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The Region of Revival

An Introduction by Rabbi Aron White

W story. The start-up nation of the 21st century is exceptionally
hen the Talmud was written about
1,500 years ago, Jews lived in Babylonian
focused on Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and the Central Region, so despite
communities both geographically and intel-
being a mere 40 miles from Gaza, these border towns were often
lectually distant from a sovereign Jewish state.
kibbutzim called Be’eri or Nir Oz?
Despite this, a passage in Eruvin provides a strikingly relevant overlooked. On October 6th, how many of us had ever heard of
strategic assessment that shines a light on the events of the last In the weeks after the October 7th massacre, Israel’s government
two decades in Israel.
officially renamed the region bordering Gaza as “Chevel HaTekuma,
“If non-Jewish nations are threatening Jewish cities – if they The Region of Revival.” No more can we allow this region to slip
are seeking money, one cannot violate the Shabbat (to push to the periphery of our consciousness. The wisdom of the Gemara
them back), but if they are threatening lives, one can break the in Eruvin is now obviously true to all of us. Border towns are
Shabbat… However, if they are threatening the towns on the vulnerable, and their strength is a sign of the strength of Israel
border, even only to take wheat and chaff, one can violate as a whole.
Shabbat to push them back” (Eruvin 45a).
Discussing the importance of the Gaza region, Ariel Sharon
The commentators explain that border towns are treated with famously said: “Din Netzarim keDin Tel Aviv, the town of Netzarim
greater sensitivity, as they are the most threatened. If they fall, is as important as Tel Aviv.” Today, we need a similar change of
they become a base for the gradual encroachment of the enemy. mindset – “Din Re’im keDin Ra’anana,” “Din Be’eri keDin Beit Shemesh,”
And so border communities must be defended with greater inten- “Din Yachini keDin Yerushalayim.” In this edition, by telling the
sity, even if it is necessary to violate Shabbat to push them back, stories of the Region of Revival, we hope to put this region back
and even if our enemies are only threatening crops! in the center of our consciousness.
Jews have lived in and around Gaza for centuries, but since the This Tu BiShvat, may we see the reflowering of this beautiful
foundation of the State of Israel, the Gaza area has become a area, where “There shall again be in this place that is waste
threatened border region of our homeland. From Egypt in the without man or beast, and in all its cities a dwelling of shepherds
War of Independence to the Fedayeen attacks in the 1950s, and resting [their] flocks… in the cities of the lowlands, and in the
continuing through the first and second intifadas, the Gaza cities of the south” (Yirmiyahu 33:12–13).
border towns became ayarot sfar, “towns on the border,” that
require extra protection. In 2003, the government of Israel offi- Below: Chavat HaShikmim, 3 kilometers (about 2 miles) from Sderot, December 2023.
(PHOTO: RABBI HILLEL VAN-LEEUWEN)
cially designated this area as “Otef Aza,” the “Gaza Envelope,”
which would be provided with additional benefits and support
in light of the threat they faced.
But in the ensuing 20 years, rather than ensuring these towns
were more protected as the Gemara advises, they were, tragically,
less protected than other areas in Israel. These communities
have borne the brunt of tens of thousands of rocket attacks, but
by and large, the majority of the country accepted the situation
as a liveable reality. Local residents often complained that 50 Rabbi Aron White
rockets on Sderot would gain barely a passing mention in the is the Managing Editor of HaMizrachi magazine.
news, whereas one rocket fired at Tel Aviv would be a headline

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