Friday, August 19, 2011

Summer Fun in Itamar

The Itamar community enjoyed its annual summer family trip. This year many families participated and they had a blast! We want to thank our friends who helped sponsor the Itamar summer program.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Happy 50th Rami!

Mazal tov to Rami Odesser on his 50th birthday! Rami is quite and asset to the town of Itamar. He is a computer expert who solves all problems relating to the field. He also is an electrician who is always there to help those in need.

Rami has been volunteering for years in different areas of community service. We appreciate him greatly and wish his wife Shoshi and his wonderful family a lot of blessings and happiness

Friday, August 5, 2011

Mazal Tov to the Zimerman family on the acquisition of a new cow!

They are now producing their own yogurt cheese and other milk products. It is highly recommended that you come and visit their farm.





Mazal tov to Shmuel Odeser on
completing his army service!

Itamar is blessed with a lot of young men that have recently completed their service in the Israeli army. They are all sons of Itamar families that served in fighting units in the IDF.

These young idealistic men want to follow in their family's footsteps by building their home here on Itamar as well. We admire every one of them and wish them all tremendous success in all their endeavors.

Friday, July 29, 2011

The Itamar summer camp has been just an amazing success with a lot more fun to follow. Our teenage campers even made a caf×™ where adults came to enjoy the cakes they baked and tables were set up for panels of discussion for all the members of the community to brainstorm together ways to improve life on Itamar.

We want to thank again for all our wonderful friends that have helped us to make this a reality. Special thanks to Rabbi Lefkowitz and Eddie Wunsch from the Anshey Chesed Shul of the five towns who have for the last several years personally adopted this project.

Friday, July 22, 2011

An Itamar Engagement and Summer Camp

Mazal tov to the Ronsky and Melet families on the engagement of their children Eitan and Adi. Eitan and Adi were both living on Itamar since birth.

We wish them many more happy events. The Ronsky family is one of the founders of Itamar. Rabbi Avi andRonit are parents of 6 children. Their daughter,Adi, is their youngest and with her coming wedding will leave the Ronsky children all married! Rabbi Avi served as the chief Rabbi of the Israeli army for four years and is the head of the Itamar Yeshivah. Ronit his wife is an amazing artist. They both have been a tremendous asset to the Itamar community over the years. The Melet family is a very modest family who has been working in agriculture for many years. They own an olive press and a flour mill and are part of those that give Itamar its organic name!

The Itamar summer camp program is in full swing. This week our teen girls went to Bat Yam on the "Chesed Bus" that focuses on doing good deeds for the community at large and decided to meet with the elderly, serve them lunch and help them with chores.. They brought them gifts and connected with them through a joint arts and crafts workshop. It was extremely successful!

This Shabbat they are on a seminar focusing on the 3 weeks between the 17th of Tammuz and TishaBa'Av at kibbutz Merav in the Jordan Valley.

Friday, July 15, 2011

We Celebrate and Remember

Mazal Tov to Meir and Rinat Caberah on the marriage of their son Roee to Talya this week. May Hashem continue to bless the family with many more happy events.
 
Mazal Tov to the Ronsky and Melet families on the engagement of their children this week!
 
Mazal Tov to the Edri family on moving into their new home!
 
This week we commemorated the memorials of the Shabo family and Yosef Twito (then the head of the Response Team here) who were massacred in a terror attack in 2002- HY"D

Friday, July 1, 2011

Fun at Summer Camp

The Itamar summer camp program began this week and our campers enjoyed the lunar park that came to make our campers happy.

A lot more fun is ahead!

Friday, June 24, 2011

L´CHAIM!


Mazal tov to the Dagan, Cohen, Rein and Reisman families on the birth of daughters this week.
Yes, four new girls join the ranks of Itamar!

Itamar welcomes back its youth representatives that spent a week in France to help strengthen and instill the love of Israel amongst the youth. They were extremely successful and had a fantastic trip. Tamar Fogal was one of the participants.

Mazal tov to the Demari family on the marriage of their daughter Achinoam

Friday, June 17, 2011

Itamar is proud of her wonderful Children

Mazal Tov to mishpachat Dagan on the birth of a daughter.
 
Mazal Tov to the Demari family on the birth of a grandson this week – next week they will be celebrating not only a brit but also the wedding of their daughter Achinoam! We wish them many more happy events.
 
Itamar is proud to announce that two of its young residents were winners in this week's Bible contest of the Shomron. Mazal Tov to Yehidah Cohen that came in first place and to the grandchild of Rabbi Ronsky that came in third place.
 
