A Tribute to Sarah Leisha by Ruth Radberg My dear friends,

The following letter speaks for itself. It is a tribute to a wonderful woman, my best friend whilst we lived in Neve Tsuf. Those of you who participated in the weddings of Amir and Oren may even have danced with her and her husband, David. I am shattered by what happened and am determined that she is not just going to be a name that people forget as quick as they hear it. Therefore, please help me by sending this on to anyone that you know, to all your e mail lists and if you know where it can be published, better still. The Jewish world needs to know what is happening in Israel, and the way that the government is abandoning sections of the population.

I know that I can rely on you.

Love, Ruth

An Open Letter to Prime Minister Ehud Barak

Dear Prime Minister Barak,

I am writing this letter on my way to Philadelphia. Unfortunately I have to leave my beloved Israel to be at my husband's side as he awaits a liver transplant. My week long trip home to see my children whom I had not seen for many months, started as a joy, but turned into a nightmare.

Part of the joy was a phone call on my arrival a phone call from the Leisha family, my wonderful friends from Neve Tsuf. 'How are you? We think of you a lot' , they said. Sarah outlined a whole plan for my daughter, Talya, who has many friends from Neve Tsuf, to live with them, the Leishas, whilst we were away. Sarah continued to tell me how she would organize a room for Talya, would help her with her homework, and treat her like her own daughter. I gently reminded her that my children, although separated from their father and mother, are surrounded by our own family. 'Just tell Talya that our home is hers, and I am there for her', she insisted.

Sarah chatted on, telling me that her 16 year old daughter, Yocheved, is in Poland with a school trip. We knew the importance of these trips, Yocheved would be learning that in spite of the atrocities of those time, now the Jews have their own State, with our own soldiers to protect us, we will not be defenceless again.

How naive can one be? Just two nights later, sweet, gentle Yocheved was rushed back from Poland, to the news that her mother, Sarah was murdered in cold blood, whilst returning home from her beloved teaching job - with no soldiers to protect her. She was murdered at the same spot where shots had been fired the previous day. That incident was not reported, why should it have been? No one was killed. By not reporting each incident the illusion of the false Messiah of our time - 'Peace according to Oslo', could be partially upheld. Why should the murderers not try their luck again the next day?

They did, and three families were hurled into the abyss.

Sarah, I cannot believe that we will not see your warm smile again, we will not hear David, your special husband fondly call out, "Ishtee......." which was how he always lovingly addressed you, as if so proud that you were his wife. All who knew you have cried ourselves dry for your five wonderful children, to whom you devoted your life. I remember your pride as your David built your home in Neve Tsuf practically himself, stone upon stone. I laughed at your consternation when you moved in your new home and your children would still not move from one spot in the kitchen, as they were not used to having their own space after living five in a room for years in a tiny prefab whilst your were building your permanent nest...

I remember how you always spoke lovingly of Neve Tsuf, a thriving community in the Shomron, which came to be following the signature of Fuad Ben Eliezer on the necessary papers. Yes, Fuad, who is now sitting in the government that is deserting the people in Neve Tsuf, and the other communities in the region, leaving their fellow Jews to fend for themselves, but also forbidding them to fend for themselves. Don't you, Fuad, at least feel that you have a moral responsibility towards them? Obviously not. I repeat, Fuad, you helped settle them there. Maybe it is easier for you to ignore that fact.

Maybe it is also easier for you, Prime Minister Barak, to ignore the fact that Sarah Leisha's sister is your neighbor in your home 'settlement' of Kochav Yair. I wonder if you will find the time to visit your neighbor as she sits shiva, or will you only find the time to visit another house which is sitting shiva this week, and whose mourners are better known?

Prime Minister Barak, not only are you systematically breaking down the morale of the army, who, each day receive conflicting orders according to whether or not Arafat has smiled or snarled at the camera, or the still acting President of the USA has clicked his fingers towards you. Now you are systematically destroying the morale of the whole country. People are walking around in a daze, not understanding why they are being shot at in the middle of Jerusalem. I cannot believe how much my Israel has changed since I left, it is simply another Israel, as Sarah said minutes before her murder, 'We are like sitting ducks in the lunar park'.

But you and I know that the Jerusalemites carry the same lack of weight with you as those who have made their homes in Yehuda and Shomron. Why else should six hundred policemen 'guard' a 'love procession' made up of homosexuals and lesbians in the middle of Tel Aviv, yet the 'greatest army in the Middle East' could not guard a handful of women who wanted to pray at Rachel's tomb? And you still claim to be the Prime Ministe of 'koolam' (all). I think not, Mr. Barak.

But let us return to that love filled home in Neve Tsuf. As a result of Sarah's love and commitment towards the Jewish people which she imbued into her children, those wonderful children, all under the age of sixteen today, will come through. Yes, Sarah will not dance at the weddings of Yocheved, Shlomit, Yaakov, Moshe and Ruth, but they, as all the rest of those who knew her, will never forget her legacy. An ongoing legacy which is passed on from generation to generation, never wavering, never dithering, never in doubt and never challenged. The Leisha children, with their father's guidance, will know where they come from and where they are going. They will be the future of Israel.

One last word Mr. Barak. If you insist on trying to go down in history as the Peacemaker of Israel instead of the Defender of Israel, just remember that even the peaceful shepherd has to fight off the wolves sometimes otherwise...............

Ruth Radberg.
Pa. USA
(Jerusalem)