The Revival of Zionism

Modern Zionism appeared on the world scene approximately 150 years ago in order to restore the Jewish people to their ancient homeland—Israel. Threatened with physical extinction whether through persecution, physical annihilation or cultural assimilation, the Zionist mission then and now continues to be the preservation of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. The connection between the Jewish People and the Land of Israel is irrevocable. Nevertheless, 60 years after the establishment of the State of Israel dangers from within the country are no less ominous than those from without. Sixty years have passed since the inception of the State yet thefts of herds, crops, agricultural machinery and incursions into Jewish owned land continue unabated. The media appear oblivious to these violations of the law.

Today, Israel must undergo a renewal of purpose, a revitalization of the historic devotion to the Land of Israel. Returning to the proud heritage of Bar-Giora and HaShomer during the first decade of the twentieth century, and NILI during World War I, these New Guardians are resolved to restore the national purpose. The New Guardians are determined to prevent thefts of land, which is in reality the on-going struggle for the existence of the State of Israel, a struggle which has never ended.

Mounted Patrol passes memorial to
Alexander Zeid, founder of the first HaShomer

The Irgun HaShomer HaChadash is a grass roots organization dedicated to the aims of the historic HaShomer organization—love for and protection of the Land of Israel. How can HaShomer protect the Land? By preventing incursions onto agricultural lands by hostile neighbors who steal crops, herds and farm equipment, often using arson as an effective tool. Those involved in these illegal acts are wearing away at farmers and ranchers on a daily basis, creating financial havoc and sowing fear. The results systematic reclamation of the Land of Israel prior to the establishment of the State is being eroded by these criminals. Meanwhile, the authorities have been unable to prevent these acts. Consequently, Israeli citizens are forced to defend themselves in the face of this reality

What we do:

• With over 2,000 volunteers throughout Israel, and growing daily we seek to encourage a new pioneering generation, ready to protect and defend Israeli citizens against those criminal and fanatic anti- Zionist nationalistic elements who unleash violence across the land:
• Through the constant presence of farmers and ranchers cooperating with the local authorities in the Galilee and the Negev.
• By setting up security observation posts to counter the threats against our crops, herds and land.
• By raising public and governmental awareness in the Knesset and in the Judicial System as to the importance of public and private lands in the Galilee and the Negev.
• By encouraging a love of the land, employing Jewish labor and mutual responsibility by influencing educational policy from early childhood through the university system and research projects.

New Hilltop Observation Post

How we do it:

• By forming groups of volunteers to perform the organization’s missions.
  Setting up security observation posts which will serve as base points from which these missions will be carried out.
• Raising public awareness in the media
• Educating the members of the organization to take action for the People and Land of Israel as the HeChalutz Movement did under Joseph Trumpeldor.
• By creating modules of cooperation with the authorities on a permanent basis
  Recruiting artists and other prominent public figures to the organization and creating a renewed popular patriotic culture.
• Establishing contacts with Jewish communities abroad.

Within the last decade it has become clear that the demographic trends in the Galilee have been leading to an ever growing non Jewish majority, a fact seen by Israeli’s of all political persuasions as critical to Israel’s Zionist future. Additionally the majority of Jewish children in the Galilee today are given a very bare minimum of Jewish/Zionist education as the Ministry of Education continually cuts class hours and curriculum related to core issues of Jewish identity and Zionism. Thus all too many Jewish children whose families do stay in the Galilee are not imbued with a sense of mission. Unless something is done to change this situation, both demographically and educationally, the possibility of non Jewish dominance over the daily life and culture of the Galilee is not far away.

Who we are:

“Mibirashit” , an educational movement founded by Rabbi Mordechai Elon, head of the world renowned Yeshivat HaKotel in the Old City of Yerushalayim, widely recognized as Israel’s leading Hesder Yeshiva, seeks to make Jewish knowledge and Zionist education accessible to Jews of all ages. With programs throughout Israel “Mibirashit” reaches tens of thousands of Israelis of all ages providing unique educational frameworks for strengthening Jewish and Zionist education

What we do:

“The Israeli Galilee Program” was created to address the connection between Israeli identification of the youth in the Galilee to Zionism and to our common Jewish destiny. The project will concentrate, in particular, on deepening the connection between the youth of Karmiel, one of the Jewish centers of the region, and their families with the Jewish roots in the Galilee, to develop the Jewish identity of the youth see themselves as part and parcel of the chain of Jewish settlement of the Galilee from time immemorial and to strengthen Zionism and love of country.

