December 14, 2007

Please see the new Torah thought on the Parasha by Leah Goldsmith

The children of Itamar enjoyed special Hanukah activities with the help of Itamar's dear friend Eddie Wunsch

Dr. Avshalom Koor, famous linguist, visits with Itamar. We really enjoyed his insights on family names.

Itamar held elections this week. The community wishes success to Rabbi Mayor Goldsmith who was elected again for his second consecutive term and his council. An Itamar, young lady, voting for the first time!

December 7, 2007

Friends of Itamar want to wish all our dear friends a happy Chanukah.

Mazal Tov to the Goldsmith family upon the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Achishena.

The beautiful fall colors of Itamar!

This week the prime minister of Israel Ehud Olmert lit Chanukah candles in the army base just down the road from Itamar. (Two minutes away) We hope that his experience of spending some time in the holy area of Itamar was an inspiration to him.

November 29, 2007

1. Special request! G-d willing Itamar will be celebrating the Hachnasat Sefer Torah on January 21st. We need help in finishing this important project. We are planning a very big celebration including a Seudat Mitzvah for 350 people and a band. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Please pass this message on to your family and friends!

2. This week I had the privilege of spending a morning in Gamla with Jack and Lynda very dear friends of Itamar. It was an unbelievable experience and I recommend it for all of you. The ancient synagogue and site are just fabulous. (Moshe Goldsmith)

3. Friends of Itamar come in different shapes, colors and sizes and we love them all.

4. Please read Leah's new Torah thought on the Parasha.

November 22, 2007

1. Itamar thanks Hashem for the first major rain of the year! Enjoy the beautiful rainbow over Itamar.

2. Itamar had a great time with Jack and Lynda SmithSchick, our special friends from OK City who spent the Shabbat with us. They will be returning to the States next week we wish them a safe trip back.

3. Mazal Tov to Yaakov and Shirah ben Pinchas on the Brit milah of their son Yoav Yitzchak.

4. Mazal Tov to the Shushan family upon the engagement of their daughter Esther.

5. Itamar was happy to host special friends, Eddie Wunsch together with some other friends from the Anshey Chesed Shul of Hewlet Long Island and other parts of NY. Anshey Chesed has been a major sponsor for the Itamar summer camp for the last two years.

6. Itamar is happy to host this Shabbat a group of Anglo-Saxons from all over Israel as part of Ruthy's Shabbat of Mattot Arim. Sixty guests from different cities all over Israel will be participating in this Shabbat weekend. Yaashar Koach to Ruthy for organizing it!

November 16, 2007

1) Itamar welcomes our dear friends Jack and Lynda SmithSchick from Oklahoma City. We are really enjoying their company.

2) Mazal Tov to the Bar Nitzan, Kinarti, and Ben Pinchas families on the birth of their sons.

3) Yaashar Koach to the Itamar youth on the wonderful performance on their plays Saturday night. Much love and effort went into working with the children. We are very proud of our older youth who did a fantastic time in activating the younger groups.

4) A picture of an ancient oak tree on Har Kabir(near Elon More and Itamar) native to the Shomron. Pay attention to the width of the trunk.

November 1, 2007

1.Mazal Tov to the Tene family on the marriage of their daughter, Achinoam, who married Netanel this past Monday. The new young couple will be living on one of our hilltops here on Itamar!

2.We welcomed a group of tourists that came to express their solidarity with Itamar from the communities of Vancouver, Canada and San Francisco, California. Leah Goldsmith addressed the group and was warmly received.

3.A memorial service was held on Thursday for Matan Zagron who sacrificed his life at a bus stop in Ariel a few years ago. A terrorist threatened to blow up explosives on a crowd of people, and Matan, a brave soldier and officer prevented this from happening by becoming a human shield. He gave up his life so that others can live. He was 21 years old.
Seen here, is a picture of Benny and Varda Zagron, the parents of Matan, together with his military brigade commander.

4.Mazal Tov to Ava Zimmerman on her 95th birthday, making her the oldest resident in Itamar. We wish her many more years of happiness and good health.

Read the new Torah thought for the week written by Leah Goldsmith.

October 26, 2007

1. Mazal tov to Tal and Menasha Kushner on the birth of their baby daughter who was named Eliyah Chen Miriam. A special Mazal Tov to the grandparents Eliezer and Ornah Hershberg who also live on Itamar and had a baby themselves recently.

2. Mazal Tov to Rachel and Menachem Gordon on the birth of a baby boy this week on the Yartzeit of Rachel Emeynu. Rachel had a difficult birth and is still in intensive care, our prayers are with her.

