December 25, 2009

1. Special thanks to Jessica katz for another fantastic clothing drive for the people of Itamar just in time to warm them up after the deep freeze!

2. Special thanks to Alan Hirsch for the Shabbat grape juice for the families in need! Alan is the Tzaddik that organizes Pesach packages for families every year. May G-D give him the strength to continue to do such special things until 120!

3. Mazal Tov to the Kinarti family and the Mishulami family upon the birth of their daughters! May they continue to multiply and fill up the land of Israel with beautiful souls.

4. Please read Leah's new Torah thought for the week.

December 18, 2009

1. Rabbi Moshe Goldsmith, mayor of Itamar, had the privilege of visiting the Tomb of Joseph this week together with the head of the Shomron regional council, Gershon Masikah. Since the desecration and burning down of the tomb, Jewish access to the holy site has been virtually put on halt. Once in while permission was granted by the army to visit the grave site. Since Gershon was elected about a year ago has been working very hard to allow Am Yisrael to have free access to the holy place. Baruch Hashem he has succeeded in working out with the army more frequent visits. We hope this will lead to the opening up of the doors completely. David Haivri, from the Shomron liaison office asked Rabbi Goldsmith to escort two newsmen into the holy site to report on the special experience of visiting with Joseph during Chanukah. Please enjoy the pictures of the lighting of the Chanukah candles and of the army battalion commander that brought his son and family to visit the holy site as well.

2. A Chanukah miracle occurred on Itamar when 200 goats of the Avri farm were stolen by three nearby villagers. The Itamar response team acted quickly and were able to catch up with the stolen flock and return it to its owner, Avri Ran. Unfortunately, the criminals got away but thank G-D no one was hurt.

3. Itamar enjoyed hosting Larry and Esta Gordon and their family this week on our community. Larry is the owner and editor of the five towns Jewish Times.

4. A group of women soldiers, who are about to complete their officer training course, toured Itamar this week and heard about what life is all about on our community.

5. Read Parashat Mikeitz 2008 by Rabbi Goldsmith on the Torah thought for the week

December 11, 2009

1. Mazal tov to the Odeser family on the marriage of their daughter Racheli to Chagai from Shadmot Micholah. We wish them tremendous success and happiness! May they be zocheh to build an everlasting house of faith in Israel

2. Mazal tov to the Guttman family on the birth of a daughter this week! Vichayn Yirboo!

3. A special thanks to Eddie Wunsch for sponsoring a Chanukah party for Yeshivat Chitzim.

4. Please read Leah's Torah thought for the week.

December 3, 2009

1. Read Rabbi Goldsmith's important Torah message for the week relating to current events.

2. Special Appeal for Itamar Playground: Right now we are in the process of raising funds in order to build a playground for the Itamar children. Thank G-D, with the assistance of our dear friends, we are almost half way there. (eight more thousand dollars is needed) Any help in completing this important project will we greatly appreciated. Make out your donations to - Friends of Itamar and mail them to Friends of Itamar:
Attn. Lester Goldsmith
1483 East 34th Street
Brooklyn NY 11234

Or send them via PayPal on our site.

3. Enjoy nature's beauty

November 27, 2009

1. Itamar welcomes its dear friends from the five towns Eddied Wunsch of Anshey Chesed and Eli and Rena Dworetsky. Eli is the vice president of the Young Israel organization. They enjoyed the beautiful tour of Itamar.

2. The children of Itamar members of the Itamar branch of Bnei Akiva held its yearly play. This year the theme of the play was about a Jewish family that had to run for their lives in the nineteen sixties. The audience was astounded at the phenomenal acting skills of the children of Itamar. They were also enlightened to the facts that thousands and thousands of Jews were expelled from Arab counties during that time.

3. Mazal Tov to the Shabo family on the Brit Mila of their two boys. We wish them only tremendous Nacaht and continued joyous celebrations.

4. Please read Leah's new Torah thought for the week. Shabbat Shalom!

November 20, 2009

1. Mazal Tov to the Dimari family on the birth of their second grandson! May they continue to see a lot of nachat from their children.

2. This Monday Boaz Shabo and his wife will be celebrating the brit Milah of his two sons that were born over a month ago. (see link to the October 16th news update)

3. The Itamar Bney Akivah branch had a fair this week where the whole community of Itamar was invited to participate in activities with there children. The activity was well organized a special thanks to our youth counselors Gili Choter and Tzipi Smuleli and to Shirah Ben Pichas in charge of Itamar's cultural activities.

4. Please read Leah's new Torah thought for the week. Shabbat Shalom!

November 13, 2009

1. This past Sunday on the 21st of Mar Cheshvon a memorial service was held in the Itamar military cemetery for Lieutenant Matan Zagron HYD. Matan was killed when he jumped on a suicide bomber, in Ariel, that was running toward a crowed bus stop. (see link) Matan was the first army officer of the new generation on Itamar. His parents Benny and Varda have been living on Itamar for many years and are very active in the community.

2. Mazal Tov to the Bikarov family on the birth of a boy this week! We wish them continued Nachat and and more happy events.

3. Itamar enjoyed the visit of their good friend Pastor Gaspar Anastasi from the U.S.A who came with a group from his congregation in Florida. Gaspar has a personal connection with Itamar and is a great supporter of Israel. He is holding a night out for Israel in December.

4. Enjoy the picture of the beautiful sunset over the hills of Itamar.

5. Please read Leah's new Torah thought for the week. Shabbat Shalom!

November 6, 2009

1. I big mazal tov to Charlotte Krantz, the mother of Leah Goldsmith who made Aliyah to Israel this week with Nefesh B' Nefesh. Charlotte is a living example that it is never to late to move to Israel. Interestingly, she moved to Israel right after Parashat Lech Lechah where Abraham at the age of 75 makes Aliyah. (Charlotte recently celebrated her 78th birthday she should live and be well) She will be living on Itamar for a while and then plans to move to Ariel, a near by city, to study Hebrew in an Ulpan. She says that eventually her goal is to return to Itamar the place she loves most in Israel! She has been a dear friend of Itamar almost since it was founded 25 years ago and has been a tremendous blessing to our community. We wish her a lot of success and tremendous happiness and good health in her new life in Israel!

