Mon 8 Apr 2024 at 7pm - 9pm

Taking place in a private home in North Caulfield

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אבי דבוש, מנכ״ל הארגון רבנים לזכויות אדם
מפגש בעברית
(בית פרטי בקולפילד)

Mon 8 Apr 2024 at 7pm - 9pm

כתובת הפגישה תשלח לך מיידית במייל
אנו מתכבדים להזמינך לפגישה בעברית עם אבי דבוש מנכ״ל הארגון ׳רבנים למען זכויות אדם ׳
הארגון הוקם בשנת 1988 וחברים בו יותר מ120 רבנים מוסמכים וסטודנטים לרבנות, אורתודוקסים
רפורמים, מסורתיים ופועל לקידום זכויותיהם של השכבות החלשות בחברה, שמירה על זכויות
המיעוטים בישראל ושל פלסטינאים בשטחים
לאבי דבוש היסטוריה ארוכה של פעילות חברתית במיוחד בפריפריה בדרום. מהתנדבות ועבודה עם
ילדים על הרצף האוטיסטי, מאבק מוצלח כנגד תחנות כוח פחמיות, חברות במרץ, ומ 2019 כמנכ״ל
הארגון רבנים למען זכויות אדם
בפגישה, ישוחח אבי על מה ניתן, צריך ואפשרי לעשות אחרי השבת השחורה באוקטובר, כדי לסלול
דרך לעתיד שאינו מבוסס על ׳הלנצח תוכל חרב׳
אנא הזמינו את כל חבריכם דובריהעברית להצטרף לפגישה. להרשם נא מלאו את פרטיכם בתחתית הדף
להתראות ביום שני, 8 באפריל, בשעה 7
Contact Michael Chaitow on [email protected] for further information

Article from Avi Dabush in Haaretz on October 31, 2023

To the multitude of burdens and scars I carry from life, a new one was added on October 7 – one that I couldn’t have imagined even in my wildest dreams: I am a survivor of a massacre.

On Black Saturday, I was in my home in Nirim when terrorists infiltrated the kibbutz and homes. While they set fires, killed, kidnapped, looted, and vandalized, we hid in the safe room. The only weapon we had against the terrorists – who gathered under our window for long minutes and hours, attempting to break into our house – was my sweaty hand on the door of the safe room. It is a horror that is hard to put into words and it lasted for eight hours.

Then, an additional four hours in the safe room with still no soldiers coming to our aid, and then 18 hours during which we were besieged in the kibbutz amidst the fighting until the long-awaited evacuation. From that moment on, and until now, we’ve been bombarded by bad news about friends, our children’s classmates, their teachers, acquaintances and entire families who were wiped out.

All of this doesn’t serve as a recommended recipe for a clear state of mind. But the very same pain that accentuates the tremendous sense of having been abandoned, also shines a light on whatever chances we have to revive this devastated part of our country.

The short term is challenging, and the civil efforts made are incredibly impressive. However, as with any destruction, the defining moment will be what comes after. What comes after on our side of the fence (or whatever structure replaces that boundary that cost us billions and then crumbled in five minutes), and what comes after on the other side of it.

Those who were there and understand the scale of the destruction and communal loss, both human and physical, realize that for us to return there, two significant engines had to have started working already : a reconstruction department that can swiftly produce plans, permits and workers for restoring the physical infrastructure; and a rehabilitation fund that can capitalize on world Jewry's strong desire to help and immediately raise billions for the benefit of physical, community, family, and personal rehabilitation.

This is imperative. I know there is a special committee appointed as a task force. But it was born disabled with a half-time driver and quarrels over the “loyalty” of some of its members (unbelievable that while hundreds of our friends have not yet been buried, the failed politicians are busy with such things). The director must be professional, efficient and precise. This must happen now.

I’m aware of the existence of rehabilitation funds. Bank Hapoalim, the Jewish Agency, and perhaps also other organizations. It’s disheartening to see grief-stricken kibbutzim competing for donations – it wounds the shattered heart even more. A single, robust foundation that brings together all relevant parties, especially those connected to this region, such as local authorities and regional councils, the kibbutz movement, the Western Negev cluster, local representatives, government officials, philanthropists and businesses can facilitate the change that’s urgently needed. The narrow window of opportunity is already closing. It must happen now, now, now.

It endangers both Zionists and Palestinians, Jews and Arabs, from the sea to the river and beyond. The sole objective of this mitzvah war of no choice should be the overthrow of Hamas and the replacement of its government. This is a minimal requirement for restoring to their rightful place the communities in the area along the Gaza border.

It also guarantees the establishment of robust diplomatic agreements that will involve the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other international powers in the rehabilitation, management and oversight of Gaza.

All of this stands in inherent opposition to revenge and to harming uninvolved innocent civilians. In the past week, I’ve heard many friends talk about a “view to the sea” from our communities – meaning the cities of Gaza will cease to exist. I don’t condemn them. Those who do not understand the horrors we’ve experienced may not comprehend.

However, I believe that the fewer civilians we harm, the more we uphold our moral standards, which are under severe scrutiny. What’s more, this is the path to creating a genuinely different reality. It’s the way a new government can gain legitimacy and fewer children and young people will be drawn into the endless cycle of revenge that has claimed so many victims here.

Call me naive, call me primitive. In my view, anyone who still thinks the same as they did on Saturday, October 7, at 6:29 A.M. is either a fool or a liar. We’ve fallen into a deep, dark pit, and the only chance of finding a way out is through precise, measured and practical action.