It's not clear what was going through my mind when I registered for the conference. Maybe I thought I would see right-wing power, a mobilization of MKs from all shades of right-wing parties; maybe I thought it would be interesting for followers on Twitter, maybe. What is certain is that deep down I knew that I wouldn't leave there with a quote from Avigdor Lieberman accusing the right-wing of racism against the Russians, that I wouldn't see a single leftist there who would ask to find out how many of his people were in the hall. I knew that I would see a much smaller and much happier conference.
After all, this is the camp that won.
With the sign 'Go and build a state', with a logo taken straight from the 1960s, with a belief that remains from those years - and people who were born after the Oslo Accords, there's not much left except understanding why this is the camp that won, and who will win the next elections.
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
The first thing that stood out at the Im Tirtzu event was the age. Crowds of young people, students from the organization's student cells at various universities, teenagers, and about 20 boys from "After Me! To the Army" of the Bedouin sector, who came to say thank you to the guys from Im Tirtzu.
I promised myself I wouldn't compare the conferences, it's not fair. But the first comparison is necessary: there is an absolute majority of young people here, compared to the majority of white people. #
— Shmulik Karsik (@skar782) August 6, 2015
Do you think it ended with age? The attitude towards religion, the Jewish religion of course, was also completely different.
A second (and important) difference between # of his to #, I am currently completing the minyan for the Mincha prayer, and in my ears right now is "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the Messiah is coming, he is coming.".
— Shmulik Karsik (@skar782) August 6, 2015
From a small gathering, packed with young people, most of whom knew each other, we went out to the amphitheater on Ammunition Hill. The fences were filled with Israeli flags and the organization's flags in equal measure, the people - about 200 in number - were a little excited. The adults filled the second row and the rest were young people my age, younger than me and older than me.
The biggest difference between # and # of his He is the age of the CEOs, everyone here is my age, a little older or a little younger, here it's not a profession, it's a faith.
— Shmulik Karsik (@skar782) August 6, 2015
During the event, it was revealed that the coordinator of the Haifa student cell and her deputy had been married the week before. Long applause accompanied the cheerful young couple as they stood at the moderator's request.
In general, the biggest difference between this event and the one I attended two weeks earlier was the lack of formality and overt joy. This is where the winners live. The Bedouin guys from 'After Me! To the Army' are called to accept the 'If You Will' award for Zionism, and national pride swept through the small compound.
The melody in the background is "On your walls, City of David, I have posted guards.". # pic.twitter.com/cBBQrNtocW
— Shmulik Karsik (@skar782) August 6, 2015
One of the members of the public council of 'Im Tirtzu', better known as Orientalist Dr. Mordechai Kedar, stood up to explain the difference between Israel and Iran. No, not what you think, it was an explanation that was all one big compliment to the awards.
""Iran will never be affected by sanctions," he began. "If the State of Israel were to face the sanctions that Iran faced, it would be on its knees within two days." A dictatorial society that is not interested in the fate of its citizens, does not ask itself whether the citizens suffer from the fact that it is forbidden to import new vehicles into the country, Iran would face the sanctions even if they had lasted forever.
""In Israel, hedonism would have won us over," Kedar stated. "Here, a movement like 'If You Want' has arisen, reminding citizens why they are here, for what purpose, and why we need to stand like a wall against the entire world.".
The moderator announced that Minister Uri Ariel was stuck in a government meeting and would not be able to attend. I breathed a sigh of relief - that's all I needed, a stupid, rambling political speech.
Now the outstanding branch is crowned, the Haifa youth jumps onto the stage, certificates are raised high, flashbulbs are flashing, now we're going home.
And just like at that Peace Now conference, everyone leaves with the same foot, with the same emotion, with the same knowledge. Just like there, and completely different. There we left on the left foot, feeling that there was no hope, no place, that we were lost; here we left on the right foot, with a smile on our lips, knowing that there is hope, that these disturbed young people who are no longer fascists - will do what they know.
They will keep us alive.
