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On the Front Lines of Rebuilding

BY RABBI ARON WHITE

From October 8th 2023 until November 27th 2024, Israel’s north faced relentless bombardment from Hezbollah. As a ceasefire took hold, Israel’s government and national institutions shifted their focus to rebuilding that would allow those evacuated to return home. Rabbi Aron White joined a trip to the Lebanese border to learn about the challenges faced by those wishing to return home, and Mizrachi’s role on the front lines of rebuilding.

Israel’s northern region lies in the Biblical portion of Asher, and it is a fitting place to visit on the first day of Chanukah – Asher was promised olives in their portion, something that continues to this day. However, the impetus for this trip was a significant meeting of political leaders to help discuss the rebuilding of the north.

There were three main political partners represented: the regional council of Mateh Asher, which is a group of some 30 yishuvim and kibbutzim; the government of Israel, represented by Minister Ze’ev Elkin, who recently joined the government coalition in September 2024; and the Settlement Division of the World Zionist Organization, led by Gael Grunewald, one of Mizrachi’s representatives at Israel’s national institutions. The Settlement Division has spent most of 2024 building temporary homes for the residents of Be’eri, Kfar Azza and other kibbutzim in the Gaza Envelope – and now the attention is shifting to the communities affected on the northern border.

Even traveling to Israel’s northern border itself is telling – Israel is much smaller, or in many ways has become smaller, due to improved infrastructure. Our journey from outside Beit Shemesh to just outside Nahariya took less than two hours. While some regions are considered “peripheral” in Israel, the country’s compact size and modern infrastructure mean that even its most distant points are remarkably accessible.

Moshe Davidowitz, the head of the regional council, presented the needs that his residents have. He represents about 35,000 residents, most of whom have been displaced throughout the war. At the time of our meeting, in December 2024, out of 8,000 school-aged children, 2,000 were still displaced.

The overarching question for myself and all of us visiting was: “When will and should the residents return to the north?” The ceasefire had already been in effect for a month, so what was stopping them from returning?

Moshe Davidowitz’s goal is to have 95% of residents back in their homes by the end of August 2025, allowing children to begin the new school year in September. This timeline mirrors the Gaza Envelope communities’ resettlement plan, where September 1, 2024, was set as the target date for residents to return to either their original or temporary yishuvim.

The nine-month timeline became understandable as we witnessed the extent of destruction firsthand. While the Gaza Envelope faced intense devastation during October 7th and the subsequent four days of fighting, the north endured a different kind of crisis: fourteen months of continuous attacks from rockets, drones, and other weapons. Though spared from a single catastrophic day like October 7th, the north’s accumulated damage is extensive but less publicized. Individual attacks may not have made headlines, but thousands of buildings now bear the scars of this prolonged assault.

The damage extends far beyond direct attacks from Hezbollah. Many towns were transformed into makeshift military bases, bringing unexpected consequences. The constant movement of tanks, each weighing thirty times more than a car, devastated local infrastructure. Roads collapsed, along with their underlying networks of pipes and wiring, from the relentless weight of military vehicles. When we visited, local authorities were still cataloging these diverse forms of damage before repairs could even begin.

During our tour, we were taken to an Israeli Bedouin town called Arab Al Aramsha, a few hundred meters from the border. The town was evacuated in October 2023, and the Israeli army converted its large community center into an operations base. In April 2024, Hezbollah launched a joint drone and mortar attack against the facility. The head of security in the town showed us around, recounting the events. “Here was where the first drone came over – I got into shooting position, and was able to shoot off its wing, bringing it down,” he said. A mortar shell exploded in the car park, destroying a vehicle. Another struck the operations center where soldiers were gathered, critically wounding officer Dor Zimel and injuring four others. Four days after the attack, Dor succumbed to his wounds.¹

While the north was spared the catastrophic human toll of October 7th, it bears deep physical scars that will require substantial investment to heal. Under Gael Grunewald’s leadership, the Settlement Division has begun the crucial work of reconstruction, preparing for the safe return of northern residents to their communities. This rebuilding phase represents more than just recovery – it’s an opportunity to strengthen and enhance this remarkable region of Israel, ensuring it emerges more resilient and vibrant than ever before.

¹Dor’s organs were donated to save the lives of multiple soldiers, including Kfir Zar, who appeared on the front cover of the Tisha B’Av edition of HaMizrachi.

Rabbi Aron White is the Managing Editor of HaMizrachi magazine.