Glen Beck - A Friend of Itamar

Mayor Goldsmith and Glen overlook the Land
Photo:  glenbeck.com

Itamar welcomed Glenn Beck and his team who came to visit the community. Glenn has been a real friend and inspiration for Itamar. He spent a few hours on Monday touring the community with Mayor Rabbi Moshe Goldsmith and his wife Leah.

Glenn can be applauded for his outspoken coverage of the Fogal massacre back in March came to see at first hand where this transpired.


Walking tour of Itamar
Photo: glenbeck.com

A week of well known visitors!

Itamar welcomed the visit of Raya El-Salahi from England a famous newscaster, model, and actress who came to explore her roots in Israel.

A Gift of Shade for the Playground

Special thanks to Friends of Itamar for donating a shade tent for the Avi Blumenfeld park.

We did plant a lot of trees but it will take a few years before the trees are large enough to supply the proper shade.

More Wonderful Visitors To Itamar

Itamar enjoyed the visit of Rabbanim from the Tzohar organization that came to tour the community. There were both Rabbanim from EretzYisrael and abroad.

There were Rabbis from Chicago, New York, Texas and other states as well. Rabbi Moshe Goldsmith showed them around the town and shared with them his experience as mayor for the last 7 years.

Itamar welcomed its dear friends Alan Nussbaum and Penina Arbesfeld who came to visit the town.

They were so kind as to buy treats for the soldiers protecting the area. Enjoy the pictures of them giving out food and refreshments.

Itamar welcomed the visit of representatives from the OU. Rabbi Simchah Katz, Rabbi Melvin and Steven Berg, Rabbi Steven Weil and Rabbi Avi Berman. They came on the fast day of the 17th of Tammuz as a rectification of the destruction of the Temple by touring the hills of Itamar and experiencing the rebirth of the children of Israel who have returned to the land of Hashem and are reviving our precious homeland. May we all merit to build the Temple in our times.

Two Special Families Visit Itamar



Itamar enjoyed the visit of the Meisel family from the five towns that came to visit Itamar this week.

The Meisels are part of the special community of Anshay Chesed that have been help sponsoring the Itamar summer camp program for the last seven years. This week some of the activities included a Sports Day, kumzitz, and nature hikes.

In the name of our community, we want to express our deep appreciation and thanks for this amazing mitzvah. May Hashem bless these special people!

Itamar welcomed Avi , Sheryl, and Moshe Willinger who came to visit our town this week from Edison NJ. Avi and Sheryl hope to make Aliyah to Israel and move to Itamar .

Rabbi Avi Weiss visits Itamar

Itamar welcomed the visit of Rabbi Avi Weiss from Riverdale and his family the Fischbergers from Efrat. Rabbi Weiss was very moved by his visit and left a meaningful message to our town. Watch Rabbi Avi Weiss's message to our community.

Russsian American Friends and Our thanks to Jessica Katz

Special thanks to Jessica Katz on her amazing chesed project of

sending clothes to the communities of Yehudah and Shomon.

This week we had the privilege of hosting a group of American students who came on a

tour with the RAJE Russian American Jewish Experience organization.

They had a great time and were very impressed with our Russian neighborhood located on our hilltops.

Friends from Beit Shemesh visit Itamar

Itamar welcomed a group from Beit Shemesh that came to show their solidarity with our community.

Friends Show Solidarity with Itamar

Itamar enjoyed the visit of Rabbi Ronen Noyibert together with members of his congregation from Ohel Ari of Raanana.

They came to show their solidarity with Itamar and discussed ways to enhance the connection between the communities in the future

Itamar Had "Many" Vistitors This Week!

Itamar wants to thank the Adventure Challenge Education high school of Beit Shemesh that donated a beautiful wooden swinging bench to the Avi Blumenfeld Park on Itamar.

The bench was built by the students of the high school and was dedicated in the memory of the Fogal family. The names of the kedoshim were engraved on the bench.

The high school came together with the principal Ariel Fishman to install the bench and tour the community.

Dr. Mark Jaffe from Florida, Zia and Michael Rose from Beit Shemesh came to tour Itamar and make a donation in memory of Mark and Zia's mother - Chanah Bat Moshe Binyamin Halevi who passed away on Passover.

Chana's father was a student of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Hacohen Kook ZTL and received his rabbinical ordination from him as well.

Chana in blessed memory was a great Zionist that loved Israel dearly. Her love for the land she passed over to her family and inspired her daughter Zia to make aliyah!

Itamar enjoyed the special visit of the Weinberg family who came to Itamar this week to commemorate their daughter Zahava's Bat mitzvah.

Jeff and Sharona's three daughters Yonina, Zehava and Tamara are jump rope speed champions. Yonina and Zehava (Tamara did not come on this trip) did an amazing jump rope display for the 7th grade class of the Itamar girl day school Beer Miriam. Tamar Fogal, who learns in this class, participated in the event as well.