2. An important meeting was held this week on Itamar discussing ways to continue our Synagogue project. Itamar 25 years old still does not have a permanent synagogue. Thank G-d, we began building the Synagogue a few years ago but because of lack of funding the building has been put on hold. At this point we laid the foundation and poured the floor. With the tremendous growth of our Itamar community we are praying every Shabbat in an overcrowded shul and are in desperate need to get this project completed. Anyone reading this is more than welcome to lend us a helping hand with ideas or financial assistance.

3. Please read Leah's new Torah thought for the week. Shabbat Shalom!

October 29, 2009

1. Itamar is dancing with joy over the long awaited rain that finally arrived! Thank G-D a lot more is expected over the next few days. We continue to pray for a very rainy winter.

2. Parashat Lech Lecha is always very special here on Itamar. Since Itamar is literally in the very area where Abraham first entered the land of Israel when he made his way to the city of Shechem. Looking at the different pictures on our site can really put you in the mood for reading the Parash and feeling the land of Abraham!

3. Please read Leah's new Torah thought for the week. Shabbat Shalom!

October 23, 2009

1. Mazal Tov to the Cabrah family on the birth of a grandchild. May they continue to enjoy many more happy events!

2. Itamar started a very important project of expanding our kindergarten – with the tremendous blessing of Hashem we are in the midst of tremendous growth and our babies need more living space. Vichayn Yirboo!

3. Itamar enjoyed the visit this week of a group of representatives from Holland including a member of the Dutch Parliament. They were very impressed with the community of Itamar. One of the members of the delegation was a school teacher and requested to set up an email correspondence between the Itamar Yeshiva high school, Chitzim, and the high school that he teachers in. Our school gladly accepted the idea and in the coming weeks will try and start the program.

5. Read Leah's new Torah thought for the week.

October 16, 2009

1. Itamar wishes a big Mazal Tov to Boaz Shabo on the birth of triplets (a girl and two boys) on Succot. Boaz was one of the founders of Itamar and suffered the terrible tragedy of loosing his wife and three of his 7 children at the hand of terrorists on Itamar. (See link) The miracle is that G-D blessed him with three new precious souls! Boaz already gave a name to his daughter Yahil Simchah (Simcha named after Boaz's mother who recently passed away and Yahil referring to light. After the terrible darkness Boaz has now been blessed with light. The two boys don't have names yet since their circumcision has been put off until they get a little bigger. In the name of the community of Itamar we wish Boaz and his family only happiness and success with a lot of nachat from his children. Please enjoy the picture of Boaz wearing on his arm the three bracelets of his new born babies.

2. Itamar welcomes the visit of David Shonefeld from Staten Island who came to Israel just for two days to hold a memorial service for his father, Yosef, a survivor of Auschwitz. Since the passing away of his father, he and his brother have been coming to Israel every year to perform the memorial ceremony in different communities in Judaea and Samaria to show their solidarity with the people building the land. This year they chose Itamar. David commemorated his father by making a Seyum (completion) of the tractate of Nazir, which was attended by the tenth grade class of Yeshivat Chitzim.

3. Every year during the olive picking season there is a tense atmosphere around the community when the army and police allow nearby villagers to come and pick olives on trees below Itamar. Today the army caught one taking videos with his cell phone of the Itamar security fence and army watchtowers and stations. His intentions were quite obvious. The terrorist was arrested and taken away for investigation. This has been successfully done with our surveillance system.

4. The olive picking season creates a lot of happiness as well -when residents of Itamar and from the surrounding communities bring in their olives to be pressed for oil to the olive press of Barak Melet. Please enjoy the enclosed picture.

5. Read Leah's new Torah thought for the week.

October 9, 2009

1. This Succot Itamar had many visitors including Israelis and tourists from countries all over the world. Some came on organized tours from major organizations and others organized personal family trips. The Likud party activists organized a massive pilgrimage of around 10,000 visitors to the Shomron to express their solidarity with the communities of Yesha. Itamar had the privilege of hosting Likud activists Arik Ziv and Boaz Haetzni who brought with them twin sisters from America Lee and Lyn, lovers of Israel, who were the instrumental force behind this initiative.

2. Friends of Itamar welcomed with open arms the extended Blumenfeld family from Teaneck NJ that came to spend the day on Itamar and its surroundings.

3. Itamar had the honor of hosting Rabbi Elyakim Levanon the Rabbi of Elon Moreh who gave a very inspiring class on the holiday of Succot.

4. Itamar wants to personally thank the farmer group lead by Tommy Waller from Tennessee that came to Israel and volunteered on the near by communities helping to harvest the Late summer and autumn crops.

5. Please read Rabbi Goldsmith's Torah thought for the holiday.

October 5, 2009

1. A few days ago the people of Itamar had the privilege of saying Selichot at the Tomb of Joseph which unfortunately still remains desecrated after the Arab riots that burnt it to the ground nine years ago. Four busses were allowed to enter the holy site in the early hours of the morning under heavy army protection. Please enjoy the enclosed slide show.

2. Yeshivat Chitzim of Itamar made a beautiful display of the theme Succot in honor of the holiday.

3. Enclosed are some pictures of Itamar residents enjoying the holiday!

4. Itamar extends an open invitation to all our dear friends to come and visit us here on the holiday. There are so many beautiful sites to see – come and join us! (As many are already doing this week)

5. Read Leah's new Torah message for the holiday.

September 25, 2009

1. Itamar enjoyed the visit of their dear friend Tom Waller together with his group of other American supporters of Israel. The group was so special and included people from different states like Tennessee, Ohio, OK, Kentucky, California, and more. We want to express our great appreciation for their coming to show their support with Itamar.

