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Adele Raemer
Life on the Border with the Gaza Strip

From Israel to the Moon

The secret ingredient behind the Israel’s army is said to be that it is “small and smart.” Well, here is something else that is small and smart that a group of Israelis built: a small, smart spaceship.

We’re going to have a real shot at being the first aircraft to land on the moon that was not financed by a country, rather a private venture.

Three young men got together in 2011 in order to take up the challenge to enter the Google Lunar X-Prize Competition: to put a spaceship on the moon. Since then they have been dreaming and planning and working… and early this morning, at 3:40 a.m. Israel time, the Israeli-built spaceship called “Beresheet” (Genesis) was launched into space from Cape Canaveral in Florida.

And I feel, that in some little way, I am a part of that, as are tens of other English teachers and hundreds of 11th grade students from all over Israel, who participated in our “Out of This World Israel 70” program last year. Because, aside from putting an aircraft on the moon, SPACEIL’s aim was to educate and encourage Israeli kids of all backgrounds, ages and both genders, to become interested in physics, science and space. In addition to their space-ship building branch of their endeavor, they developed an entire educational branch. From that aspect, whether or not they actually manage to land “Beresheet” on the moon, or not, educational Noa Katinov and the others at SPACEIL, have already achieved their goal. They are already winners BIG TIME!

Sparked by an idea inspired by my friend and regional English inspector Judie Segal, with the backing, support and encouragement of our Chief Inspector of English Dr. Tziona Levy, the educational infrastructures of Google and SPACEIL, as well as the fantastic partnership with Rania Abou Shmiess Essa as a co-leader, the teachers of hundreds of Israeli students of Arab, Bedouin and Jewish origin participated in a collaborative project. In this project the students from different origins worked together in mixed teams to research space-related issues and how Israel is involved in them. This morning, as a result of the students’ involvement in last year’s program, they are all far more aware of this exciting event than they would have been otherwise.

I don’t know how many of them woke up before the sun to witness the event live online, at the same time that I did, but in a small way — we are all stakeholders in this. “Beresheet” even carries with it a photo of all of the teachers who were at the launching of the project a year and a half ago, along with hundreds of other photos of people from Israel.

If all goes according to plan, Beresheet will touch down safely on the moon in early April, so cross your fingers, and keep an eye on the updates! And as they say at SPACEIL: “To the moon”!!!!

#Israeltothemoon, #Beresheet

About the Author
The writer (aka "Zioness on the Border" on social media) is a mother and a grandmother who since 1975 has been living and raising her family on Kibbutz Nirim along the usually paradisiacal, sometimes hellishly volatile border with the Gaza Strip. She founded and moderates a 13K-strong Facebook group named "Life on the Border with Gaza". The writer blogs about the dreams and dramas that are part of border kibbutznik life. Until recently, she could often be found photographing her beloved region, which is exactly what she had planned to do at sunrise, October 7th. Fortunately, she did not go out that morning. As a result, she survived the murderous terror infiltrations of that tragic day, hunkering down in her safe room with her 33-year-old son for 11 terrifying hours. So many of her friends and neighbors, though, were not so lucky. More than she can even count. Adele was an educator for 38 years in her regional school, and has been one of the go-to voices of the Western Negev when escalations on the southern border have journalists looking for people on the ground. On October 7, her 95% Heaven transformed into 100% Hell. Since then she has given a multitude of interviews. She has gone on five missions abroad in support of Israel and as an advocate for her people. In addition to fighting the current wave of lies and blood libels about the Jewish state, she is raising money to help restore their Paradise so that members of her kibbutz can return to their homes on the border, where they can begin to heal. If you wish to learn more about how you can help her and her community return home, please feel free to drop her a line.
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