World

ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY

Ray Of Light

Despite state's lack of preparedness, Israelis seek brighter future after Carmel fire.

A mountain green
throughout the year
I dream and hope
To breath your winds
like it used to be,
To lie in your shadow,
Carmel

T

hese words are from a popular
Israeli song by Yoram Tahar Lev
called "Evergreen Mountain, dedi-
cated to the pastoral beauty of the Carmel
Mountain. For us, citizens of Israel, these
lyrics took a tragic and painful new mean-
ing on Dec. 2 when the deadly wave of
wildfire raged through the mountaintop.
The results were heartbreaking: 42
people were killed, about 250 homes were
destroyed or severely damaged, 17,000
people were forced to evacuate, more than
12,000 acres were burned and an esti-
mated 5 million trees were lost; 33 people
were hospitalized, some with severe inju-
ries.
Restoration of the nearly 20 percent of
the scarred Carmel Forest, one of Israel's
rare natural treasures, also known as
"Little Switzerland:' will be a decades-long
national project. This has been the most
devastating ecological disaster in the his-
tory of our country.
For me, it was impossible to overlook
the cruel ironic timing of this disaster.
The wildfire started its rampage on the
second day of Chanukah, a holiday com-
monly referred to as the Festival of Lights.
Fire and flame are two of this holiday's
symbols, celebrated in songs and customs.
They represent the miracle of Chanukah,
their light meant to cast away darkness
and bring upon joy and happiness.
Yet on the second day of Chanukah
in Israel, the same two symbols of our
Holiday have turned light into darkness
and celebration into sadness.
Amongst two of the casualties who per-
ished in the deadly fire, were two young
men from Michigan's own Partnership
2000 family in the Central galilee region.

22

December 16 • 2010

Firefighter Uri Smandayev,
Israel was unprepared to con-
age 27 of Migdal HaEmek,
tend with the Carmel disaster.
left behind him his wife, Ziv,
Although we are a world
and 32-year old prison guard
technological leader, a member
Hanan Ohayon of Nazareth Mit,
of the prestigious Organization
left behind his wife, Rose, and
for Economic Co-operation
their two children, Ron, 6, and
and Development, and we
daughter, Carmel, 4.
built one of the world's most
Our heart is with the pain
impressive military forces, our
of these two bereaved families
country was poorly prepared
Yoav R aban
along with all of the families in
for tackling the Carmel fires.
Special to the
Israel who have lost their loved
Firefighters struggled valiantly
Jewish News
ones. A bereavement notice
with antiquated equipment, the
on behalf of the Michigan and
lack of a unified central com-
Central Galilee communities was sent to
mand, and with a shortage of personnel.
the families in our Partnership region.
In a country of 7 million people, there are
Throughout our history, every time sor-
only 1,500 firefighters.
row and bereavement have befallen on us,
A culture of "it will be OK" won the
we have always sought a ray of light.
day over the kinds of careful planning
needed by us to face civilian emergencies.
World Aid
The dangerous implications of a culture
Alongside the tremendous sense of loss
of improvisation coupled with a lack of
is an enormous sense of pride in our
accountability are like kindling waiting for
firefighters, police and accompanying
a match.
security forces that battled nonstop an
Our Israeli public is very angry; we
inhuman enemy who needs no rest and
demand that our government provide
whose appetite is insatiable. Teams made
answers to the reckless lack of prepared-
up of Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Druze ness, to the challenges that the future
Israelis worked shoulder to shoulder.
holds and for someone to step forward
Some 30 planes from around the world
and take accountability.
— including Greece, Turkey, Russia,
Having said all of that, we in Israel have
Britain and the United States —worked
always been characterized by a kind of
alongside Israeli firefighting teams and
resilience, of creativity and of solidarity,
emergency crews in a concerted effort to
particularly in times of difficulty. After
extinguish the flames. Three fire trucks
from the Palestinian Authority joined the
f.
international team.
Most of the foreign forces were sta-
tioned in the Ramat-David Air force base
located in our Partnership region. A group 1
of volunteers from our region brought
pastries and cakes to our guests to show
our appreciation for their efforts.
The efforts to aid all those who were
affected by the fire were spearheaded by
the Jewish Federations of North America
with our own Jewish Federation of Metro
Detroit lending its support as did other
organizations such as the Jewish Agency
for Israel and Jewish National Fund, along
with thousands of concerned and car-
ing citizens who stepped up and led the
efforts on the ground in Israel.

Disconcerting Preparedness
But alongside the enormous sense of pride
of the country's emergency services is also
a painful sense and anger that our State of

weeks of drought, rain has benevolently
returned to wash away the ashes, clear
the air and saturate our land. We all join
together in prayer and wishes for better
days and fortune to come upon us; for our
people and for the rest of the world.
As I look toward a brighter future, I
think of our trees that will once again
grow tall and mighty, covering the moun-
taintop with their beauty and grace. It is
these trees that have always been a symbol
of our nation; their growth emulating the
development of a young state, their roots
settling into our land as Israel established
itself as an equal among the nations, their
leaves blossoming while the love for Israel
continues to flourish among Jews all over
the world.
Our trees have been destroyed time and
again, but, like the entire Jewish people,
they renew themselves and grow fuller
and serve to honor those that have been
lost.
As I think of the new trees that will
soon blossom, I hope for that renewed
spirit of our people; that they, like our
trees, will go on to build and strengthen
our homeland for this generation and for
the next who will reap the fruits of our
continued dedication. ❑

Yoav Raban is community shaliach at the

Israel & Overseas Department of the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.

Two firefighters try to douse a Carmel Forest tree with a small stream of water.