2. Itamar enjoyed the visit with Jon Bensinger and his son who came to tour Itamar this week.

3. Mazal Tov to Rami and Shoshy Odeser on the engagement of their daughter Racheli. Rami and Shoshy just married off their son two weeks ago!

4. The regional council under the leadership of Mayor Gershon Misika held a party this week to bless the different mayors of the 30 Shomron towns. Knesset member and vice prime minister Moshe (Boogie) Ya'alon from the Likud party came to address and bless the Shomron communities.

5. Enjoy Leah's new Torah thought on the Parasha.

September 18, 2009

1. Each family of Itamar was presented with a calendar gift decorated with pictures of the community in honor of the New Year. Community's Rabbi Natan Chay and mayor Rabbi Moshe Goldsmith addressed the community and blessed them with a happy and successful year.

2. Enjoy the picture of Itamar's Yeshivat Chitzim praying at the tomb of the great Rabbi Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in the holy city of Tzfat. The Yeshivah went on a special Selichot trip which included an all night walk through the holy city visiting the graves sites of the Ari Hakadosh and other great Jewish saints berried in Tzvat. This was all in preparation for our blessed New Year!

3. Enjoy the picture of the Hatarat Nidarim (releasing vows) prayer in Itamar this morning.

4. Please read Rabbi Goldsmith's Torah message for the holiday.

September 11, 2009

1. Mazal tov to the Rami and Shoshi Oddeser on the wedding of their son Baruchi to Michal. Baruchi and Michal will be making their home on Itamar. As a matter of fact they will be the neighbors of the newlywed couple Alex and Michal(see picture) who got married last week. We wish them happiness and success in building their lives on Itamar.

2. Mazal Tov to the Koralic family on the birth of a daughter. We wish them many more Smachot!

3. As we approach Rosh Hashana we ask our supporters to once again lend a helpful hand in strengthening our town. Itamar has many important projects that are vital for our community's development. We need you to stand together with us in building the land of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

4. Read Leah's new Torah thought for the week.

September 4, 2009

1. Mazal Tov to Rabbi Moshe and Leah Goldsmith on the wedding of their daughter Michal this week to Alex Zuckerman. Michal and Alex have set up their new home on Itamar. We wish them tremendous happiness and success in all their endeavors.

2. Mazal Tov to the Gadot family on the birth of a boy! They should be blessed to see a lot on Nachat from their new son.

3. Mazal Tov to Rabbi Natan Chay and his wife Nurit on the birth of two grandchildren last week. Rabbi Natan the Rabbi of the community has three married children living on Itamar. Two of them celebrated the Britot(circumcisions) of their boys this week.

4. Itamar was happy to host a group from Holland this week. The leader of the group Meindert Leerling has brought a few groups, including political leaders, to Itamar over the last year. He is a strong supporter of Israel and a special friend of Itamar.

5. The Itamar children have returned to school this week! We wish all our children great success in their studies and happiness.

6. Read Leah's new Torah thought for the week.

August 14, 2009

1. Itamar welcomes our dear friends Scott and Suzi Goldberg from the five towns who came to spend a few days on Itamar.

2. Rabbi Yehoshuah and Rachel Mishulami parents of Amasah HYD who was killed in the latest war in Lebanon dedicated a picnic area including pools filled from natural springs located under Mt. Grizim in memory of Amasah. Amasah was a war hero who gave his life to protect the people of Israel. Three of his brothers live on Itamar. Rabbi Yehoshuah and Rachel were thrown out of Gush Katif from their home on Nizarim. Today they live on a new community called Mivoot Yericho in the Jordan valley.

3. Enjoy the picture of the beautiful vineyards freshly planted on Itamar.

4. Read new letter from Itamar's friends.

5. Read Leah's new Torah thought for the week.

July 31, 2009

1. One of our most important projects is to continue building our synagogue that unfortunately was put on hold because of lack of funding. Thank G-D we are very blessed on Itamar and our community has doubled in size over the last five years. We are in desperate need to complete our permanent synagogue. Yesterday, a very special event took place. Itamar's mayor Rabbi Goldsmith picked out a stone from the Itamar hills that will be used in making the holy ark for the new synagogue. The mayor wants to start the building of the Ark even before the walls of the Shul are completed. Tisha B'Av, the day both our temples were destroyed. was chosen to be the day of this special event. We will no longer allow our land to be destroyed- only built!

2. Mazal Tov to Nechama and Nechemya Tau upon the birth of a girl on Tisha B'Av. Nechemya is the son the Rabbi Tau, an important Rabbi in the Zionist world. Rabbi Tau was a devoted student of Rabbi Tzvi Yehudah Kook and is great teacher of Amunah(Jewish faith). He has hundreds of students from the two famous Zionistic yeshivot, Mercaz Harav and Har Hamor. Nechama is the daughter of the famous couple Eli and Dina Horowitz who were both murdered in their home in Kiriyat Arba on March 7th 2003.

3. Mazal Tov to Rabbi Avraham and Devorah Reykanati on the engagement of their son Yisrael Chay and the birth of a granddaughter. The Reykanati family who are blessed with ten children, have four married children living on Itamar! Their daughter Shoshana, who gave birth this week is one of their four children who live on Itamar. Both Rabbi Avraham and Rebitzen Devorah are great teachers of Torah and were part of the first group to move to the Shomron region. Devora's uncle is the famous Rabbi Yisrael Lau the former Chief Rabbi of Israel.

4. Mazal Tov to the Deri family on the birth of a baby girl this week.

5. The Tisha B'Av fast ended on Itamar with a watermelon treat donated by the Edan family. It is their custom to treat the congregation to watermelon after the long fast of Tisha B'Av. They grow these melons, organically, in one of our many valleys here. There is nothing like the delicious fruit of Eretz Yisrael to restore your energy after a long fast.

July 24, 2009

1. Itamar was especially blessed this week with the birth of two boys and a girl: Mazal Tov to the Head family on the birth of a granddaughter, to the Zimmerman family on the birth of a grandson and to the Shneerson family on the birth of a son. We wish them all blessings and happiness!