Sharona, who could easily be a sports teacher, got the whole class involved in different jump rope activities. The girls all received their own jump rope and had an amazing time participating in the activities. After the jump rope fun the girls sat in a circle and told different Torah's about Yosef Harzadik and sung songs in honor of Jerusalem Day. The Weinbergers then toured the community and were so kind in giving out cake and cookies to the soldiers who are stationed on Itamar. We want to thank this amazing family for being so kind to our community in reaching out to us and being involved in supporting Itamar projects. May Hashem bless them abundantly.

Last but not least!  Itamar also hosted this week three other buses of tour groups that came from America to visit our community. Our dear friends Dr. Jonny and Paula Gold surprised us when they showed up on one of the tour buses. Dr. Jonny and Paula have special been friends of Itamar for many years.

Visit From Laurie Hirsch

Itamar enjoyed the visit this week of Laurie Hirsch the daughter of Dr. Irving and Cherna Moskowitz who came to visit our community.

It was the Moskowitz foundation that helped initiate our Beit Knesset project a few years ago. G-D willing, we are moving full speed ahead and hope to be ready to begin building the next stage this summer! We are in the process of completing our detailed plans which will allow a smooth glide through our next stage. It goes without saying that this project is a huge undertaking and anyone who wants to take part in this Mitzvah is welcome.

Gig Harbor/Tacoma WA Remembers the Itamar Martyrs

Placing memorial stones in Gig Harbor, WA

On May 1, Yom Ha Shoah  (Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust), a special group in Tacoma/Gig Harbor, WA, participated in a March to not only remember the Holocaust, but to remember the martyrs of Itamar.  The names of the citizens of Itamar who were taken in violence were read along with many names from the Holocaust. 

The world will not forget the Holocaust and the world will not forget those in Itamar who gave their life as they took possession of the Land promised to them by G-D. 

The Itamar Martyrs stone is the center stone among
the names of the individual Itamar Martyrs.

The March started in Tacoma and went across the Narrows Bridge to Gig Harbor.  At the Gig Harbor end of the March, memorial stones with the names of the Itamar martyrs and others from the Holcaust were left at a memorial plaque.

Photos from Hendel D'bu and Terrie L Heslop and Rodger.  Thanks for the great photos!

A view of the Puget Sound from the Tacoma  Narrows Bridge

Lighting  6 Candles - Remembering 6 million lives

European Student Volunteers to Israel

Itamar welcomed a group of European students  that are on a special volunteer program for the    year in Israel. They were very happy to hear a first hand account of life on Itamar and were extremely moved by Leah's story about the mission of the modern pioneers of Itamar.

Our Very BEST Friends of Itamar - Mom and Dad!

Itamar welcomed the visit of Lester and Jeanette Goldsmith. Lester is the president of the Friends of Itamar.  We want to thank them for being a tremendous force in helping the Itamar community over the years. May G-D bless them with good health, happiness, and Nachat from their family. You can Donate directly to Itamar through this link: http://www.friendsofitamar.org

Thank You Jack and Linda

Special thanks to Jack and Linda Smithschick for sponsoring the Itamar's mother's day
happening at the Ariel spa.  It is a blessing to the women of Itamar.

This Week's Visitors to Itamar

Itamar welcomed Victoria Hearst of Colorado who came on a visit with Sondra Barras from the CFOIC organization to tour Itamar.

 Itamar welcomed a group of farmers from different parts of America and Canada

who came with their leader Tommy Waller to visit the community.

Tommy brings groups to Israel a few times a year to help out

farmers in different communities in Judea and Samaria.

This group is working in the near by community of

Har Bracha pruning the grape vines.

May HaShem BLESS you abundantly for your friendship and help!

Itamar was happy to host a group from
Kvutzat Yavna that came to tour our hill tops.

A chilly February Day on our hill tops!

More visits to Itamar

Itamar welcomed the visit of our dear friends Scott and Suzie Goldberg and family who came to visit our community. Scott and Suzie have been special friends of Itamar for many years. Scott and Suzie loved the ancient ruins of the Itamar hills that go back to the second temple period.

Also this week, Gershon Masikah the head of the Shomron regional counsel visited our community

in order to discuss community development issues with the Itamar counsel.

Itamar's Brand New Playground

A special thanks to our dear friends from
Washington State who helped us set up a new children's playground for the Itamar children.

The old playground was badly worn down and had to be redone.

For the children's safety we must build a fence around the park so anyone interested in helping with the fence will be greatly appreciated. 

To help in any way, click on "Ways to Bless Itamar".

Visitors from Holland to Itamar's High School

Itamar welcomed the visit of our dear friend Henk Poot from Holland. Henk came with three other friends that wanted to get a first hand report of what is happening on Itamar. They visited our high school and had lunch it the school dining room.

Henk has been very helpful to the Itamar high school Chitzim in assisting its special program that provides assistance to students with learning disabilities.