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General Leah's Blog

Leah’s Blog Dec 8th 2017

width=Driving to a major city in Israel always amazes me. It may not have that rustic biblical hilly rocky look, but the phrase “Kam veNeetzava”- “And my sheath stood erect” has the skyscrapers and new buildings standing tall and proud, one after another in what were empty lots of sand dunes just last year…. This year on Chanukah the new windows will have thousands of new lights lighting up the night, a cozy homey feeling.

I kind of need this urban fix. It infuses me with a new idea.

This week we read about Yosef. “And Yosef recognized his brothers. But they did not recognize him.” (Genesis 42:8), not knowing that beyond that external handsome exterior there contained an internal content of holiness. His brothers actually sat down to eat bread just as he was thrown into the pit. HOW?

Yosef did not grope in the dark (tartey mashmah!) He overcomes many obstacles as he goes down and deeper into the dark pit of Egypt.

Very soon he was raised to glory fame and fortune, recognized for his outstanding uniqueness for being a light and channel for Hashem’s voice.

Yosef is a pusher, a pillar. He realizes his decisions affect historical outcomes.

Here, on the ground, a new Jerusalem seems to have fallen out of the sky. A monumental stunning city that dazzles millions and a true testimony to Hashem’s word coming home. But as we push- they want us to retreat. As we establish- they try to nullify. As we proclaim the peace of Jerusalem – they riot. Finally, we stand like skyscrapers because we can do something about it! Empowered by the place and by the hour- Thank you President Trump for recognizing and not submitting.

Here on the ground it’s a rocky road. (Tartey mashmah)

But, like Yosef said after being sold by his brothers, “You had bad intentions. But Hashem had good intentions and planned it for good and for Providence!” (Genesis 50:20)

Chanukah is coming this week. We are soon coming to the day that every day will be easy access to receive the holy light from Jerusalem. This week we all say AL HANEESEEM!

Thank you Hashem

Thank you POTUS

 

Shabbat Shalom! Happy Chanukah!

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Current Events General Itamar News

Itamar News Updates Dec 1 2017

 

We welcomed dear long time friend Anita Zbaren from Switzerland. Anita always brings a suitcase of the most beautiful baby clothes for our gmach. This time she provided us with beautiful coats and jackets- thank you Zbaren Family for your thoughtfulness! width=

Rico Cortez brought a Spanish speaking group from Puerto Rico, Columbia, and other Latin countries. It was amazing to meet such warm exceptional people. We enjoyed lunch at Itamar’s Petting zoo- HaNekudah hakafreet and toured around. We had a special treat visiting Orna Hershberg who has been working on weaving for the Temple at Lishkat haParochet. width=

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Midreshet Tiferet from Beit Shemesh came with seventy girls to hear all about the early days here and get more connected to the heart of Israel. width=

 

 

 

Our kindergartens and schools have been gearing up for Chanukah. Enjoy the picture! width=

Enjoy Leah’s Blog

 

Shabbat Shalom to all of our dear friends!

 

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Current Events General Itamar News

Special Report – Itamar Resident Saved Miraculously

Tonight the community of Itamar held a special thanksgiving celebration as one of its dear residents was miraculously saved from of a mob of Arabs rioting in the village of Hawarah. width=He was on the way back home to Itamar from Ariel after going shopping for his large family of eight children. He was purposely blocked from driving on when an ambulance drove into his lane. The ambulance driver left his vehicle and joined in the attackers by kicking and throwing rocks and boulders at his car. Thank G-D our precious resident made it home safely to Itamar! At the community celebration tonight, he told the story. width= He mentioned that as he was driving through the village he felt that he must say a special thanksgiving prayer called “Nishmat Kol Chai” that we say on the Shabbat – literally seconds later he found himself in a life threatening situation and was saved with the mercy of Hashem. After the evening prayer service Rabbi Chay, Itamar’s head Rabbi, told the community to say the prayer Nishmat Kol Chay without knowing that it was already said on the road.  width= The Itamar leadership is having an emergency meeting with the army head of the area to demand a response to the terrible situation on our roads. This week there were three other violent demonstrations in the same village Hawarah which is the major route leading to our community. The time is now to stand with the Friends of Itamar in showing your love and support.