3. Mazal Tov to Elchanan Shushan and Yosef Goldsmith who completed another crucial phase in their combat training in the Golani Bragade. They received their brown beret. Both of them are members of elite forces!

4. Itamar kindergarten children trying on their new hats they received from special friends of Itamar living in Australia, Mr. and Mrs. Brian Dellaca who hand made them.

5. The people of Itamar want to wish a speedy recovery to the soldier that was seriously injured this week by terrorist gunfire near Ariel. The soldier was shot while waiting at a bus stop. He was on his way to Itamar where he is presently stationed.

Please read our weekly new Torah thought

October 19, 2007

1. Picture of early fall of the mountains of Grizim and Aval which rise above the city of Shechem the opening of this weeks portion Lech Licha– the first place where Abraham comes to when he enters the land of Israel.

2. Itamar children coming back from school on Erev Shabbat.

3. Picture of our almost completed youth center a special thank you to the Israel lottery organization (Mifal Hapayis)!

4. The olive season begins! Barak Melet at his olive press.

5. Lemon season on Itamar as well.

6. Please read our new Torah thought – this time written by Leah Goldsmith. Leah based this article on the thoughts of Hillel Leiberman – who was the first victim of the Intafada. 7 years ago he was murdered while trying to make his way to the Tomb of Joseph.

October 12, 2007

1) This past Shabbat Berayshit our community celebrated the completion of the first stage of our Bet Knesset at a communal sit down Siudat Shileesheet dinner which was held on the floor of the building. We would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Irving and Cherna Moskowitz for their generous help in this very important mission. Our goal is to be able to pray our New Year services of next year in the shul. In order for us to achieve this we need to raise around 850 thousand more dollars.

2) The Itamar youth were very helpful in setting up for this event we want to thank them as well!

3) Ofer Head at a workshop with students from our high school Yeshivat Chitzim teaches them how to work with stained glass. Ofer has been given workshops for the last few years as he is specializing in the field. He has made some impressive pieces of art.

4) Aaron and Ayalah Giaan former residents of Kfar Darom in Gush Katif, made a special Siudat Hodayah(thanksgiving meal) at their new home on Itamar. Their Daughter Chanah who was born after the expulsion with a serious heart defect finally this week after open heart surgery and a lot of prayers is now functioning normally.

October 2, 2007

1. This coming Shabbat, Shabbat Berashit, we are planning to a have a joint Seudah Shilishit(third meal) with the entire community on the building site of our important project - the building of our permanent synagogue. This event was chosen in order to unite and focus our congregation on this major operation.

2. This week we really enjoyed the beautiful holiday of Succoth.

3. Two bus loads of holiday visitors from the city of Rechovot came to visit with us and tour our community. We had a great time together. One of the sites we visited was the Avri and Sharonah farm on the Itamar hilltops.

September 20, 2007

1. The people of Itamar wish all our friends a Chatimah Tovah and Chag Sameach!

2. Mazal Tov to Moshe and Naamah Cohen on the celebration of the Brit Milah of their son this week.

3. Zev Chever, Zambish the head of Amanah visited with Itamar this week to discuss important issues relating to building.

4. The Friends of Itamar site added a new addition called holiday tips; it pays to check it out!

September 7, 2007

1. Itamar would like to wish a happy and healthy New Year to all our wonderful friends.

2. Itamar is getting ready for the Shimitah(sabatical) year. It very special to watch everybody doing their last minute gardening preparations before the New Year sets in. The gardens of Itamar never looked as nicely kept before.

3. Itamar hosted a small group from Holland that came to see our town. We really enjoyed their company!

4. Three residents of Itamar that were supposed to be home for Shabbat and Rosh Hashana were called back to the army because of the tension in the North. Hopefully, by Rosh Hashana things will calm down and the army will let them come home.

5. Mazal Tov to the Edri family upon the birth of their son.

6. Itamar's children began school this week. Mazal Tov to the happy Parents!

August 30, 2007

1. This week's Parasha Ki TAvo takes place in the backyard of Itamar. The famous blessing and the curse were given on the mountains of Grizim and Avel right across from us!

