May 23, 2008
1. Mazal Tov to Meir and Rinat Cabra upon the engagement of their daughter Orli this week. Itamar wishes them much happiness and success! May they build a Bayit Ne’eman B’iyisrael.
2. Itamar celebrated Lag Baomer last night. Enjoy the pictures and the new Torah thought by Leah Goldsmith about Lag Baomerbased on the teachings of the “Chalban” Harav Chaim Hacohen).
3. Today Itamar held its annual Lag Baomer parade in memory of Matan Zagron(please read about him on the memorial page
May 16, 2008
1. Itamar had the pleasure of hosting Rabbi David Stern together with a group of singles now living in Jerusalem that moved to Israel recently. They came to spend Shabbat in our area and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Shomron. These young men and women hope to get married soon and move to Yehudah and Shomron.
2. Mazal Tov to the Hemo family on the brit milah of their first grandson. Haliluya and Asaf the happy parents named their precious boy – Yibaney Zion – and Zion will be rebuilt! The chief rabbi of the Israeli army, Harav Avi Ronski, was honored as the sandak. Please enjoy the enclosed pictures.
3. Enjoy the picture of a beautiful spring sunset seen on Itamar this week.
May 9, 2008
Itamar held its Memorial Day ceremony this week. The memory of our dear friends that gave their lives for the land of Israel will always remain with us. Their tremendous spirit is a constant driving force behind the continuation of our building the land. Please see the memorial page.
We celebrated our community’s 24th birthday this week on Independence Day. It was a beautiful celebration. We had an out door evening dinner for the entire community. Next year we hope that all of you can join us in our 25th birthday event!
May 2, 2008
1. Itamar held the final stage of the Bible Contest this week. Mazal Tov to the winners Eliyahu Mishulami, Rabbanit Rekenati, and Kinarti together with all the participants. Prizes will be given out next week on Itamar’s birthday – Israel Independence day during the community’s evening celebration.
2. This week we had the privilege of hosting a very special guest speaker on Itamar, Mordechai Pappirblatt. He was invited to our community on Holocaust day to tell us about his amazing survival story. Mordechai spent 900 days in the Auschwitz death camp. Among his many important messages is his living testimony that no obstacle can stand in the way of someone who has a true will to survive. My personal reaction after hearing him was that we must never complain again about anything and always be happy with our lot. No matter how difficult things can sometimes get, nothing can compare to the terrible nightmare of the Holocaust. Let us thank Hashem for the wonderful gift of life and not take one day for granted.
April 25, 2008
1. Safta Charlotte Krantz burns the last of the chametz on Itamar. Charlotte, the mother of Leah Goldsmith, has been a loyal friend of Itamar for the last 22 years.
2. Pesach was very special on Itamar. We enjoyed many visitors from all over Israel and from abroad. They came to participate in a special happening which included different activities like horse back riding, games for children, and a display of Itamar products and other activities as well.
3. Itamar welcomes our dear friends Robbie and Rivky Watman and family from the Anshey Chesed community of Hewlett New York. Anshei Chesed has been actively involved in Itamar projects.
4. Mazal Tov to Rabbi Yaakov and Chani Fingold on the birth of a son.
5. G-D willing this coming Tuesday Itamar will be holding the second and final Stage of the Chidon Tanach (Bible contest). The prizes will be given out at our Independence Day celebration which is the birthday of our community. Anyone wishing to help sponsor the contest is welcome to do so!
April 11, 2008
1. Itamar is speechless over the tremendous Chesed of our dear friends Allan and Barbara Hirsch. In their merit for the last 8 years around 800 families in need from Judea and Shomron have been receiving food packages for the Pesach Holiday. The areas include the entire Gav Hahar region of Shechem and the Gush Etzion Chevron area. Alan works very hard raising the money from different communities from the NY and NJ region. We are grateful as well to all those wonderful people that sent their donations towards such a precious cause. Enjoy the picture of a happy Itamar resident receiving Shmurah Matzo for the holiday.
2. Itamar welcomes Henk Poot and Theo Horneman our very special friends from Holland who are putting together a unique picture book of beautiful landscapes of the different communities of Judea and Shomron. Henk and Theo are great supporters of Israel and have been helpful to many communities in Israel.
3. Itamar welcomes Yosef Ringal from Allentown Pennsylvania. Yosef is a student at Brandeis University and is doing his doctorate on Israel studies. He spent three days this week on Itamar to research the Sfardic methods of Torah study that are being used in the Talmud Torah of Itamar.
