First wedding in ‘tent city’
Evacuees in temporary community near southern town of Netivot celebrate first wedding
The first wedding has taken place in the tent city near the southern town of Netivot inhabited by Gaza settlement evacuees.
Rivka and Betzalel Weinstein tied the knot Wednesday, after plans for a wedding in Neve Dekalim were ruled out following the settlement’s evacuation.
The bride was the daughter of rabbi Reuven Netanel, one of the three rabbis who worked with the Yesha Council during the disengagement.
Rivka was evacuated from the settlement of Atzmona and arrived in the "city of faith," as the temporary community is known, with her family.
The wedding saw hundreds of guests arrive from across the country. Dozens of tables and chair were laid out, and much food was provided for guests during the wedding, which included singing by musicians who graduated from yeshivas.
The wedding (Photo: Amir Cohen)
This was a first visit to the tent city for most of the guests, and they used the opportunity to see first-hand the quality of life of the tent dwellers, the former settlers evacuated from their permanent homes.
Guests included the commander of the IDF Gaza Division, Brigadier General Aviv Kohavi, who settlers know well. The Gaza Division protected settlers for over 30 years.
Kohavi was received with open arms, smiles, and hugs.
Esti Weinstein, the groom’s sister in law, told Ynet that “despite the fact that the wedding is not taking place in Neve Dekalim, the event is what is holding us together. Over 60 percent of gusts hare were expelled from their homes, and their behavior is simply noble.”
Esti was evacuated from her home in Homesh last night, and she does not yet know where she will live in the near future. She and her family may join the groom’s family in Elon Moreh.
“I thought that God may have made our country smaller so that we’d be closer to each other, so that we’ll love and know one another. After the wedding, I feel strengthened. The number of people who arrived is amazing,” she said.