2. With the fast of Tisha B'av on the way let us all do what ever we can in order to rectify the sins that lead to the destruction of our temple. In this weeks Torah parasha we will read about the sin of the spies. As we all know the same day that the spies returned to Joshua with an evil report about the land of Israel was the same day our temples were destroyed. The way to rectify this terrible sin is to do whatever we can in order to rebuild the land of Israel. Itamar is working hard to hold on to our precious homeland please show us that you are with us in this important mission and help support our community.

3. Enjoy the Torah thought for the week by Leah Goldsmith.

July 17, 2009

1. Mazal tov to the Yamin family on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Yonah Amitay this Shabbat. Rabbi Yamin and his wife are the principals of the Boys Talmud Torah and the girl's day school on Itamar. We wish them a lot of Nachas and happiness from all their children.

2. The children of Itamar enjoyed as part of their camp program a special happening which included representatives of the police, fire, and other emergency teams. The children were given a show about special equipment used to rescue those in need.

3. Today Itamar enjoyed a family outing which included a tour at Yeshiv hill top called El-Matan and a hike through Nachal Kana. El Matan is a small Yeshv that got its name from an ancient village in the area from the second temple period. El Matan is situated on a beautiful hill top over looking Nachal Kanah. Nachal Kana is an ancient Nachal that serves as the border between two important tribes of Israel Ephrayim and Minashe. The stream that flows in the nachal is fed from springs that begin in Mt Grizim and is also fed from other springs along the way. The Nachal eventually makes its way to the Yarkon River.

4. The women of Itamar together with other women from surrounding communities enjoyed a day on Itamar which included a full program of Torah classes. The event was held in our new town center built by the Mifal Hapayis.

July 10, 2009

1. The Goldsmith family held a special thanks giving meal on Wednesday night after experiencing a miracle that occurred in their home that same morning. Here is the amazing story! Their daughter Achishena was sleeping in her bed in the late morning hours while the Israeli army was training in the shooting range about a kilometer and a half away right below Itamar. The unusual thing was that the army was practicing with heavy machine guns as opposed to the normal routine of using light weapons like m-16 rifles etc. A stray bullet from a FN MAG 58 7.62 mm (a Belgium weapon used by the Israeli army) penetrated the exterior wall of Achishena's bedroom on a direct course towards her. The miracle was that the bullet hit the chest of drawers near the wall upon entry and was deflected slightly higher and skipped over her head and went into the book case on the other side of the room. Achishena remained sleeping throughout the whole incident and later woke up without noticing what had happened. At around one o'clock, when her older sister Merav came to the room, she started to yell "who made a hole my wall". Leah came and called Rabbi Moshe Goldsmith who was in the Itamar office at the time to come home quickly. She yelled "someone opened fire on the house!" The Rabbi came running home together with the head of Itamar security and discovered the amazing miracle that had occurred. The army and police were called in and took pictures of the event. Later on the head of the Shomron Brigade came personally together with other army personal to apologize for the terrible accident. That evening, Rabbi Mayor Moshe and Leah Goldsmith decided to make a special meal to thank Hashem for the miracle that happened to their daughter. At the celebration another amazing story was brought up, when Leah recounted to the guests how a few years back Achishena who was only 10 years old saved a girls life in a nearby community that was drowning in a pool. Achishena while swimming underwater noticed something floating on the bottom of the pool that she thought was a bag. When she got closer to it she saw that it was a young girl whose mouth was open and unconscious. Achishena, with all her strength (only ten years old) picked the girl up and started to scream "help someone drowned." The mother of the girl fainted on the spot and the life guard quickly called and ambulance and they gave her mouth to mouth resuscitation and thank G-D the girl was saved. Achishena who saved a life merited in Hashem saving hers! Enclosed are some pictures of the miracle.

     

2. Itamar wants to express its gratitude the community of Anshay Chesed of Woodmere NY and a special thanks to our dear friends Eddie and Fern who have been helping the children of Itamar enjoy their summers over the last four years by providing tremendous assistance towards our summer camp program. There is no way that we would have been able to do this without them. We send that the warmest blessings from our community! Please enjoy the pictures of some of the activities that were held this week.

3. The Nichalim Succot Company, the NY branch, is buying Itamar olive oil to give out as presents to their clients in NY. Enjoy the picture of the delicious organic olive oil of Itamar being packaged.

4. Itamar enjoyed the visit of Tom Waller and Tim from the U.S.A. Tom brings in groups every year to Israel that work in agriculture on different communities in Judaea and Samaria. This fall they want to bring a volunteer group that will help out the farmers of Itamar. Enjoy the picture of them with Shimon Bardah a resident of Itamar that has a perfume factory on one of our hilltops.

5. Please read Leah's new torah thought for the week.

July 3, 2009

1. Itamar celebrated a Hachnasat Sefer Torah on Thursday. The Torah was dedicated to the memory of Rachel Shabo who was massacred together with her three children and the head of the response team Yosef Twito seven years ago on Itamar. Rachel was preparing the Shabbat bread (chalah) when a terrorist entered her home and opened fire on her and her young children. The torah scroll will be used in the synagogue of Har Gidon, on one of the Itamar hilltops.

2. Mazal Tov to Nihoray and Yishuah Choshen on the birth of a daughter this week. Both Nihoray and Yishuah were born on Itamar. So this makes their daughter a third generation Itamar resident!

3. The Itamar girl's school Beer Miriam finished the school year this week with a special presentation which focused on the topic of prayer.

4. This week the Itamar Mifal Hapayis building was finally completed and handed over to the community. The dedication ceremony was attended by the head of the regional council Gershon Masika and Shaul Sutnik the head of the Mifal Payis.

