THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, March 5, 1982 45
Kedumim: A Settlement of Committed Zionists
FOR THE FINEST
s, s
By JAMES LEWIN
World Zionist
Press Service
JERUSALEM — Behind
the, headlines and con-
troversy over Israeli set-
tlements in the West Bank,
a young American family
lives a quiet and unassum-
ing life in the settlement of
Kedumim on the rocks of a
former Jordanian military
base.
David Levine emphasizes
that he and his family l _ ive
in a settlement in the ad-
ministered territories be-
cause they believe it is es-
sential that Israel establish
Jewish communities in
Yehuda and Shomron
(Judea and Samaria) for the
continued vitality and secu-
rity of the Jewish state. -
Far from Arab population
centers, Kedumim, located
on a piece of rocky and bar-
ren soil, with all surround-
ing cultivatable land in the
hands of Arab farmers, is
about six miles from the
Arab town of Nablus.
Levine describes relations
with Arabs of the area as
"by and large, definitely ac-
ceptable."
However, in terms of
the future, he admits a
certain pessimism be-
cause of Israel's- com-
mitment to an auton-
omous Palestinian
authority as expressed in
the Camp David Accords
and because of the possi-
bility that in the fUture an
Israeli government might
turn towards the "Jor-
danian option."
"The world is not ready
for peace and not even in-
terested in peace except on
this little patch of land in
Samaria," David contends,
ing to a new settlement,"
says David Levine. Friend-
' ships are made quickly and
"it is a very good place for
absorption of new immig-
rants.
He says he has been dis-
appointed with aliya from
the United States, espe-
cially as he believes that
only a massive aliya can
give Israel the support it
really needs.
He notes that in order
to succeed, Israel would
be better advised to seek
young people who could
find a meaning and goal
to their lives in Israel,
rather than trying to lure
new immigrants by offer-
ing material benefits,
which really can't com-
pete with Western life-
styles.
Political controversy has
whirled around Jewish set-
tlement in Judea and
Samaria but it has not
slowed down its tempo.
David Levine, his wife
-
"
Shown is the town of Kedumim, in Samaria,
where 1,000 Jews have settled since 1975.
expressing the sense of iso- they became full-fledged
lation and insecurity which members of the determined
characterizes the relations community.
of many Israelis with con-
Living on the edge of
temporary society and the the headlines has been
international community. exciting, the Levines ac-
Perhaps nowhere -is this re- knowledge, but they
vealed with more stark in- didn't come because of
tensity for David, and his the adventure. They
friends than in the tiny came because they be-
hamlet of Kedumim on a lieve it is the right place
small road in the heart of to be. "We never really
this formerly Jordanian made the decision to
territory.
move in," recalls Levine
It was not fanatic ideol- with a smile. "We just
ogy that brought the _ stayed."
Levines to Kedumim. They
The Levines married in
were a young American 1973 and came to Israel in
Jewish couple willing to 1975 looking for a new place
make whatever contribu- where' they could 'put down
tion they could to develop- their roots. They wanted a
ing Eretz Yisrael. Origi- small settlement because,
nally they came to in the words of David
Kedumim to visit Sarah's Levine: "My idea of Zionism
cousin, who was one of the is to live on the land of Is-
first seven families to settle rael. Living on the third
the former army outpost in floor of an apartment house
1975. The Levines had de- didn't seem tr; be living on
cided to live in Israel but the land."
In their current circum-
were still looking for aplace
to call home.
stances, the Levines are liv-
Without a lot of ing in temporary prefabri-
philosophizing, - they cated houses while the set-
gradually extended their tlement's permanent homes
"visit" to . a longer and de- are now going up. Agricul-
eper commitment, until ture in Kedumim concen-
trates, because of the lack of
land, on branches like
greenhouses and poultry,
since all cultivatable land
The producers and distributors of
around thp community be-
longs in law and in practice
to Arab farmers.
Kedumim, a community
as distinct from a coopera-
tive settlement, presently
has about 150 families with
450 children which, includ-
ing students in the local
yeshiva -and in a unique
educational institution
called Midreshet Eretz Yis-
rael, brings the population
to about 1,000.
Well over half of the
families earn their living
within the settlement it-
- self in various industrial
it branches such as metal
extend to the entire Jewish community
and carpentry
best wishes for a happy and joyouS
enterprises and a sewing
workshop, while the rest
work at jobs outside of
Kedumim.
There are many types of
people living in Kedumim,
top off your Hammantashen with a scoop of your
Levine emphasizes, includ-
favorite ice cream, sherbet, or Italian ices!
ing non-religious families
and people of political per-
all of our Kosher products are made fresh
suasions differing from each
daily in Detroit, under supervision of
other to a very considerable
Rabbi Jack Goldman of the Metropolitan
degree.
Kashruth Council of Michigan
"People interested in
aliya should consider cora-
Wesley s
T OGR A P
Sarah and their small son
Avraham have helped dyer-
come the difficulties in-
volved in establishing a
new, thriving and growing
community in a hostile
environment.
They receive great satis-
faction from playing their
own modest role in shaping
new developments on this
ancient landscape.
P r
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WINER
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