Osnat Vishinsky's Day in Samaria

A major sea-change in elitist public opinion has been the purpose of the tours, first launched by the Samaria Regional Council, and then adopted by the Yesha Council, that enable politicians, op-ed columnists, cultural icons and other opinion makers to see things on the ground in that portion of the Land of Israel described as "across the Green Line".

Recently, Osnat Shir-Vishinsky wrote a letter.

Vishinsky is an actress,

a bereaved mother of a soldier, Lior, killed in the Gaza Strip in March 2004 which was a high-profile incident at the time in that her husband was quite outspoken in his criticism of the government's policies.

She had spoken of him so:

“When he said he was going to serve in the front lines… we were terrified. But he was so motivated, so determined, I could not tell him, ‘Don’t go there….’ He loved Israel. On May 12, 2004… a personnel carrier… a direct hit… cut off the life of my 20-year-old Lyor and four of his comrades…. He sacrificed his life so Jewish people can live in peace.…

and sang a song about him. She also hosted an anti-Second Lebanon War protest against Ehud Olmert's government in 2007 noting that to her mind it is "the people of Israel that are asking for a better society and political integrity".

Returning from her trip recently to the area, she penned "One Day in Samaria".

I've translated selections:

On a very cold day, I was hosted by good people, fully imbued with the love of the Land of Israel...we were astonished at the views, virgin and ancient. We met the local people and had breakfast at Givot Olam, tasted the wines of Tura Winery, we bought Samarian tehina at Mount Gerizim and had a good time at Havat Gilad.

In Samaria I bonded with the long-ago past of the Jewish people and the Book of Books. The hold of the people at these places, religious and secular, the modest way of life and the feeling that time has stopped in some places we visited attests that modest living and pioneering still exist in such a cynical world which sanctifies achievements, ratings and celebrity-status. My impressions are that the residents of Samaria are people with values, aspiring to live a different life despite all the difficulties. My hope is that these good people will know how to expell from among them the "bad weeds" and that these others will not impede the vision of maintaining a presence here.

Looking down at Shchem, so close to the Arabs of Palestine, fills me with optimism that perhaps some day we can live in good neighborliness, multual respect without the feelings of pain, hatred or fear. I am sure I will come back (when it is warmer) and not only to be able to reach the Three Seas Outlook point. My thanks to Gershon Mesika, Yossi Dayan and Boaz HaEtzni for this 'other' day.

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