 
Itamar wishes its youth counselor Pinchas Michaeli and youth representatives of Itamar Bney Akivah a successful trip to France. They will be spending a week on a Bney Akivah tour to strengthen the connection with the French Bnay Akiva.

It is no greater time than the Torah portion of the sin of the spies to go abroad and strengthen the connection of the Jews of Diaspora with the land of Israel.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Many things to Celebrate in our community!

Itamar welcomes its new residents - Tzvi Yehudah and Tehillah Leiberman and their baby daughter that moved into our new neighborhood called Givat Arieh this week! Givat Aryeh is named after the members of the Fogal family and has been set up on the spot where the terrorists first entered the community on the night of the terrible massacre.

New Challenges!  Special thanks to Matanyah Ben Shitrit, our security chief who will be leaving his position in the coming weeks. Matanyah has accepted a job in our high school as the head counselor.
 
Bar Mitzvah! Mazal tov to the Edan family on the Bar mitzvah of their son! May they continue to have nachat from their children.

Brit Milah! Mazal tov to the Gootman family on the brit milah of their son.

Friday, May 27, 2011

New Life For Itamar Families

Mazal Tov to Shaul and Dina Chaun on the birth of a son this week. May G-d bless them with a lot of happiness.

Mazal tov to Yosi and Etta Leibowitz veteran residents of the Avraham Avinu on the birth of a grandson this week. The Leibowitz family just moved to Itamar only a few weeks ago after the Fogal family massacre. They lost their son Elazar in a terrorist attack near Hebron. The same shooting attack that killed Rabbi Yaakov and Hannah Dickstein and their son Shvel Zion back in 2002.

Lag Ba'Omer March On Itamar

Itamar held its 7th consecutive Lag Ba'Omer march in memory of our dear residents that were killed in terror attacks.

The march was founded by the Zagron family who lost their son Matan 8 years ago when he was killed when he stopped a suicide bomber from reaching a crowded bus stop.
The march began at a look out point called Mitzpeh Matan on the Itamar hill tops.

Tamar fogal participated in the march.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Celebrate Itamar's deep roots in the Land

Enjoy the view of the famous mountain the Sartaba which stands out like a pyramid seen from Itamar.

The Sartaba was the second relay station where torches were lit starting with Mt. Olives in Jerusalem to signal the Jews in Babylonia that the new moon was declared in Jerusalem. It was built by the famous Alexander Yanai, about 150 years before the destruction of the second Temple, as a Chashmoaim fortress.

It is customary that on Lag Baomer youth groups come and light torches on this mountain peak.

"Hashem Hu Hamelech" – translated as G-D is King!

Here is a picture of a barn on one of the Itamar hill tops that is very unusual in that it says on it in Hebrew "Hashem Hu Hamelech" – translated as G-D is King!

As we read this Shabbat Parashat Bichukotai we must realize that true peace and tranquility will come to the land if we follow Hashem and proclaim that he is the true King.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Yom Haatzmaut - Israel's Independence Day Celebration in Itamar


A fun night of skits and singing on Itamar's Birthday.
Happy Birthday Itamar!

Itamar had an amazing Yom Haatzmaut celebration which included an outdoor meal and entertainment with a spectacular display of fireworks.

Yom Haatzmaut is the birthday of our community which was founded back in 1984.





Different residents were honored by lighting torches. Charlotte Krantz, Leah Goldsmith's mother who made Aliya almost two years ago, lit a torch as the eldest representative of the four generations of her family living on Itamar.
  
Food, friends and time to relax and rejoice!

Friday, May 6, 2011

This Week On Itamar

May 6, 2011
Itamar is back in full swing after the Pesach holiday! On Pesach thousands came to visit Itamar. We also held a very special happening sponsored by and Israeli radio station which included a play for the children and other activities. There were also tractor tours to our hilltop neighborhoods.
 
Babies!
A beautiful Itamar wildflower - Come Visit Us.
Mazal Tov to Yisrael Meir and Helah Man on the birth of a daughter Bat Zion. Mazal Tov to Nihorah and Shlomo Head.
 
Mazel Tov to Chaim and Yasmin on the birth of a son. May Hashem bless them all with a lot of Nachat and success.
 
Mazal Tov to Sharon and Hilah Peretz on the Bar Mitzvah of their son.
 