Shabbat Shalom  – share this message to all your friends!!!!!!!

 

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Current Events General Itamar News

Itamar News updates May 5th 2017

 

width=This week Itamar celebrated its 33rd birthday on Israel Independence Day – it is always a very emotional experience as our Memorial Day leads right into Independence Day. The thought of the 22 special souls of Itamar residents that gave their lives for the land of Israel together with the thousands of others that have fallen for the sake of the nation of Israel – brings one to a feeling of appreciation and admiration. Without these precious souls, we would not be where we are today. In their name, we will go on living and building the land making it stronger and more beautiful every day.  width= width=

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had the honor of hosting a few groups this week width=on Itamar. We welcomed our special friends from the West Coast – a fantastic group led by our dear width=friend Irina width=and a great group from Finland led by our dear friends Leo and Marja. We also had a group from the Karney Shomron Yeshiva and two students that are spending a year in a Midreshet Moriah in Jerusalem for girls – Adinah and Talya. width= width=

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mazal Tov to the Mishulami family on the birth of a son.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special thanks again to Jessica Katz for sending another amazing shipment of clothes for the Itamar residents. width=

We ask all our friends to have in mind in their prayers Rabbi Avichay Nisan Ben Chaya Ronski who has had a very serious operation and recuperating in the hospital.

Watch Rabbi Goldsmith’s lesson on this width=
week’s portion.

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Current Events General Itamar News

Itamar News Updates April 21 2017

As the spring and summer months set in, it is a great time to plan a visit to Itamar. We have so many interesting attractions to offer our tourists. One of our interesting suggestions is to visit Ornah Hirschberg’s studio. Ornah is an expert in the vessels of the Tabernacle specializing in ancient methods of weaving. She recently completed a beautiful project of weaving the Parochet of the Tabernacle for a museum in America. She is now working on the Cherubs. Next time you are in Itamar make sure you get to see this special studio of where it all happens. width= width= width= width=

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mazal Tov to the Zimmerman family on the recent marriage of their son Michael! The Zimmermans are the founders of organic farming on Itamar and have a very unique farm – which includes the production of dairy products. width= width=

 

Watch Rabbi Goldsmith’s Torah lesson on Parashat Shimini on Attaining spiritual heights

 

Shabbat Shalom and blessings from Itamar

 

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General Leah's Blog

Leah’s Blog – We can do it! March 30th 2017

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I am leaving Egypt, out of the plague of darkness into the great seder plate of a new reality and it’s happening quickly.

“למען תזכור את יום צאתך מארץ מצרים כל ימי חייך!”

The allegory : A servant works for a slave master for many years. One day, his real parents are revealed to him and also take him out immediately from that house. All at once, he enters his new home – his primordial home – his real home. Now if he goes anywhere he knows his true place and its relevance to his life. He now knows what is really pertinent and in essence, where his mind ,heart, soul and body belong – He’s incorporated a brand new perspective into his life of who he is –and in the exodus out of slavery, has let go of his past limitations. He also found his voice.

As I rush to buy a new tablecloth, kettle, towels, the lists never end – it also feels great to be part of the great exodus, of dumping literally TONS of baggage. I’m throwing out stuff also on another level entirely and thanking Hashem for the opportunity. I’m trying to use my time and energies more affectively and sometimes I have to hold up my hand and put my foot down. The little dishes on the seder plate have a limited space and so do I. I want to focus on each category of my life. First things first- There is home, spouse, family, community, hobby, chesed, work and of course Israel advocacy. The dynamics are real and I play for keeps. “Go ahead”, I tell myself, “you can also say no when something is soaking up your time and it’s not fixing!” The thing about leaving Egypt in haste is that you don’t drag on with things. It’s best to just cut to the point. We can do it!

