by Suzie Schwartz

Turning Lemons into Lemonade

by Suzie Schwartz

I came back from a recent day trip to the Western Negev, specifically the area close to the Gaza border, with a renewed sense of inspiration and admiration for all that it contains. Our day was crammed with visits to various places that were of historical and natural interest. In the Shokoda Forest Reserve, we walked knee-high along paths surrounding fields of red anemone flowers in full bloom. It felt like a breath of fresh air after two years of on-off lockdown during the covid pandemic, and came as a much-needed boost to my spirits.

At the Black Arrow memorial, we could pay homage to those who had sacrificed their lives to keep the State of Israel safe and secure its borders. We found a picnic bench in the beautiful Be’eri Forest to enjoy lunch outdoors and marveled at the regeneration of green vegetation that had all but eradicated signs of the fire damage caused by the balloon bombs launched from Gaza during last year’s hot, dry summer.

We were able to visit the ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand Armed Corps) memorial situated a few kilometers from the Gaza border. These brave soldiers with their horses set sail from Australian shores, coming from afar to join forces with the Allied campaign in the Middle East during World War 1. They became key players in taking back what was then Palestine from the Ottoman Empire and it was their victories in battle that helped pave the way for the establishment of the State of Israel.

However, it was the last stop, a settlement called Netiv HaAsara (meaning path of the 10 after 10 men who lost their lives in a mission) that was truly transformational. Originally it started out as a settlement in the Northern Sinai but had to relocate to its current position after the Israel - Egypt peace deal signed in 1982. As the closest settlement to the Gaza border, it is

positioned literally on the border, as two massively high, grey walls testify. Stopping at a beautifully presented home, on one of its numerous, tree lined streets, we were greeted by a friendly, middle-aged woman who came out to meet us and introduced herself as Tsameret.

While enjoying a welcome cup of coffee under the eaves of her spacious veranda, she gave an account of what life is like when it is under constant attack from rockets and sniper fire from Gaza. A row of rockets that had fallen on the moshav were prominently displayed amid her potted plants and ceramic sculptures as a reminder of the ever-present threat they had been living with for years.

Tsameret went on to explain her mosaic mural project that involved first her own community in Netiv HaAsara and then the public at large. Called Path to Peace-Creating Hope Together, (https://www. pathtopeacewall.com), she explained how it all began when she grew tired of the view from her veranda of a lifeless grey wall. She decided to draw some huge outlines of murals, including the Israeli flag and the word ‘Shalom’ for her community to fill in with mosaic tiles she created and fired in a kiln, already installed in her own ceramic studio. The project proved to be a great hit with the residents of Netiv HaAsara and became nationally and internationally promoted. It is still ongoing because there is so much of the wall to cover. For a nominal fee, visitors can choose a piece of mosaic, handmade in her studio and then

drive or walk a short distance where they can stick it onto one of the designs on the wall. For some reason, I was overcome with emotion as I added my little piece. A watchtower, flying the green Hamas flag, loomed large and threatening above the grey wall on the Gaza side. We could clearly see a black silhouetted figure pacing about the platform and tracking our movements. We were not intimidated however, and continued with our tiles.

Tsameret’s idea has turned into a successful enterprise and there is a small gift shop alongside the veranda where one can buy her ceramic souvenirs made in her studio. Netiv HaAsara continues to flourish and grow. There is not a single vacant house neither for rent or sale in this tight-knit, close community. Indeed, there is a waiting list. Tsameret told us that Netiv HaAsara would not be uprooted again; this was home and they were here to stay. The way she had used her courage, imagination and creativity to turn lemons into lemonade was truly inspiring. She was smiling and happy and I left the warmth and peace of her home feeling my own strength renewed by yet another one of Israel’s unsung heroes. n

wish all the Kehillah

רשכ חספ גח חמשו

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