is a removal of people from a dangerous situation for the purpose of bringing them to a safe area. This was not the intent of the Israeli government. The actual intent is a much disputed issue, but this is not the place to discuss it. A second misleading item is the sentence: "Many families left voluntarily before the announced date of disengagement, but some stayed and were forcibly removed from their homes." This was not the case and can easily be verified with the SELA Authority - the department of the government appointed to oversee the civilian aspects of the Disengagement. Their reports clearly show that an overwhelming majority of families did not cooperate and made no contact with the SELA Authority prior to the Disengagement, remaining in their homes until the soldiers came to remove them. Only a small minority of families signed with the SELA Authority in advance in order to make arrangements for housing in the event of Disengagement. Grains of Sand is an important testimony of the years leading up to the Disengagement. Hadassa DeYoung, K'far Darom, Gush Katif I recommend Grains of Sand to anyone who visited Gush Katif and would like a tangible reminder, and to anyone who did not visit our “Garden of Eden” and would like a glimpse of the beautiful string of communities that once flourished and will again, G-d willing. Ms. Shomron put to words so wonderfully the thoughts and feelings of so many of us.

As a translator I often have to grapple with the terminology of the Disengagement. It’s not easy, however “evacuate” is definitely not the correct term. An evacuation is a removal of people from a dangerous situation for the purpose of bringing them to a safe area. This was not the intent of the Israeli government. The actual intent is a much disputed issue, but this is not the place to discuss it.

A second misleading item is the sentence: “Many families left voluntarily before the announced date of disengagement, but some stayed and were forcibly removed from their homes.” This was not the case and can easily be verified with the SELA Authority – the department of the government appointed to oversee the civilian aspects of the Disengagement. Their reports clearly show that an overwhelming majority of families did not cooperate and made no contact with the SELA Authority prior to the Disengagement, remaining in their homes until the soldiers came to remove them. Only a small minority of families signed with the SELA Authority in advance in order to make arrangements for housing in the event of Disengagement.

Grains of Sand is an important testimony of the years leading up to the Disengagement.

Hadassa DeYoung, K’far Darom, Gush Katif

]]> By: stardust http://www.myjewishlearning.com/blog/culture/interview-with-shifra-shomron-author-of-grains-of-sand-the-fall-of-neve-dekalim/comment-page-1/#comment-1799 stardust Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:59:57 +0000 http://www.myjewishlearning.com/blog/culture/interview-with-shifra-shomron-author-of-grains-of-sand-the-fall-of-neve-dekalim/#comment-1799 Shifra Shomron is so eloquent and her novel is amazing! I enjoyed the many layers in her book - it made me think. No way did Gush Katif people want to be dispossessed of their land and homes.No way did they voluntarily leave - they were forced out! Shifra Shomron is so eloquent and her novel is amazing! I enjoyed the many layers in her book – it made me think. No way did Gush Katif people want to be dispossessed of their land and homes.No way did they voluntarily leave – they were forced out!

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