5. The Itamar summer camp began this week enjoy the picture of our children having fun on water rides.

6. Please read Leah's new torah thought for the week.

7. Please read the mayor's letter how he and his wife made Aliyah and moved to Itamar.

June 26, 2009

1. Mazal Tov to Hagar Zar on the birth of another granddaughter this week. Hagar lost her husband Gilad in a terror attack 8 years ago. Their daughter Shirah is now living on Chavat Gilad, a new community in the Shomron that was built in memory of Gilad. Just two weeks ago Hagar's daughter Hadas was married and is living on Itamar with her new husband. We bless the family that they should continue to go from one Simcha to the next!
2. Mazal Tov to the Liphshitz family on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Yaron.
3. Mazal Tov to the Miller, Ben Pinchas, and Shneeroson families who all moved into their new homes on Itamar! These are just three of the ten families who have purchased homes on our community and will be moving in very soon. This neighborhood is dedicated to all those special individuals who gave their lives for the land of Israel and the community of Itamar.
4. Itamar is surrounded by beautiful historic sites. Please enjoy the picture of the famous Sartaba seen from one of our hilltops. The Sartaba is known for being the second station after Mt. Olives that a torch were lit on its peak in order to signal the announcement of the New Moon that was declared in Jerusalem. The Sartaba later served as a strategic fortress built in the first century BCE by the Hasmonean King Alexander Jannaeus, descendent of the Judah the Maccabee, Sartaba served the Hasmoneans in their battles with the Romans. Later, Herod's two sons by his Hasmonean wife Mariamne (Herod executed all three) were buried there.

5. Itamar welcomed Ariel Tonkin from upstate NY who spent a few days on Itamar. Ariel spent a half a year in Israel studying art at Haifa University as part of a program connected to Boston University in the U.S.A. As a young Zionist Ariel hopes that one day she will make her home in Israel.

6. Asaf Kidron, the special stone artist of Itamar is restoring an ancient wine cellar found on one of Itamar's hilltops - on the farm of his father-in-law Avri Ran. Itamar invites all of our dear friends to come and visit this special site. Asaf's dream is to turn this wine cellar into a museum. The plan he has is to use it in the same way as it was used thousands of years ago as a place to store wine. Not far from this site is an ancient wine press.

7. Reminder: This is a very crucial time. The people of Itamar ask you to stand behind us financially. We have many important projects that need to be completed please find a way to reach into your hearts and pockets and show your support for Israel!
A person can never become poor because he gave charity and no bad thing or damage can come out of it. The opposite is true it will bring him a tremendous blessing and success. As it says in Isaiah 32:17 "and the work of charity shall be peace" Anyone who has mercy on the needy G-D will have mercy on him. (See Rambam laws of Charity chapter 10)

Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Moshe Goldsmith

June 19, 2009

1. Mazal Tov to Rabbi Natan and Nurit Chay upon the marriage of their daughter Hodaya. Hodayah together with here new husband Avraham Zepel will be living on Itamar! We thank Hashem for this great blessing of having many of our young second generation children want to continue their lives on the majestic soil of Itamar. G-D willing in the next two and a half months two more young second generation children will be getting married and will make their homes on Itamar.

2. Mazal Tov to the Gian family upon the birth of a daughter this week. We wish them a lot of happiness and success!

3. Itamar held a memorial service this week at our Yeshivah high school for boys Chitzim. 7 years ago a terrorist entered the Yeshiva campus with an automatic rifle and massacred three students, Avraham Siton, Nitanel Rihachi, and Gilad Shtiglitz. Two other boys were injured. Attached is a picture of Rav Natan Chay, Itamar's Rabbi addressing the boys at the memorial service.

4. Reminder: Itamar's summer camp is approaching anyone that can assist in help us fund this summer program would be doing a tremendous act of kindness for the children of Itamar. They deserve to have a fun summer like any other children. Donations can be sent via PayPal or mailed to the friends of Itamar address on our home page together with the PayPal option. Shabbat Shalom!

5. Please enjoy Leah's new Torah thought for the week.

June 12, 2009

1. Mazal Tov to the Head family on the birth of their second grandson this week. "As much as they afflicted them they multiplied and spread out." (Exodus 1:12) The future of our nation lies in the hands of our children that will make Israel grow and prosper. "Those who bless you will be blessed!" (Genesis 12:3)

2. Mazal Tov to Hagar Zar on the marriage of her daughter Hadas this week. Unfortunately, Gilad, the father wasn't able to attend physically since he was killed by terrorists 8 years ago the day after the holiday of Shavuot. Of course, we know that his spiritual essence was there. This was a very special wedding celebration since our forefathers Abraham, Issac Jacob, Sarah and Rivka also attended, as the wedding was held at the tomb of the Patriarchs! The groom is Shilo Ben Yitzchak born and raised in the holy city of Hebron. Hadas and Shilo will be setting up their new home on Itamar!

3. Itamar welcomed Scott Osborne from Ohio that came to tour our community and visit our high school day center program. Scott was so moved by his visit with us, he enjoyed so much to see the very path that Abraham, and Jacob and later all of Israel took when they entered the land of Israel.

4. Please read Leah's new Torah thought of the week!

5. Itamar's summer camp is approaching anyone that can assist in help us fund this summer program would be doing a tremendous act of kindness for the children of Itamar. They deserve to have a fun summer like any other children. Donations can be sent via PayPal or mailed to the friends of Itamar address on our home page together with the PayPal option. Shabbat Shalom!

June 5, 2009

1. Itamar welcomes back Rabbi Moshe and Leah Goldsmith from their speaking tour in the States. Enclosed is a picture of Rabbi Goldsmith speaking at the concert held in Central Park NY after the Israeli day Parade

and a picture of Leah Goldsmith with a group of students from the Shalhevet girl's high school in Lawrence NY.

The community of Itamar wishes Moshe and Leah a Mazal tov upon the engagement of their daughter Michal to Alex Zuckerman. We wish them a lot of Hatzlacha and many blessings in building their new home.

2. Itamar welcomes Washington State senator Joseph Zarelli and his wife Tani who came to spend the day on Itamar.

3. Please read the mayor's emergency declaration:

May 8, 2009

1. Itamar welcomed a group of visitors from the Netherlands including a representative of the parliament. For most of them it was their first visit to Israel and they were very moved by what they experienced.

