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Putting their faith in Baba Sali and in the IDF By Yanir Yagna The complexes housing the tombs of the famous rabbis in Netivot, which are usually full of worshippers, have changed since the Negev town found itself within rocket range of the Gaza Strip. The tomb of Rabbi Israel Abuhatzeira, known as the Baba Sali, is almost deserted. Rabbi Yaakov Ifergan, known as "the X-Ray Rabbi," has canceled his customary all-night study sessions at his own father's grave, attendance at which is in the thousands. The crowds of people who come from all over the country to Netivot for blessings from the "X-Ray Rabbi," from the Baba Sali's son Baba Baruch, and from Rabbi Yoram Abergil, have thinned out considerably since the Home Front Command has prohibited gatherings of more than 100 people earlier this week. Advertisement Rahamim, from Netivot, came yesterday to the Baba Sali's tomb. "I come to the Baba Sali especially now and ask him to protect us and all the people in the south so no one gets hurt," he said. Some of the town's rabbis have said that the sanctity of the town and the righteous men buried there would protect it from Grad rockets, which would all land outside of town. A few months ago two Grads hit Netivot for the first time, landing just a few dozen meters from the Baba Sali's grave. "The rabbis can talk about the holiness of the town, but that's not what will save us. The reinforcement of the buildings and the army's actions now will save us from having more victims in the city," one person who lives in the town said. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Crisis in question The Arab League slams Livni's remark 'there's no humanitarian crisis in Gaza' Acts of Terror In their waning days in power, Bush and Rice work to try organize a truce.

Read & React Bush: Hamas attacks on Israel are an 'act of terror' Responses: 71 Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff: Now IDF is getting personal with Hamas Responses: 76 Yossi Sarid: If you (or I) were Palestinian Responses: 128 Anshel Pfeffer: Right and Left, Diaspora Jews more critical of Israel than ever Responses: 80 Bradley Burston: To win in Gaza, Israel only has to survive Responses: 50 More Headlines 01:36 Israel launches a ground operation in the Gaza Strip 01:36 WATCH: Israeli troops launch ground incursion in Gaza Strip 22:23 Barak: Gaza invasion won't be short, and it won't be easy 22:39 Hamas: Gaza will become graveyard for Israeli troops 00:03 Israel okays call-up of tens of thousands of IDF reservists 00:27 Hezbollah urges Hamas to 'kill as many Israeli soldiers as they can' during Gaza op 22:41 EU presidency: Israel ground op in Gaza 'defensive not offensive' 00:53 Tens of thousands rally across Europe against Israel's Gaza offensive 00:56 Thousands rally in Tel Aviv for and against Israel's Gaza op 01:17 UN Security Council to hold emergency session on Israel's Gaza operation 20:14 Netivot home collapses as Hamas intensifies rocket fire from Gaza 13:32 ANALYSIS / Are air strikes enough, or is a ground op needed in Gaza? 17:47 Arab League slams Livni remark 'there's no humanitarian crisis in Gaza' 14:04 Bush calls Hamas attacks 'acts of terror', says working on truce 10:41 ANALYSIS / Israel must prepare to turn its military might from Gaza to Iran 09:42 UN chief wants international monitors for Gaza cease-fire 18:59 Gaza 2009 - To win, all Israel has to do is survive 18:45 Top Iran official holds talks with Syria on Gaza violence Previous Editions Select Day 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 29 dec 28 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 22 dec 21 dec

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