New Itamar Citizens!
Three new families moved to Itamar over the last month and seven more G-D willing are on the way soon.
 
Projects!
Our community is very busy with many important projects we have continued work on our synagogue which is our major focus now and invite all our friends to help out in this important endeavor.
 
Thursday night our Itamar Bnei Akivah had a special ceremony commemorating the opening up of the new branch structure which was recently repaired and refurnished. Governor Gershon Masikah, head of the regional counsel of Shomron, attended the event and was honored with putting in the Mezuzah on the doorpost. The branch was dedicated in memory of Yoav Fogal who was a member of the youth movement. Of course, this is still a temporary structure as we hope to one day be able to build a youth cultural center that will include a library, workshop, music, workout, and club room for our youth.
 
VIP Visitors
Transportation minister Israel Katz visited Itamar today to show his solidarity with us and promised to help our community. He also mentioned that if a Palestinian State is declared unilaterally then Israel must annex all the communities of Judea and Samaria.

If you would like to join us in a project please send us an email at projects@friendsofitamar.org

Published 4:02PM PDT

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Thousands Gather on Purim to Bless Itamar



Thousands gathered in Itamar for Purim Celebrations exactly one week aftter the attack on the Fogel Family, to show support and love for the family and the Itamar community.

Am Yisrael Chai!  The People of Israel Live!

Friday, March 18, 2011

Life Continues On Itamar

1.  As a response to the terrible Fogel massacre, a new neighborhood is being set up on the area where the terrorists entered the community.

2.  The Itamar community will be going full speed ahead in pushing the community forward. Many community projects like completing our permanent synagogue, a children and youth culture center which will include library, play room, club room and music room. Our youth need a lot of help and guidance which we must provide for them in order to try and heal their terrible scars. This will require funds for different youth activities and counseling. A special memorial site will be set up by the community remembering the Fogal and other families and people killed on Itamar.


3.  Mazal tov to the Silvers family on the brit of their son this week!

4.  Itamar welcomed a new family that moved in this week!  Rabbi Udi Fogel, in blessed memory, was the head of Itamar absorption and personally brought this family to Itamar.  His life continues to bless Itamar.

5.  Itamar had many visitors this week by government officials and army officers some of them included: the foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman, Saul Mufaz head of security committee of the Kinneset, General of central command Avi Mizrachi and Zeev Belkin with the group of kinneset members of Shdulat Erez Yisrael. Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, the Chief Rabbi of Zefat came to speak and give words of strength as well as many other prominent rabbis. People from all over Israel have been coming all week long to Itamar and bringing Purim gifts and hugs.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Joy amidst the Mourning - A Special Wedding at Joseph's Tomb

Miri Tzachi,
Shomron Regional Council


Itamar Residents Celebrate Wedding at Joseph's Tomb! 
by Hillel Fendel   Israel National News

The army periodically allows and enables Israelis to enter the holy site of Joseph’s Tomb in Shechem (Nablus) – but no previous visit was ever as moving as the wedding there last night.

Hundreds of residents of Itamar, still reeling from the Palestinian terror  massacre of the Fogel family five days earlier, arrived for a special prayer service – highlighted by the wedding ceremony of a resident of an Itamar  hilltop, Moshe Orlinsky, and his betrothed, Natalya Zucher.

The two had planned to get married in Itamar, but decided to hold the joyous ceremony at the holy site of Joseph’s Tomb instead – the first wedding known to have ever taken place there. The intensity of emotion left no eye dry.  Click on the video below!  



The officiating rabbi was Itamar’s rabbi, Rabbi Natan Chai, and wedding blessings were recited by Breslov leader Rabbi Shalom Arush, Rabbi Yaakov Yosef (son of Shas leader Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef), Shomron Region Chief Rabbi Elyakim Levanon, Yitzhar Rabbi David Dudkevitch, and the Kabbalist Rabbi Yaakov Deutsch.

The ketubah (marriage contract) was read aloud by IDF Shomron Brigade Rabbi Capt. David Feig.

