By Jerry Klinger
KEREM SHALOM CROSSING, Israel — The Kerem Shalom Lion, at the well-publicized Southern Gaza border crossing, was sited recently. Hundreds of trucks per day, an unknown number of people, and “officialdom” pass within touching distance of the Lion as they enter and leave Gaza.
The first view of Israel for people crossing from Gaza into Israel is the Lion. In 2006, near the future site of the Lion, IDF Corporal Gilad Shalit was kidnapped by Hamas. They emerged from tunnels and hurried back again into Gaza. He was released in 2011 in exchange for a thousand terrorists captured by Israel, many with Jewish blood on their hands. Shalit’s release proved to Hamas that the Tunnel, Terror, Kidnapping paradigm works. It set the stage for the October 7, 2023, genocide and kidnapping attack on Israel.
The inscription on the dedication stone:
The Kerem Shalom Lion
“A Lion mighty among beasts, retreats before nothing.” Proverbs 30:30
Donated by the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation,
With the support of the Land Crossing Authority – Ministry of Defense,
In cooperation with the Coordination and Liaison Directorate, Warrant Officer Pinchas Katala.
Sculptor: Sam Philipe / October 25
When the Lion was sited, it was very emotional for all present. A lot of adrenaline pumped through many hearts.
The Kerem Shalom Lion stands. Israel remains. The price was very high.
Situated at the confluence of the borders of Israel, Egypt, and Gaza, the Kerem Shalom Lion, currently occupies a restricted zone. It is the 14th in the Israel Border Lion series. The Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation (JASHP) has placed Lions from the Golan to the Negev. Each Lion has a unique story amidst a larger biblical context.
Kerem Shalom means the Vineyard of Peace. The dream is that the prophecy of Isaiah, 11:6-9, will be fulfilled. All of Israel will be a Vineyard of Peace.
6 And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the basilisk’s den. (A legendary serpent-like monster said to have the power to kill with a glance.)
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Trump’s peace is holding for now. Cynicism runs high if it can last. Hope remains that Trump will be successful. But virtually every aid truck that enters through Kerem Shalom, now driving by the Lion, is almost immediately commandeered by Hamas as they resupply and regroup.
JASHP has begun consideration for another Lion of Judah at the Erez/Gaza crossing in the North. Erez is just 14 kilometers from the Israeli city of Ashkelon.
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Jerry Klinger is the President of the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation