When I drive through Judea and Samaria at night, I know thousands of my brothers and sisters are doing the same, including members of my own family. Every night, my daughter returns to her home in Gush Etzion along these dark, winding roads. Her husband, who heads a premilitary religious academy, does the same. My other son-in-law, a member of the security services, returns to his home in the South Hebron Hills, on roads where Jews have already been murdered. And like them the tens of thousands of other settlers in this good land, to which we have returned despite the Arab terror hounding our every step.
We know the risks involved, and we know it is imperative to persevere. It's easy to get dragged into focusing solely on the conduct of the soldiers during and prior to Sunday's terrorist attack at Ariel junction, but even if there is room for criticism – we must remember that families lost their loved ones and that another man is fighting for his life – social unity is most important at this time.
I'm reminded of the words of my friend Lt. Col. (res.) Dan Sion, a native of Kibbutz Degania, former squadron commander and heroic fighter pilot – in the office of Charles Kushner, the father of U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, when the issue of a certain tax deduction to the Palestinian Authority arose. Sion recounted combat sorties he flew, knowing he could be shot down or fall into enemy hands. He passionately defended the need to sacrifice and the doctrine of defense adopted by the settlers and national-religious camp. "You cannot concede to the Palestinians," he said, "because any concession will invite the next attack and feed terror."
Sion talked about Degania's first casualty, Moshe Bersky, who was murdered in 1913, just eight months after immigrating, while he was delivering medicine to an ill friend on the kibbutz. When Bersky's friends informed his parents in Russia of their son's death, the father, Hertz Bersky, wrote them in response: "I am sending his brother to take his place" and declared that "Moshe's death will bring us all to the land of Israel."
The father also said something else, which hasn't lost its meaning to this day: "Dear brothers! That which we have prayed against has happened, and it has shattered us profoundly, but I have faith in your spirit that it will not wane and you will not fall back heaven forbid. On the contrary! My hope is that the memory of my departed son will give you the strength and courage to withstand the hardships of the righteous war until we are able to bring to fruition our grand idea, on behalf of which my son sacrificed his life and blood."
If I could write to the father today, I would tell him we are fulfilling his will to this day. We have lived 106 years of terror and wars, but we are not retreating. Our spirit is pained but steadfast. They will not defeat us, and the more they try the more we will show them that as one hand builds the land the other holds the sword we will use to avenge their deaths. Jewish blood is not forfeit – the land is blooming and will bloom from Degania to Nahalal, and from Nahalal to Samaria and Ariel. Despite everything and because of it.
