Mortar in Gush Katif (archive photo)
Photo: Tzafrir Avayov
The Right presents: A mortar ‘miracle’
(Video) Right-wing activists produce film presenting ‘series of miracles’ that allegedly took place in Gush Katif prior to disengagement, including ‘miracle of the mortars’ – when settlers survived the firing of some 5,000 mortars by Palestinians; producer Tova Eliyahu, wife of Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, says, ‘the film depicts what the residents of Gush Katif went through during the past four years: The security-related tribulations on the one hand, and the joy and faith on the other
(Video) Right-wing activists have produced a film presenting a “series of miracles” that allegedly took place in Gush Katif prior to the disengagement, including the “miracle of the mortars.”
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu’s wife Tova, who is behind the initiative, has expressed her concern that the “leftist media” would refuse to air the film.
Scenes from film produced by Tova Eliyahu
The 90-minute long film includes testimonies from former settlers who had survived mortar attacks.
The idea to produce the film came following the publication of a book titled “Life Above Nature,” written by Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, the rabbi of Safed and son of Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, who led the halachic (pertaining to Jewish law) resistance to the disengagement from Gaza and parts of the West Bank.
At the time, the book caused a stir in the Religious-Zionism movement, as it depicted dozens of cases in which Gush Katif settlers experienced “evident miracles,” including “one big miracle”: Despite the launching of more than 5,000 mortars at Gush Katif settlements, no deaths were reported among the settlers.
'This film expresses our truth'
The film was shot in Gush Katif two weeks prior to the pullout.
“It is a fictional movie based on real accounts,” Tova Eliyahu said.
“It depicts what the residents of Gush Katif went through during the past four years: The security-related tribulations on the one hand, and the joy and faith on the other.
“The film also presents a dilemma: An IDF battalion commander wants to retaliate after mortars are fired (at Gush Katif), but the official policy calls on him to hold back. One of the film’s conclusions is that a person must exercise judgment even when he or she is under orders or instructions.”
Tova said she remains skeptical regarding the film’s chances of being aired on one of the main networks.
“This film expresses our truth. I don’t think it will be aired in the media outlets regarded as ‘leftist,’ so we turned to the private market,” she said.
“Perhaps at a later date we will find a network that will agree to screen it. I will be very happy if this happens, but we do not believe it will.”
Ehud Eretz-Tzvi, who plays Moshe the grocery store owner in the film, said, “The film’s message is that people must understand that the residents of Gush Katif lived in a very complex reality, security-wise. I think a lot of other people would have ‘cracked’ very quickly.
“The film attempts to create a sense of identity with the people of Gush Katif, who we regard as heroes,” he said. “The film also calls out against the political echelon’s use of the army.”