2. This week Itamar will be holding the annual Lag Ba'omer parade in memory of our dear resident and first army officer of our young generation, Matan Zagron. Matan was killed while jumping on a suicide bomber who planned on blowing next to a group of civilians and soldiers. Matan's younger brother, Aviel, is continuing in his brother's spirit of idealism. He joined the army about a half a year ago and was accepted to an elite force of the Gevati Brigade. We wish him success and a long and happy life!

3. Enjoy Leah's Torah thought for the week.

May 1, 2009

1. Israel Memorial Day on Itamar was emotional and moving as we remembered out dear residents that were killed by terrorists. See link

2. Itamar's Yeshivah High School Chitzim was honored to host Yoska Nachmias who as a former Ezel freedom fighter. He gave a fantastic presentation about his life story.

3. Yom Haatzmaut was very special on Itamar as we celebrated out 25th birthday. We want to express our gratitude to Hashem for blessing us with such a unique community. To all our friends this achievement is yours as much as it is ours.

4. Yom Haatzmaut was celebrated at it usually is by taking beautiful hikes in our precious home land. Please enjoy the pictures of Kever Yosef and the ancient ruins the city of Shechem, These pictures were taken from a lookout point on the Mountain of Grizim.

   

5. See link to an article about Itamar in this weeks five Towns Jewish Times.

April 25, 2009

1. Itamar welcomed the visit of our dear friends Alan and Barbara Hirsch this week. They toured the area and got to see other communities that were included in their special pesach project.

2. Itamar remembered Holocaust day with a guest speaker whose parents were both survivors from Holland.

3. The mayor and his wife Rabbi Moshe and Leah Goldsmith are planning a trip to the States in May or June in the New York area anyone interested in having them speak should contact them by e-mail.

4. Itamar will celebrate its 25th birthday this week on Yom Haatzmaut.

April 19, 2009

1. The blessing over the sun was an unbelievable spiritual experience here on Itamar; please enjoy the enclosed picture.

2. Pesach was so special this year! We began our 25th birthday celebration with a beautiful event on Chol Hamoed where thousands came from all over Israel to visit our community. There were guided tours to our hilltops, rides for children, a petting zoo and a fair where the artists of Itamar sold their wares.

3. Mazal Tov the Alon and Rachel Zimmerman who celebrated the brit milah of their tenth child on Pesach. Alon and Rachel have three grandchildren! They are one of the founding families of our community and are the first to begin organic farming on Itamar.

4. Please enjoy Leah's new Torah thought for the week.

April 2, 2009

1. A special thanks to Alan and Barbara Hirsch from Brooklyn NY for their tremendous Pesach project. In their merit over 1000 families throughout Yehuda and Shmoron were helped out for the coming Pesach holiday. Over 150 families in the Itamar Schechem region alone benefited from this remarkable undertaking. Each family received Matzot Shmurah, wine, grape juice, meat, chicken, potatoes, lollypops and a personal money gift in order to make their holiday special for them. There are no words to describe the happiness this Mitzvah brought to these families. Itamar blesses Alan, Barbara and their precious family that Hashem should give them all happiness, good health, strength, Parnasa Tova and success in all their endeavors! It goes without saying that we extend our blessings to all the wonderful people that participated in this project.

2. On the Monday of Chol Hamoed Pesach Itamar will begin the 25 anniversary celebrations of the establishment of our community which was founded in 1984. In honor of this event a special festival will be held on our Yeshuv on Monday April 13. The event includes a whole day happening from 10:00 through 5:00. At 6:00 in the evening in the regional center there will be a performance opening up the 30 year celebration of returning to the Shomron. We want to extend our personal invitation to all our dear friends of Itamar.

3. Itamar welcomed the visit of Henk Poot from Holland this week. Henk a personal friend of Itamar, has been helping out in the tutoring project for our high school students with learning disabilities. We bless Henk and his Family for this special mission. Henk is a great friend of Israel and is involved in many other missions throughout Israel.

4. Itamar enjoyed the visit of Ron and Laurie Goldsmith who visited with us this week. Ron and Laurie have been a tremendous help to the Friends of Itamar. We extend our special blessings to them as well and wish them all a happy and healthy holiday.

5. Mazal Tov to Hodayah Chay and Avraham Zepel who were engaged this week. Hodayah is the daughter of the Rabbi of Itamar Harav Natan Chay and Avraham is a former student of the Itamar high school, Chitzim.

6. Mazal Tov to Yehuda and Mivaseret Rekenatti on the birth of a daughter this week. Yehuda and Mivaseret both grew up on Itamar and continue on as second generation residents. Mivaseret's father, Shlomo Miller, was killed by terrorists on Itamar a few years ago.

7. Please read the new Torah thought for the week by Leah.

March 20, 2009

1. Itamar sends a special thank you and gratitude to our dear residents, Shmuel and Panina Saban who have been living on Itamar since its inception in 1984. Shmuel and Panina are a very special couple, both work in education teaching young children. Shmuel teaches in The Talmud Torah of Itamar and Panina works in the kindergarten. Besides the tremendous job they have been doing in educating our children they run the Gmach of Itamar. Their whole lives are devoted to helping others. Shmuel and Panina donated this week a Torah to the Itamar community in memory of their parents and relatives. On Thursday we celebrated the beautiful event of the Hachnasat Sefer Torah. (The ceremony of bringing in the Torah in the Ark)

2. Mazal Tov to the Silvers family on the Brit Milah of their son this week. We wish them tremendous Nachat from the new addition to their family.

March 13, 2009

1. Itamar was honored to host a very special group from Minnesota this week. The group was personally escorted by Rabbi Chaim Richman from the Temple Institute in Jerusalem, who is a close friend of this Minnesota congregation. The group leaders, Joseph and Judy, were in Israel 30 times but this was their first visit to the Shomron.

