I'm due to give birth in another few weeks. It's a perfect time, as I haven't had to teach full time in school because of all the Holiday things that have been going on there, and days off because of Festivals, so that's suited me fine!! My last daughter was born a couple of days before the summer holidays, and so I had all my kids home and virtually no maternity leave for myself. I hope that this time I'll get to have those luxurious mornings when I have nothing to do (apart from the laundry, washing dishes, ironing, cooking…). Anyway I'm sure you know what I mean. Just having all the kids out of the door, and some peace and quiet – oops, I forgot the baby!!

After the war in Lebanon things have been stable around here. For a while we were the safest place in Israel!! People from the North came to stay in Elon Moreh, and had a wonderful time here. I have a cousin who is here on a programme from Australia, and is not allowed to come to visit us in Samaria!! For a period, he also wasn't allowed to visit my sister in Netanya, as it was considered too dangerous being in the Katyusha range!! I'm sure that in the end everyone will realise that Elon Moreh is the centre of Israel!

Here in Elon Moreh we've been blessed by more young couples moving in. It's truly heart-warming to see in our local paper that comes out before each Shabbat that more and more people are making Elon Moreh their home. It shows that the pioneering spirit that religious Zionism has always nurtured is alive and well, despite the government's best efforts to thwart it.

Did you know, for example, that on the day that they came to paste eviction notices on the hilltop outpost of Bracha, the war in Lebanon broke out only a few hours later?? Coincidence? Maybe. But my personal feeling is that Hashem has had enough tampering with the Holy Land. Look at the Gush Katif refugees. We were all promised that once Gush Katif was evacuated, there would be a wonderful peace in the South. Has anyone seen that peace? I don't think that Gilad Shalit (the kidnapped soldier) has experienced it, although I shudder to think what he IS experiencing. Do the residents of Sderot or Ashkelon feel safe? I don't think so. It seems that more than a hundred thousand people were uprooted from their homes, schools, and source of income for nothing. It's very sad, but now the truth can be seen. But who's going to be able to compensate them for that? And who's going to look them in the eye and apologise?

What it comes down to is that this is the holiest place on earth, a place that Hashem Himself chose for His holiest People. It can't be tampered with, given away, torn apart or anything else. However much certain people in this country think that Arab terror can be appeased by territorial compromises, or simply that they don't feel any connection to the Land of Israel, one fact remains undisputable. The Land of Israel belongs exclusively to the People of Israel. If we don't understand it ourselves, then Hashem sends us painful reminders. Unfortunately we are a "stiff-necked People", and we only "get it" when we hurt!!

I hope that this New Year will bring us understanding of our true goal in life, and that we will merit opening our eyes to the wondrous good that Hashem has given us, and that we will be proud to be His chosen People, instead of trying to be like all the other nations.

I wish you all a good New Year, and I hope to see you here in Elon Moreh by next year (whether for a visit or permanently!!).