4. Itamar had a very special blessing over the last two weeks ten children have been born here! Vchayn Yirboo! Shabbat Shalom
April 4, 2008
Three girls were born on Itamar this week all from the same hilltop called Givat Arnon over looking the Jordan valley! Mazal Tov to The Tuaf, Segal, and Recheli families. Enjoy the picture of the green pasture surrounding the hilltop.
Two Itamar miracles occurred this week. The first happened with the principal of our Yeshiva high school. Rabbi Erez was waiting for a ride along highway 60 across the Shilo Junction together with a young teenager. Suddenly a terrorist with a long knife attacked the young teenager. The Rabbi who is a very gentle man reacted quickly and succeeded in saving the boy by shooting the assailant.
The second miracle occurred on Tuesday night when a fire broke out in a house of one of Itamar’s residents. The community responded very quickly and was able to put the fire out. Thank G-D the children and the parents who were sleeping at the time all got out of the house. The father and three children who were hospitalized with smoke inhalation came home yesterday; one child is still in the hospital with light burn injuries. The house was damaged and the family will be living for the time being in temporary housing. Thank G-D the insurance will cover the damage to the house. Unfortunately, it does not cover the damage to personal possessions like furniture, clothes, books, and electric appliances. The family lives very modestly and doesn’t have the financial means to cover the damage. (Estimated damage around five thousand dollars) Anyone wishing to help out can send a donation to friends of Itamar and have the check earmarked fire damage.
Itamar sends a special thanks to Jessica Katz for three consecutive years of clothing distribution for our community and other communities as well. This week a big delivery of clothes came and was given out. The families were so appreciative. It also came at the perfect time for helping the family with the fire since most of their clothes were damaged.
Itamar welcomed this week a bus load of forty South Africans that came to experience our beautiful community and show us their solidarity.
Itamar resident Rachel Ginsberg designs and sells Hebrew T-shirts anyone interested can visit her site at www.hebrewtshirts.co.il. Her latest design – don’t assimilate illuminate is displayed here with the beautiful Itamar background.
March 28, 2008
1. Mazal Tov to the new young couple Hadar & Mordechai Mintz who were married last night. Hadar was born on Kfar Darom in Gush Katif– one of the communities that were destroyed by the Israeli government in its disengagement plan two summers ago. Hadar’s father Ephraim Ayubi, was murdered by terrorists while he was driving Harav Drukman in the Hebron hills.
Hadar did her national service on Itamar and not only fell in love with our community but fell in love with one of our Yeshiva boys! Mordechai who has been studying in the Itamar Yeshiva for the last few years is now doing his mandatory army service. The young couple will be living on Itamar. Harav Avi Ronski the chief Rabbi of the Israeli army and resident of Itamar presided over the wedding ceremony. Harav Drukman was honored with reading the Kitubah. Please enjoy the pictures of the wedding.
2. Mazal Tov to Chaim and Rozilia Shachar on the birth of their son.
3. Mazal Tov to Nitanel and Bat Zion Ronski on the birth of a daughter this week. Nitanal is the son the Rabbi Ronski it was his first daughter after 4 boys. Enjoy the picture of Nitanel who was dressed up on Purim.
4. Itamar welcomes Charlotte Krantz the mother of Leah Goldmith to our community! Charlotte has been following Itamar very closely for the last 23 years watching it grow into a thriving community. Charlotte came to be with her family and spend the Pesach holiday in the place she loves most
March 21, 2008
1. Itamar wishes a happy Purim to all its wonderful friends!
2. Mazal Tov to the Goldbergers on the Brit Milah of their new born son.
3. Best wishes to Yishay Chemo and a blessing to stay safe. Yishay will be drafted this week into the Israeli army.
4. Enjoy the pictures of Itamar residents celebrating Purim.
March 14, 2008
Itamar expresses its condolences to the families of the precious boys that were massacred in Yeshivat Mercaz Haarav last week. A brother of one of the boys learns in the Itamar high school.
The Itamar Chidon Tanach (bible contest) had its first stage exam this week. The test translated in English, is being displayed on our site in order for our Itamar friends to have the opportunity to check their Torah skills as well! Please enjoy.
Mazal Tov to Aryeh and Nechama Goldberger on the birth of their son the Brit will be taking place, G-d willing, on Wednesday.
The spring is here on Itamar – please enjoy the beautiful picture of the almond blossoms. The almond tree is always the first to blossom in Israel.