2. Itamar had the privilege of hosting its very dear friends Larry and Helen Slavin from NJ this week. Larry and Helen have been extremely active in helping our community. We bless them and wish them happiness and success in all their endeavors.

3. Purim was a lot of fun on Itamar. Let the happiness of Purim follow us throughout the year! Enjoy the pictures of a festive Purim meal on Itamar and a child dressed up like an Indian riding a horse.

4. Please read the new Torah thought for the week by Leah.

---

March 6, 2009

1. Mazal Tov to the Shushan family on the marriage of their son Elchanan this week. Elchanan married into the Hillel Horowitz family from Hebron.

2. Special thanks to Jessica Katz from Passaic NJ for sending another shipment of clothes to Itamar!

3. Itamar wants to express its gratefulness to Hashem for bringing down some powerful rain falls this week. We pray that the rains keep coming!

4. After the nice rain over the last few weeks the beautiful hills of Itamar are coming to life with flowers and greenery.

5. The Yeshiva high school of Itamar had a great hike this week in the mountains of Elat.

6. Itamar wishes all its dear friends a happy Purim!

7. Please enjoy Leah's Torah thought for the week – Shabbat Shalom

February 27, 2009

1. Mazal Tov to The Cohen family on the marriage of their son Matanyah this week. The Cohen family is one of the founding families of our community back in 1984.

2. Yeshivat Chitzim gave out special candy packages and presents to children for Purim at the children's hospital in the Tel Aviv Medical Center Ichilov. Yaashar Koach!

3. A beautiful Aron Kodesh was dedicated this week in the Bet Midrash of Chitzim. The stone work was done by Asaf Kidron of Itamar together with the children of the high school. This Ark is very special in that it is in memory of Harav Binyamin Herling HYD who was murdered on Mt. Aval on Succot 8 years ago. See Link

4. Although the terrible drought this year thank G-D in the last three weeks in a row we have been hit with some nice storms here. Some trees were damaged but the mountains have turned green! This weekend as well we are expecting some nice stormy weather. Let us pray that the Kinneret and our underground reservoirs get filled up to the top.

February 13, 2009

1. Mazal Tov to Hagar Zar on the engagement of her daughter Hadas to Shilo Ben Yitzchak from Hevron. We wish them a lot of happiness and success.

2. This week the regional council joined the children of Itamar in planting trees in our community in honor of Tu Bishvat.

3. Mazal Tov to Chedva Novik who was married this week. Chedva is a special friend of Itamar and did her national service on our community.

4. Itamar is happy with the result of this week's elections. It proves that the camp of those that love the land of Israel with all their heart and souls is getting stronger all the time!

5. Please read the Torah thought of the week. This week written by Rabbi Moshe Goldsmith.

February 6, 2009

1. Mazal Tov to Amos and Avigayil Cohen on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Levi Yitzchak this Shabbat.

2. Itamar is holding a tree planting event on Monday TuB'shvat anyone who is interested in donating a tree is welcome to do so.

3. Enclosed are some beautiful pictures of the Judean Desert taken week; enjoy the beautiful scenes of Israel.

4. Please read Leah's new torah thought for Tub'shvat.

January 30, 2009

1. Mazal Tov to the Tena family on the birth of a granddaughter this week. Their daughter lives on the Itamar Hilltops. We wish them tremendous Hatzlacha and a lot of happiness.

2. Mazal Tov to The Mintz family on the birth of a daughter this week. The young mother, Hadar, was evacuated from Gush Katif and moved to Yeshuv Itamar a couple of years ago. Hadar's father was murdered in Gush Katif - let his name be carried on! Amen.

3. Mazal Tov to the Chemo family on the birth of a grandson. Yitzchak is also blessed with having two married children on Itamar.

4. Itamar was happy to host a group of supporters from Seattle Washington this week.

5. Please read Leah's new Torah portion for the week.

January 16, 2009

1. Itamar welcomes Jeff Schwartz and Steve Friedman special friends of Itamar who came to spend a few days with us this week.

2. Enjoy the picture of the beautiful winter sunset on Itamar.

3. All those that are interested in touring Itamar during the Pesach holiday should contact us by email.

4. Please read Leah's new Torah thought for Shabbat.

5. Please read letter from Mother of soldier number 2.

A Mother of a Soldier writes (part 2): If I could I would. But I can't. (call him)... We were sitting in a restaurant eating delicious and abundant food. Our daughter's birthday was a great distraction from thinking about Yosef, our son in Gaza. In an abstract way, the cozy golden ambience only made me think more about him. It was actually absurd to be sitting there while he was eating the equivalent of dog food in some bombed out mosque or graphitized apartment building. We tried to eat for him. We made ourselves laugh. "I wonder how Yosef looks now", my daughter said. "Probably he has a long beard by now." "He has hair growing out of his ears and nostrils!" I added. Throwing in a load of laundry earlier I said to my daughter, "We'll have to run the machine a few good times when Yosef brings his laundry home!" "Ma, get serious", was my daughter's reply. "By now their uniforms have mold growing on them and they are probably stiff with sweat and ice." Ugh! It was too much to think about. On second thought, there was just something different about the sandy mud of Gush Katif. You didn't mind being covered in it, it kind of was returned to you in a way. Soldiers were excited to wear it. On what occasion was his last shower experience, I thought. One fine day during training, he told me that they all showered at once (no dillydallying of precious time). Do they sing military songs as they shower? I began to wonder if my son was tireless. I'm sure evenings were spent fighting the cruel war, mornings, a time to thaw in the Gaza sun. I'm just assuming because I don't know much about anything really these days. They took his cell phone away when he entered Gaza. Part of being an Israelite (and not just a Jew) is also dealing with the inevitable. Especially here in the Holy Land. So, my son wears a ceramic vest, helmet, heavy gun, carries all of his weight in gear on his back. He explores mazes of underground tunnels, avoids booby traps, snipers, roadside bombs and has to outsmart the enemy at every bend in the road. He's been well trained to even punch the enemy in the face if he has to. And come to think of it, if we would have known how to throw an upper cut to some Nazi neck, history could have been re-written. But learning how to whack and blow, to smash into the enemy didn't begin with this war but from the beginning of Jewish time. There was Abraham who fought the 5 kings, Shimon and Levi in Shechem, Joshua in Jericho, Gideon in the Shomron and David and Goliath. The list is endless! They all knew and practiced military arts in order to control and possess the most cherished places to the Jewish people. Yosef loves to cuddle with cats and dogs. He always puts his change in the pushka (charity box) and never waits for me to say, "Take the garbage out." He loves to draw. He was never much of a disciplined student (neither was I) but he will succeed in whatever he decides to be, a farmer, an interior designer, or even an engineer. He looks just like me too, only he has olive green eyes that match his uniform exactly. He loves to dance to trance music. He never really liked the winter but I guess that doesn't matter. His favorite game as a child (you can only guess) was playing soldier. But now it's not a game. With Hashem's help, he is crushing Amalek. When this is over finally, he will come home, have a hot bath and I'm sure, will have a lot of stories to tell! Shabbat Shalom, Leah Goldsmith wife of the mayor Rabbi Moshe Goldsmith of Yeshuv Itamar Shomron, website: www.friendsofitamar.org

