Neve Dekalim Yeshiva Marks 50 Years Since Gush Katif Evacuation With Resilience and Renewal
The Neve Dekalim Hesder Yeshiva in Ashdod commemorates 21 years since the painful evacuation from Gush Katif, recalling the heart-wrenching moments of displacement and their journey of rebuilding. Under the leadership of Rabbi David Gabrieli, students and rabbis gathered on Tisha B'Av 5765 (2005) in the study hall, facing the imminent evacuation by soldiers and police. Despite the tension, they chose to receive the security forces without violence, singing and dancing even as the evacuation orders were enforced.
Following the evacuation, the yeshiva did not immediately relocate to a permanent site, reflecting uncertainty about the future. Students were temporarily hosted at the Kotel Hesder Yeshiva and later at "Beit Yehuda" in Kfar Maimon. The Ashdod municipality quickly established a temporary campus with caravans, classrooms, a dining hall, and a study hall, welcoming the yeshiva warmly.
After two years, the yeshiva settled in Ashdod and began planning its permanent home. Negotiations with the Sela administration over funding were lengthy and challenging, but approximately eight years ago, the yeshiva inaugurated a large, impressive building featuring a prominent glass wall etched with a broken Star of David and the names of the evacuated communities from Gush Katif and Judea and Samaria.
On September 7, 2023 (25 Elul 5783), the yeshiva will celebrate its 50th anniversary with students and about a thousand alumni, honoring its origins in Yamit, its time in Gush Katif, and its current home in Ashdod. The yeshiva emphasizes remembrance without mourning, focusing on moving forward for history and the future. The article is authored by the yeshiva's director.
