When my men were in Israel this winter, their first week brought them to Har Bracha and their second found them in Psagot and Shiloh. The third week of their trip took them to Itamar. They worked in the vineyards in Har Bracha and in Shiloh during the days, and in their spare time they were able visit other resettlements and ancient historic sites that are in the Biblical heartland of Israel.
Itamar rests in the region of the ancient holy city of Shechem, where the tomb of Joseph is located and where the sons of Aaron, the High Priest, are buried. One of Aaron’s sons was Itamar and it is in his honor that the resettlement is named. Today the Biblical city of Shechem is an Arab village called Nabulus, which you can find on the map to the left. Itamar and Shechem are in the Mountains of Samaria, neighboring Har Bracha (the Mount of Blessing). You might recognize this area as “The West Bank“, but it is technically not the west bank of the country of Jordan (did you know that’s why it’s called the ‘west bank’?). In fact, this is the ancient territory of Manasseh and Ephraim, the sons of Joseph, and later this area was known as the region of Samaria. This land was given to the new nation of Israel, as promised, when the nations agreed to recognize the new Jewish state in 1948. It was a struggle to keep this territory but after a few battles with the Arab nations, this special piece of land has been back in Israel’s hands for over 44 years. Resettling this territory has not been for the faint of heart!
Itamar is the longest Jewish settlement in Judea & Samaria, roughly 7 miles long and just a few miles wide. As far as our western standards go, it is a small town. With a population of just over 1,000 people, this is certainly not a thriving modern metropolis but it is a wonderful community!! Most of the residents of Itamar work in organic farming and education, and all are closely and deeply connected to one another. These are a people strongly dedicated to the survival and future of the Jewish people in the Biblical heartland of Israel. These are modern day pioneers, idealists carving out a wonderful life in the hills of Israel.
When our guys got to Itamar, it was cold and wet. If you look at the Itamar website, read what Leah Goldsmith has to say about Itamar and look at the photos – just beautiful! Some stories on the website are sad, but they reflect the devotion to G-d and to their faith in the Covenant between the King of the Universe and Abraham and his descendants. Even when life is hard, life is still very good. It is good because G-d is true to His Word and there is abundant joy in deeply trusting Him.
The day before they visited Itamar they were given a tour of the region and this video was recorded as they looked down from Har Bracha (The Mount of Blessing) into the valley where the Priests once stood as Israel reaffirmed their covenant with HaShem. In the background you see the ancient city of Shechem – now called Nabulus by the Palestinians.
You may be thinking, “Itamar sounds so familiar, but I’m not so sure why.” Just days after my guys returned home there was a horrible terrorist attack in the town of Itamar, two Palestinian teenagers from the village of Awarta snuck into the settlement on the Sabbath and brutally murdered Rabbi Udi Fogel, 36 and his wife Ruth, 35 and three of their six children: Yoav, 11; Elad, 4 and three month old Hadas. News of this brutal murder deeply affected my men. The following day that they gave the second of a series of public presentations about their trip – their emotions were raw as they spoke of the people, the land, the lessons they learned, and the deep desire to help the rest of us begin to really understand the significance of Judea and Samaria and what HaShem is doing there. Once it becomes a part of your heart, little else matters.
A lot has happened in this region since my guys have come home. Visits to Joseph’s Tomb, more murder, destruction, and cancelled visits. But in the wake of these things, Israel responds by building, growing, tzedekah (righteous deeds) and with a strong vision of hope for a wonderful future.
G-d spoke through the prophets concerning these days and this land, it is very important. If it weren’t so important, this tiny bit of hill country on the other side of the globe wouldn’t be in our daily news. What happens in this land affects each of us in more ways than we might realize. There is a spiritual battle over this land, over these people, and the Adversary doesn’t want the Jewish people to thrive there, he doesn’t want them to be at all. However, HaShem has promised that they will thrive in His land and thriving is exactly what they are doing! The enemies of G-d will stop at nothing to destroy His Name, His people and His land. The people who have become subject to the will of the Adversary need prayer, it is a spiritual battle, but the choices are theirs to make. HaShem has promised that He will defend His people, He will fight for them. As politicians discuss what should be as they try to fulfill their ideological goals for the whole world, what we stand on are the promises of G-d.
The time is upon us – it is time for You to act, O L-RD, for Your Name is upon Your people and upon Your land. The whole world is watching, waiting. Your enemies are taunting You to see if You truly are Who You say You are. You have called people from the nations to come and help restore your people to your land, and we are doing this in greater numbers every day. Open our eyes so we can see, touch our hearts so we will care, strengthen our hands so we will do the work You have called us to and make Your Name great in all the earth so every living thing will praise You.
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