2. This week I had the Zechut of visiting the city of David in Jerusalem. We were shown some of the newest archeological discoveries. One of them has not yet been open to the public. It is an ancient street leading from the Shiloach spring to the Temple Mount dating back to the second temple period. What is amazing is the fact that it is so preserved and looks like it was built recently! Interestingly, along the street there are parts that have been smashed open.(pay attention why looking at the picture) Archeologists explain according the famous historian, Josephus Flavius, that this was done by the Romans who received information that the Jews were hiding out in catacombs under the street. The Romans broke open the street in order to get to them. The remnants of pottery, food, and coins that said on them freedom to Israel that were found underneath testify to this claim. We can console ourselves that today, 2000 years later, Israel has returned to Jerusalem! (Moshe Goldsmith)

3. Mazal Tov to Hila and Mordechai Sadeh, and Rachel and Liyor Nachshon upon the birth of their sons.

4. Mazal Tov to the Teneh family on the engagement of their daughter Achinoam.

5. The Itamar Yeshivah high school, Chitzim, has begun studies after a long summer vacation. We want to wish the students a successful year of learning!

August 23, 2007

1. Memorial service held on Thursday morning for Meir Lixenberg HYD attended by Harav Livanon, Rabbi of Elon Moreh, seen in the picture.

2. Friends of Itamar from several communities of NJ visit with Itamar and wrote letters in the Sefer Torah that Yitro is writing in memory of his son Eliyahu and the children of Itamar. G-d willing we plan to celebrate the Hachnasat sefer Torah on the 14 of Shivat, Eliyahu's birthday.

3. Rabbi Lupin presents hand made woven scarves that the women of his community made for the children of Itamar.

4. Itamar joins the shomron region council's great event of the summer– a concert in the amphitheater at the ancient city of Shomron – Sebastia with Yehoram Gaon. The event was preceded by a professional tour of the site and theater presentations of the different time periods.

August 16th 2007

1. Harav Tzvi Tau at the memorial service of Shlomo Miller, Itamar's former security chief who was murdered by terrorists on the hills of Itamar three years ago. The memorial service was held last Friday on Mount Olives in Jerusalem just a few days before the wedding of Shlomo's son Eliyahu. (see pictures of wedding below)

2. Harav Yaakov Ariel, chief Rabbi of Ramat Gan gives a Torah class in memory of Shlomo Miller on Sunday night in Itamar. Rabbi Ariel spoke about the laws pertaining to the Shimita (sabbatical year).

3. Israel's Knesset member, Uri Ariel, meets with Itamar's Mayor Rabbi Moshe Goldsmith and Secretary Riphael Meron. (Ariel on the left, Meron center, and Goldsmith to the right)

4. Mazal Tov to Esther Miller and Hagar Zar on the marriage of their children Eliyahu and Rinana. Esther and Hagar both lost their husbands in terror attacks. (Esther standing on the Left next and to the right of her Hagar)

5. Unfortunately, Eliyahu's father Shlomo and Rinana's father Gilad didn't merit in walking their children on Thursday night to bridal canopy. Instead the two grandfathers Moshe Zar on right and Ariyeh Miller on left that both lost their sons had to do it instead.

6. The groom Eliyahu being thrown up in the air at his wedding celebration.

August 9th 2007

1) Mazal Tov to Avraham and Ofrah Cohen upon the marriage of their daughter Bat Zion. The wedding took place Wednesday night in Seday Bar, a hilltop farm in the Judean Hills right below Herodian.

2) Mazal Tov to the Ofer and Yael Head upon the Bar Mitzvah of their son Akivah.

3) A special thanks to our friends in NJ who sent another shipment of clothes to Itamar.

4) A special thanks to the Israeli army who apprehended a terrorist that tried to plant a road side bomb along the route from Itamar to Elon More.

5) Friday morning at ten a memorial service with be held on Mt. Olives for our dear friend Shlomo Miller, former head of Itamar's security, who was killed by terrorist gun fire three years ago on Itamar. Shlomo left behind a wife and seven children. On a happier note Shlomo and Esther's son Eliyahu will be getting married next week to Rinana Zar. Rinana like her future husband Eliyahu, lost her father Gilad, the former security chief of the regional council, in a terrorist attack 5 years ago.

July 27th 2007

1. This week we poured the floor of our new synagogue! G-d willing we will able to pray in the building by next Rosh Hashana (New Year).

2. The Itamar youth planted 70 trees as part of the summer camp program – getting ready for the sabbatical year.

3. The families of Itamar had a fantastic two day trip up north which included rafting along the Dan River and hiking. We also had a communal barbeque and camped out over night in tents. It was a great bonding experience. A special thanks for our friends that helped provide for this trip.

July 27th 2007

1. Leah addresses a group of 70 people from Fort Meyers Florida that made a special trip to Itamar to express their solidarity with our community.