January 9, 2009

1. Mazal Tov to the Damari family on the wedding of their son Orel this week! We wish them tremendous happiness and success. Orel is an officer in the Israeli army. Rav Avi Ronski the chief Rabbi of the Israeli army who is one of the founders of Itamar, officiated the wedding ceremony. Immediately, after the wedding Harav Ronski had to return to the battle field and give strength to the soldiers in Gaza. Rav Ronski was described by many on the radio this week as one of the heroes of this war. He has been running from the battle field to the hospital to grieving families without rest. He has been coined Elijah the prophet.

2. Unfortunately, we have to express our condolences as well. Rav Uzi Demari's mother passed away a day after the wedding.

3. Itamar prays for the welfare of all its sons together with the rest of our precious soldiers who are in Gaza right now defending the country. Please read the enclosed letter of an Itamar mother describing her feelings about her son at this difficult time.

A Mother of a Soldier writes: Yosef's whiskey tumbler remained full as we commenced from Kiddush to lunch. I stared at it as it seemed to rumble on the sober Shabbat table. But this Shabbat wouldn't have any doldrums that sometimes accompany its calm weather. He excused himself suddenly, holding his pocket (that had his cell phone which is on 24 hours a day including Shabbat in case of an emergency call up) and ran downstairs to his room. The whiskey remained where it was. We already knew clouds of war were brewing when HaRav Avi Ronsky, the Chief Rabbi of Tzahal, who lives here on Itamar got a call during the Kabbalat Shabbat service the previous evening. Now it was Yosef's turn. Within minutes he came back to us wearing his uniform, gear and of course M16. "I have no time! I gotta go!" As a child, his interest in exploring caves, investigating snakes and scorpions from up close enthralled us all. He was a born naturalist. He was bred in the rustic and unsophisticated landscape of the Shomron. The wild hills and unconquered mountains were his stage. He and his friends set up theater on this vista as they went through the pains and joys of early adolescence in a sometimes turbulent but challenging environment. They began to practice for the next stage of their lives, the call of duty for their homeland. While most mothers of combat soldiers in elite units are obsessed with questions to their sons like, " Where are you sleeping?" or "How are you managing in such rough conditions?", I know that Yosef feels untroubled by the snow, the rain, the sleeping on boulders or even hearing enemy fire. He has always had to hear the cries from the mosques calling for the land to be Judenrein. He has also unfortunately lost many friends from Itamar and nearby places in terror attacks and I, as a parent have been challenged with this from time immemorial. Luckily, the ever present but unseen energies of this Land provide a supportive and nurturing environment. He has had his hands forever in the rich soil of new farms and organic gardens and knows from a very young age how important every rock, every stone and piece of earth this is to all the Jewish people. It is natural seeing the main feature of the parsha from our living room window. People all over the world call their sons Yosef, but here in the Land of Yosef-Shechem this is a privilege. Yosef has been in the army for almost 2 years. When I miss him more than usual, I go into his room and spray a little of his Hugo Boss. I say tehillim and go out and buy him junk. (He told me about the special pocket on his hip that he stores candy in). He's a man but he's also a boy. A few months ago he was training intensely. Aside from all the shooting and navigating he said he was training to be a rock. "A what?" I asked. "This is essential for combat!" was his answer. I tried being a rock for about 5 minutes and then fell over. He's learnt to do this for days on end. So here come the mother of combat soldier questions:" How do you eat?", "How do you move?", and (sorry for the crudeness), "How do you make?"! He described training on the Blackhawk helicopters, the tough urban warfare and the endless shooting ( "Yosef, I hope you have your earplugs on!"). Over time, he brought some boys from his crew home for Shabbat.. It was so eye opening to realize what achdut this meant. The boys were all different, there were dudes, gentlemen, (no nerds), rich, poor, black and kibbutznikim. Some had only basic knowledge of Judiasm and some seemed more grounded than our own son. But one thing they all had in common- their aim at protecting the Land of Israel and the Jewish people. As the mother of a soldier in combat I see these boys as the generation that left the desert to enter the Land. They have no shackles on them but only a healthy attitude about doing the mitzvah of settling and protecting the Land. This generation of soldiers, our sons, have said to the entire world (like it or not like it) that the Jewish people have returned to their Land. Go and tell those Roman soldiers that banished us 2,000 years ago that no-one can do this again! Tomorrow is Shabbat. I don't think Yosef will be able to come. Duty calls. We raise a toast of Le'chaim to him and all of Tzahal to their safety and success. Shabbat Shalom, Leah Goldsmith wife of the mayor Rabbi Moshe Goldsmith of Yeshuv Itamar Shomron, website: www.friendsofitamar.org

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