Monday, March 28, 2011
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
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Joy amidst the Mourning - A Special Wedding at Joseph's Tomb
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| Miri Tzachi, Shomron Regional Council |
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.
IDF and West Bank Residents save Arab baby
Saving life after massacre
IDF troops and paramedics save life of Palestinian woman giving birth in settlement where Fogel relatives sitting Shiva.
See Full Story: By Yair Altman YNetNews.com
Just take a moment to ponder this event. This happened
in the town where the Fogel family was sitting shiva for their butchered family. IDF forces guarding the area and local paramedics who would be grieving along with the family, didn't give a second thought to saving the lives of a baby being born to a Palestinian woman - perhaps a sworn enemy.
How does this make sense? While the response to the murder of 3 month old Hamas Fogel in the Arab village below Itamar was fireworks, the response of the IDF and Jewish paramedics to the need of a Palestinian mother in trouble was mercy and I might add, joy. The very "human" expression of joy of witnessing and participating in the miracle of new life. The paramedics and IDF shared the joy with the Palestinians from the nearby village of Nabi Salah along with the new grandmother. How can some in the same community find joy in the death of another beautiful baby of another mother and another grandmother? How is this "humanly" possible? I don't understand this darkness of heart and this "un-human" evil.
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| IDF Corporal Levin and Palestinian baby, Jude It felt amazing to hold girl in my arms, know we did something good |
IDF troops and paramedics save life of Palestinian woman giving birth in settlement where Fogel relatives sitting Shiva.
See Full Story: By Yair Altman YNetNews.com
Just take a moment to ponder this event. This happened
in the town where the Fogel family was sitting shiva for their butchered family. IDF forces guarding the area and local paramedics who would be grieving along with the family, didn't give a second thought to saving the lives of a baby being born to a Palestinian woman - perhaps a sworn enemy.
How does this make sense? While the response to the murder of 3 month old Hamas Fogel in the Arab village below Itamar was fireworks, the response of the IDF and Jewish paramedics to the need of a Palestinian mother in trouble was mercy and I might add, joy. The very "human" expression of joy of witnessing and participating in the miracle of new life. The paramedics and IDF shared the joy with the Palestinians from the nearby village of Nabi Salah along with the new grandmother. How can some in the same community find joy in the death of another beautiful baby of another mother and another grandmother? How is this "humanly" possible? I don't understand this darkness of heart and this "un-human" evil.
Rabbi Yakov Cohen interview - Itamar neighbor of the Fogel
The neighbor of Udi and Ruth Fogel family, Rabbi Yakov Cohen describes his entrance to Fogel home and helping Tamar Fogel enter her home to discover gruesome murders.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Letter From Mayor Moshe and Leah Goldsmith
Source: A letter to our Face Book friends, from Moshe and Leah Goldsmith By FB Itamar Israel Support Group
Dearest Friends of Itamar, First of all we want to thank you from the depths of our hearts for all your support and encouragement to the Fogel family and to all the residents of Itamar in the last few days.
Itamar has been our home for 27 years. It is also the home to over 100 jewish families. Itamar is the heart of Israel, our identity and our roots. After 2,000 years of being exiled from our land, the remnant of the Jewish people has come together and returned. It is God's work, a war for the Jewish people's survival. We see hatred all around us. I ask you; what hasn't Israel given for peace? We are a people of peace. And all we've got back is bloodshed. The world need to know this is our home. We are here to stay and the world is going to have to live with that
Friday's horror has made Itamar stronger and more determined to live and grow. The Israeli government's announcement on Sunday that it would permit the construction of more than 400 new homes in West Bank settlements. This does not honor the dead. It is an insult to us and to the dead. Expansion of Itamar is an unassailable right, not a payment for these terrible murders
Dear friends, Exodus 1, which states that the more Pharaoh caused the Jews in Egypt to suffer, the more they increased and became stronger. We have now had 20 victims of terror attacks here in Itamar, a much higher number relative to our population than nearly anywhere else in Israel. With the devastating murders of the Fogel family which include 3 precious children, Itamar is more committed than ever to grow and prosper. We thank you for standing with us during this most tragic time. May G-d bless you and your families as you bless us! Moshe and Leah Goldsmith
"I Will Be Their Mother" Says 12 Year Old Tamar Fogel
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| Photo: Flash 90 |
by Uzi Baruch Israel National News
The eldest daughter of the Fogel family, 12 year old Tamar, promised her relatives: "I will be strong and succeed in overcoming this. I understand the task that stands before me, and I will be a mother to my siblings". The orphaned youngster's words were quoted in the Hebrew daily Yisrael Hayom.
In their home in the town of Neve Tsuf in Samaria, Tsila and Chaim Fogel, parents of Udi, are sitting on low benches for the traditional “shiva” week of mourning alongside his three brothers and sister. There is a constant stream of comforters going in and out of the house, VIP's and ordinary citizens from all over Israel, whose hearts go out to the bereft family that lost son, daughter-in-law, and three young grandchildren in a barbaric terrorist slaughter on Friday night. See Full Story: Fogel Family Tragedy
Monday, March 14, 2011
Mourning Father of Fogel Massacre Victim ‘Strengthens Israel’
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Israel news photo: Flash 90 |
His inspiring remarks on Voice of Israel government radio stunned the interviewer into near silence and brought tears to her eyes.
See Full Article ...
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu Israel National News
Sunday, March 13, 2011
An Amazing Response to the Tragedy
I think that of all the things that I have read about the tragedy in Itamar, this is what touchs me the most. It is a quotation from a neighbor of the Fogels in Itamar - Rachel Gordon. She wrote a description of the night and how it unfolded for her family. The following quotation from her tale just ASTOUNDS me.
The people in Itamar have been branded by the world as "West Bank Settlers", as perpretartors of evil and as the ones who are standing in the way of "peace in the Middle East". On the contray, they have been called by God to come home to their land and make it florish. They desire to live G-dly lives following His instructions in Torah. Apparently they have learned their Torah lesson well. This quote says it all...
"For every Jew murdered, more orchards, more fields, more greenhouses will be planted; another house, another neighborhood, another village will be built, with the compassion and benevolence that we learn from the Torah and will continue to teach to our children" Rachel Gordon - Neighbor of The Fogels
Stay strong in your purpose Rachel and citzens of Itamar. You are not alone. You have MANY friends.
Read her entire story at Chabad Israel
The people in Itamar have been branded by the world as "West Bank Settlers", as perpretartors of evil and as the ones who are standing in the way of "peace in the Middle East". On the contray, they have been called by God to come home to their land and make it florish. They desire to live G-dly lives following His instructions in Torah. Apparently they have learned their Torah lesson well. This quote says it all...
"For every Jew murdered, more orchards, more fields, more greenhouses will be planted; another house, another neighborhood, another village will be built, with the compassion and benevolence that we learn from the Torah and will continue to teach to our children" Rachel Gordon - Neighbor of The Fogels
Stay strong in your purpose Rachel and citzens of Itamar. You are not alone. You have MANY friends.
Read her entire story at Chabad Israel
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