Today we met for a briefing on the dissengagement. Was really interesting to get clear cut ideas about what happened and will happen. Some things I did not know:
-Residents of Gaza were pioneers supported by the State to live in the Gaza strip and then now they got evacuated.
-Gaza life was rather comfortable, had beautiful neighborhoods with lawns, but still required high security.
-Chief Rabbi Shapira said there wouldnt be a place for religious soldiers who assisted in the evacuation in the World to Come
-Many religious soldiers would go into the synagogues in Gaza, pray with the settlers and then evacuate them from the synagogue.
One thing I hope the media has made clear is that despite the religious being against the disengagement, many of them serving as soldiers continued through with their mission. The Israeli army dealt with this evacuation in as dignified a manner as possible, coming into the settlers homes and explaining why they need to leave. Soldiers babysat kids so that parents could pack. They hugged settlers and comforted them through this all.

On a lighter note, for the afternoon we went to the Sorek Caves where we saw Stalagmites and Stalagtites, was interesting but a little too Disneyesque. Afterwards we went to Nitzanim Beach. On the way we saw the "Caravillas" (temporary living quarters built for evacuees from Gaza) looked like simple homes which should be sufficient until they can settle permanently.

Beach was fun, went swimming in these monsterous waves....was great. Came back and vegged before going to bed!