Friends of Itamar

Leah’s Blog Parashat Bahalotcha May 2026

Leah’s blog bahalotcha May 2026 – Many years ago I spent the summer months at Camp Moshava, an ultra-Zionist sleep away camp in the Poconos for children. Those were consecutive summers, long and full of fun and preparation for actualizing on the ideals of Eretz Yisrael. We would gather in a horseshoe shape and sing the Tikva every day before mincha. Kadimah Bnei Akiva! In that vista of green rolling hills and quiet countryside away from the sizzling streets of New York City we dreamed of Zion. My parents invested in this and it proved right as after I sowed my wild oats in later teen years when there was no camp, I did a look at my life and reflected upon those memories of Torah Vaavodah, of saluting the flag of Israel. While running the obstacle course, learning archery, doing extreme sports or enjoying the lake the theme was always Eretz Yisrael and it echoed back at me and called to me. Fast forward to now- living in the heart of Israel on Itamar almost since its inception the ideals are being actualized, the land is being redeemed. The desolate moors and fierce mountains became soft and green, produce like none other grown in kind to the earth methods of agriculture: wheat barley eggs (of course organic) fruits vegetables and of course the sheep and goats graze on pastureland here. It is a peaceful haven of ideal grazing. We have been through our own October 7 many times here and have only sought to settle Zion. This past Shavuot Camp Moshava hosted a symposium on Jewish topics of discussion of now events affecting the community. It was geared for people to learn how to cope and discuss with their families the rise in antisemitism, wearing a kippa in public and – hold on – settler violence. When I heard this, I knew then that the trumpets must sound now. There is a war out there and it has seeped into even our own camp. This is not even a Trojan horse but the systematic castration of the yesod of our very foundation. The PHD speakers speak from a podium in their suits and ties while we struggle here with terrorism, while the sweat of our labor and the dirt on our hands have us here on the ground not believing it has reached this pitch. Sound an alarm. No matter of placating and capitulation to the dark side will ever undo the garden of Eden that has sprung back to life here. If u don’t hold tight unto this axis you will fall off. The arrow pulls hard on the bowstring now. The obstacle course is set before us – we were prepared for this. Israel is far away from the jihadist parades on the streets of London Paris Amsterdam and New York. The wheat on this hill waves in the energy of the promise. Sound the trumpet – we have approached the target 🎯 GO HOME NOW             Shabbat shalom to all of our dear friends of Itamar