Same thing for Israel. We are entering a new era, friends. It’s intuitively falling into place right now. For too many years Israel has been the one that focused on mindfulness and consideration but has been chastised despite that. Israel has been condemned just too many times with hardly a word of backing. Israel has been humiliated and hardly a word from all the brain dead slaves living in the task masters house. But that is all changing now. Pesach is a time when you reach the state of mind of not worrying about someone mastering over you. It’s a time of independence, of living the integrity of being a Ben/Bat Melech and saying the truth, of finding your voice and not caring about being politically correct. Deeply rooted in the mindset of the politically correct is a wish not to upset (as the ground literally under us is bubbling over… as terror tunnels are being remodeled at this very moment and new and improved missiles are being fashioned in the aim to destroy Tel Aviv) Our facts on the ground- forget opinions- are seen as biased and even intolerant but true democracy means that allowing freedom for opinions- to say what you want and to say what you don’t want- Politically correct does not mean correct. Now is the time alright to be a lighthouse in a plague of darkness. We can do it! And we have to.

“We are no longer silent! And we are not ashamed of our Judaism!” Danny Danone said this week at the General Assembly Hall at the U.N. this week. Nikki Haley, an awesome shaliach for Am Yisrael was the keynote speaker at this conference that focused on combating BDS and the shameful sanctions that they would like to implement on Israel. We would also like to congratulate and invite David Friedman, the new U.S. ambassador to Israel to come and visit us here in Itamar located in the heart of Eretz Yisrael, Gem of the Hills!! These are all very positive things happening now, Baruch Hashem!

It’s about time we made seder. We can do it!

Every one of us has the power to change, to influence and to impact how the world considers Israel. First remember – you are the son/daughter of the King who took you out of Egypt and redeemed you and gave you a voice. Use it.

Shabbat Shalom! Leah

Categories
Current Events General Itamar News

Itamar News updates March 10th 2017

Itamar warmly welcomed back Rabbi Moshe and Leah Goldsmith from their speaking tour in the USA. Special thanks to the special friends of Itamar that arranged speaking events and hosted them – making their trip successful. width=

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We want to wish our dear friends a happy and healthy Purim! width=

Those who wish can fulfill the mitzvah of the half-Shekel by donating to Friends of Itamar!

Watch Rabbi Goldsmith’s Torah message for the week.

 

Categories
General Itamar News

Itamar News updates Feb 12 2017

Friends of Itamar would like to bless all our dear friends with a Tu Bi’shvat Sameyach, a happy and joyous celebration of reconnection to the land and the landscape and the undeniable connection of the Jewish people to the soil of the land of our forefathers. width=The memory of Eretz Yisrael comes alive in our identity coming into expression through the ritual of planting trees here in Israel. We take pride here on Itamar in our kind to the earth organic farming and want to thank you for all being part of this blessing. We will be rooting new trees into the soil as we will soon develop a new park area next to our new synagogue. We hope that you will have the opportunity to feel the life force and vitality experienced here on Itamar when you visit with us! Happy Tu Bi’shavt. width= width= width=

Itamar welcomed the visit of very special Tzaddikim – Ronald, Laurie, and Shaindee Goldsmith! Ronald has been an amazing help to Itamar for many years in his important volunteer work for Friends of Itamar. May Hashem bless him and his family with good health, happiness, and success in all their endeavors.

Watch Rabbi Goldsmith Torah lesson – for the week

 

 

Categories
Current Events General Itamar News

Itamar News Updates – January 20th 2017

Itamar News January 20 2017

We had Indian Summer this week and what a better way to enjoy it than with visitors? Rabbi and Rebbetzin Shmuel Silber of the Suburban Orthodox Congregation of Baltimore came with a group from their shule to Itamar right off the plane! We had a great visit and hope to see them again soon! This was a first time visit to Itamar- we hope to connect with this lovely group of people we came to encourage and show their solidarity with us. width=

 

 

 

 

 

We were also blessed to have our dear friend Gaspar Anastasi come with a special group. We explored ancient caves used for wine cellars and enjoyed the mountain views. Gaspar and Michelle and their family and congregation have been strong supporters for many years of Israel! width=

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is strawberry season here on Itamar. Enjoy the pictures of the newborn buds, flowers and delicious succulent organic free of pesticide strawberries that grow right here in our hothouses. Yummy! width= width= width= width= width=

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chitzim High Schhol welcomed the news boys trying out school here for the coming school year (for 9th grade) . They hiked in the area and had a Master Chef event cooking poikeh in large cast iron cauldrons with the school. width= width=

Enjoy Rabbi Moshe’s class on Shemot!

Shabbat Shalom!

 

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