2. Achishena Goldsmith, and her friend Naama Miller with their fimo jewelry that they prepared and happily sold to the group of Itamar visiters.

3. A big shipment of clothes came to Itamar from Passaic NJ to help out families in need.

4. Itamar campers prepared clocks made out of stained glass with local artist Ofar Head.

5. Yaashar Koach to Itamar residents that participated in the march to Chomesh in Northern Samaria. Unfortunately, they were bussed out by force.

6. The community of Itamar is looking forward to our annual summer trip to the Galilee where we will be camping out under the stars and hiking the beautiful hills of Northern Israel.

7. Yeshivat Chitzim, the Itamar high school, is painting their dormitories with special pictures of holy sites in Israel.

8. Leah and Rachel holding up an Itamar forever tee-shirt. Rachel Ginsberg designs and sells tee-shirts.

July 20th 2007

1. This passed Sunday, Erev Rosh Chodesh Av, The Itamar ladies went on a special outing to a spa near Haifa. They had a great time and they want to thank the special friends of Itamar that helped them make the outing become a reality.

2. The Itamar campers took a tour today, Thursday July 19th, along the famous tunnels of the western wall in Jerusalem. After the tour they walked around the streets of Jerusalem raising money for the Sefer Torah project.

3. Ephraim Miller was granted the Itamar agriculture award for the month for growing the most delicious melons on the precious soil of Itamar. His brother Yonatan is going to plant a vineyard next week which will be named after their father who was murdered by terrorist two summers ago.

4. A herd of deer was seen between the slopes that lead from the Jordan valley to the mountains of Itamar.

July 13th 2007 / 27 Tamuz 5767

1) Unfortunately, Itamar had a terrible tragedy this week. One of our dear students of our Yeshiva high school, Evyatar Mahon that just graduated a few weeks ago was killed in a car accident. Evyatar was a resident of the community Maale Livonah and was buried in Shilo last night. Just a few months ago, Evyatar, was miraculously saved from an attempted kidnapping by Arab terrorists. Monday night Evyatar hitched a ride home and received a terrible head injury when driver that fell asleep behind the wheel and collided with an oncoming vehicle. He and passed away yesterday, Thursday July 12, at around four o'clock. Evyatar, was a very special boy who always had a smile on his face. Evyatar's family, community, teachers, and classmates are all heartbroken. Our Rabbis teach us that when a terrible tragedy takes place, it is a sign from G-d that we must try and elevate ourselves and repent. Let us all take upon ourselves to do good deeds and improve ourselves.

2) Itamar celebrated two circumcisions this week one on Tuedsay and another one, Today Friday July 13. We wish a mazal Tov to the Silvers and Azulai families. Our streak of three consecutive circumcisions on Shabbat was broken.

3) As the Sabbatical year approaches Itamar's youth help the community get ready by planting trees, flowers, and participating in other gardening work. This is part of our special summer camp program.

July 5th 2007 / Yud Tet Tamuz 5767

1)This week our campers had the privilege going out on an all day water park excursion to Kibbutz Chofetz Chaim - we want to thank all our wonderful supporters for making this event possible!

3) Mazal Tov to the Azulay family upon the birth of their son this week.

4)Itamar's response team had a two day reserve duty training exercise in the Jordan valley. Special thanks to Super Saba - Alon Zimmerman (on the left below) who is a grandfather of two and can still out run all of the other team members!

11 Tamuz 5767 /June 27th 2007

Yeshay and Neta at their wedding this week

2) Mazal Tov to the Shmuliyan and Mishulami families upon the birth of their sons.

3) Itamar celebrated two weddings this week one on Monday night and one on Tuesday night. The newlywed Degani couple will be living on our hilltops and the newlywed Chemo family will be living in Jerusalem. We wish these young couples great happiness and success.

4) Mazal Tov to Shacharit Avitan upon her engagement!

5) Itamar held memorial services this Wednesday for the Rachel, Neriya, Tzvika, Avishay Shabo and Yosef Twito who were massacred on Itamar five years ago.

6) Mazal Tov to Yosef Goldsmith who finished his basic army training and is starting this week his advanced training - we wish him success as he progresses in his elite unit in Tzahal.

How can I help?

 

We know that these are big projects, so any kind of assistance would be a tremendous help.

 

 All donations are tax deductible  - donations should be made out to:
Friends of Itamar
and sent to:

Friends of Itamar Attn. Lester Goldsmith 1483 East 34th Street Brooklyn NY 11234