The local IDF commander, Shomron Brigade Commander Col. Nimrod Aloni, wished the young couple “Jewish home full of joy, faith, and warmth.” Shomron Regional Council head Gershon Mesika noted the residents’ emotional roller-coaster of late, and said: “The prophet says, ‘With your blood you shall live – unfortunately, we had to go through five ‘bloods’ [the five murdered Fogel family members – ed.], but in the merit of this exalted occasion, it will strengthen all of us – the people of Itamar, the residents of the entire Shomron, and all of Israel; we will gather the broken pieces together and we will become stronger.”
Yosef's Pursuit of Unity Supports the Jewish Nation
Rabbi Chai said, "We thank G-d for giving us the fortitude to carry on… and we thank IDF Commander Nimrod Aloni, who made great efforts to enable us to hold this chupah here … It was near this spot that Yosef said, ‘I seek my brothers,’ and this pursuit of unity and love for Israel is what unites us and gives us the strength; Yosef had a coat of many colors – symbolizing that there are many aspects to the Jewish People, and each tribe has its place, but they are all unified.”

Other blessings were offered by Yesha Council head Danny Dayan, Rabbi Dudkevitch, and IDF Commander Maki Siboni. Musician and actor Golan Azulai provided the music, at no charge.

Another Video of this Special Weddinag at the Tomb of Joseph Adar 2011



A wedding of a new Itamar couple was held at Kever Yosef this week - the first wedding held there since the tomb was destroyed by Muslim terrorists in the year 2000. Am Israel Chai!

Friday, March 4, 2011

Israel's Future - Our Children

February 25:  Mazal tov to Nihoray and Yishuah Choshen on the birth of a son this week.  May they be blessed with many more happy events in their lives.

March 4:  Itamar extends a hardy Mazal Tov to mishpachat Ronski on the brit of their son and grandson

 Every Thursday the young children of Itamar have an additional special play hour. 

Enjoy the picture of them having fun.

They are the future of Israel!

Friday, February 4, 2011

This Week's Family Celebrations!

Mazal Tov to Mishpachat Zak on the birth of a son this week!  This Shabbat the brit milah will take place.
 
Mazal tov to the Cohen family on the marriage of their daughter Ayelet this week!

Mazal tov to the Melet family on the Bar Mitzvah of their son!

Friday, January 21, 2011

This week on Itamar

Mazal Tov to the Schneerson and Ben Pazi families on the Brit Milah of their sons this week.

A new Torah scroll was dedicated this week in the Itamar Hesder Yishivah.
 
Colonel Nimrod Aloni again visited Itamar. This time he was the guest speaker at the Itamar Yeshivah high school Chitzim Tu Bishvat party. The colonel spoke about some army experiences in 2002 during the terrible years of terror that hit Israel and enjoyed the beautiful ceremony and the songs at the school.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Babies, Babies, Babies

Itamar has MANY new citizens! 
We are pleased to announce their arrival and their inclusion into the covenant of their forefather's.

January 7th 2011: 
Mazal Tov to the Cabrah family on the birth of another grandchild this week!


January 31st 2010: 
Mazal Tov to Baruchi and Michal Odeser on the Pidyon Haben (redemption of the first born son).

We wish them a lot of happiness and success in building their young family.   Such sweet smiles from a proud papa!


December 31st 2010: 
Mazal Tov to Yehudah and Mivaseret Reykinati on the birth of a son.
The son was named Shlomo Mordechai after his grandfather Shlomo Mordechai Miller who was the head of Itamar security and was killed in August 2004 when a terrorist infiltrated the community.

We wish them only happiness and success!  G-d is gracious in bringing new life and celebrations even after tragedies.

December 17th 2010: 
Mazal Tov to Eliezer and Naama Ben- Lazar on the birth of a daughter.

December 2rd 2010: 
Mazal Tov to the Odeser family on the birth of a second grandson within two weeks! Their son Baruchi and wife Michal live on Itamar and are a great example of what the Itamar second generation pioneers are doing. We wish them a lot of happiness and success as they build their family.

November 26th 2010
Mazal Tov to Joseph and Kihatitah Peretz on the birth of a son.

We wish the young family to live up to their name Peretz meaning to spread out as the verse in Genesis 28:14 says "Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed

November 19th 2010: 
Mazal Tov to the Hodayah and Abraham Zepel family on the birth of a daughter this week. It is their first child. We wish them a lot of happiness and nachat!   Hodayah is the daughter of Itamar's Rabbi - Rabbi Natan and Nurit Chay.

Mazal Tov to the Odeser family on the brit milah of their grandson. The young parents Chagai and Racheli are enjoying their new son Noam. May G-D bless them with happiness and success.  

November 12th 2010:
Mazal Tov to the Odeser family on the birth of a grandson. We wish the new grandparents a lot of Nachat from their children and continued happy events.

Mazal tov to the Giladi family on the brit Milah of there new son Elyasaf.