There is a most interesting pattern of storytelling in Jewish history. From the moment we first recounted the story of the Exodus from Egypt, storytelling has always been one of our greatest strengths and an important mechanism in carrying our national memory from generation to generation. Perhaps our storytelling has functioned as an important factor in the way so many Jews have shaped the world of entertainment, from Hollywood to the field of magicians. Such individuals like Houdini, David Copperfield, and David Blaine performed “magical” wonders not through supernatural means, God forbid. Rather, while the spectators’ eyes were fixed at one point in space, the real trick was happening where they were not focused.
That important element of “focus” has of late, taken up room in my head. In a world overwhelmed by headlines covering conflict, global tensions, Iran, Hezbollah, political storms, and all other forms of breaking news, it is worth asking ourselves where our eyes and ears are being pulled to focus on and what is happening just outside the spotlight.
Notably, while much of the world’s attention has been fixed elsewhere, something remarkable has been quietly unfolding in the heartland of our ancestral homeland. In Judea and Samaria, a profound restoration is taking place. The communities of Sa-Nur, Homesh, Ganim and Kadim, all four of which were evacuated in 2005 and assumed by many to lie in ruins indefinitely, are now being rebuilt! Dreams that once seemed politically impossible are becoming reality! Even Mount Ebal, a location rich with Biblical memory and spiritual significance, is no longer just a symbol of longing but part of a living story being rewritten with a new community of its own!
None of these most inspiring developments are illusions or sleights of hand but rather, history being made. Often, real change is not revealed through fireworks but rather, in a quiet, more humble and gradual manner through years of preparation, legal groundwork, faith, and resilience.
Perhaps the lesson to glean from the art of magicians is not the act of deception but the element of focus. To understand the world, we must learn not only to look at what is placed right in front of us but also at what is happening behind the curtain. For our people, history has never been about merely watching the stage but rather knowing about the deeper story. And right now, in the mountains of Judea and Samaria, thanks in large part to such loving friends like you, the great story of the Biblical Heartland’s restoration is being written. May God bless you and your loved ones for playing such an important role!
Shmuel Junger
Executive Director