Description of the Project:

This educational project has been designed for 8th 9th and 10th graders and includes curriculum concerning: the history of the Jewish people in the Galilee from the Mishnaic period, Jewish thought and wisdom whose source is from the Galilee, the sages of the Kabalah from Mt. Meron and Tzfat, the historical continuity of a Jewish presence in the Galilee throughout the years of exile, settlement in the modern period, etc…The project will be steered by educational leaders specially trained in Jewish enrichment programming.

Anticipated participation:

In the first year of the pilot project: approximately 150 pupils. In the following years with expanded project implementation: approx. 1, 800 pupils from the 8th-10th grades in the state schools of Karmiel

Expenses for building and developing the project

Who we are:

Mishmeret Yesha – Guardians Of Yesha is a grassroots umbrella organization operating since 1988, established by committed Jews living in Yehuda, Shomron and Azza (YESHA).

What We Do:

The not for profit organization provides Jewish towns and villages with life saving anti-terror training, security equipment and emergency medical equipment. Additionally Mishmeret Yesha operates a legal fund, conducts projects concerning land redemption and preservation and education.

It is particularly critical that every Jewish town and village in Judea and Samaria have a well trained and equipped volunteer team ready to react immediatley to any threat. Together with the IDF Mishmeret Yesha has developed the Rapid Response Team Project, equipping and training volunteer teams comprised of residents of outlying communities.

The most critical moments of any infiltration to a community are the very first minutes. The effect of an attack is measured in seconds. The average response time of outside security forces (IDF, Israel Police, Border Guard etc…) is 25 minutes! When a local Rapid Response Team has been properly trained and equipped the threat can be eliminated quickly in the most effective manner with minimal endangerment of life and limb.

The IDF supplies the team volunteers with military weapons. Mishmeret Yesha provides all other equipment and training. In addition to the life saving equipment provided to Rapid Response teams, MISHMERET YESHA has initiated Security “Free Loan” Committees providing protective equipment to men, women and children traveling the roads of Judea and Samaria and providing critical emergency medical equipment as well.

In order to provide life saving equipment of the highest quality, unmatched by any available today, MISHMERET YESHA has undertaken to design and develop, fabricate and distribute lightweight armored vests and equipment to residents of Yehudah and Shomron of all ages! Additionally Mishmeret Yesha has deigned its own armored vests for medical personnel allowing emergency medical providers lightweight, comfortable platforms from which to provide first aid in the most dangerous of situations. MISHMERET YESHA operates its own sewing facilities in Bet-El.

Within the last decade it has become clear that the demographic trends in the Galilee have been leading to an ever growing non Jewish majority, a fact seen by Israeli’s of all political persuasions as critical to Israel’s Zionist future. Additionally the majority of Jewish children in the Galilee today are given a very bare minimum of Jewish/Zionist education as the Ministry of Education continually cuts class hours and curriculum related to core issues of Jewish identity and Zionism. Thus all too many Jewish children whose families do stay in the Galilee are not imbued with a sense of mission. Unless something is done to change this situation, both demographically and educationally, the possibility of non Jewish dominance over the daily life and culture of the Galilee is not far away.

Who we are:

“Mibirashit” , an educational movement founded by Rabbi Mordechai Elon, head of the world renowned Yeshivat HaKotel in the Old City of Yerushalayim, widely recognized as Israel’s leading Hesder Yeshiva, seeks to make Jewish knowledge and Zionist education accessible to Jews of all ages. With programs throughout Israel “Mibirashit” reaches tens of thousands of Israelis of all ages providing unique educational frameworks for strengthening Jewish and Zionist education

What we do:

“The Israeli Galilee Program” was created to address the connection between Israeli identification of the youth in the Galilee to Zionism and to our common Jewish destiny. The project will concentrate, in particular, on deepening the connection between the youth of Karmiel, one of the Jewish centers of the region, and their families with the Jewish roots in the Galilee, to develop the Jewish identity of the youth see themselves as part and parcel of the chain of Jewish settlement of the Galilee from time immemorial and to strengthen Zionism and love of country.

Description of the Project:

This educational project has been designed for 8th 9th and 10th graders and includes curriculum concerning: the history of the Jewish people in the Galilee from the Mishnaic period, Jewish thought and wisdom whose source is from the Galilee, the sages of the Kabalah from Mt. Meron and Tzfat, the historical continuity of a Jewish presence in the Galilee throughout the years of exile, settlement in the modern period, etc…The project will be steered by educational leaders specially trained in Jewish enrichment programming.

Anticipated participation:

In the first year of the pilot project: approximately 150 pupils. In the following years with expanded project implementation: approx. 1, 800 pupils from the 8th-10th grades in the state schools of Karmiel

Expenses for building and developing the project

Who we are:

Hatzalah Yehuda & Shomron is a voluntary humanitarian organization that provides emergency medical services and support for security activities in conflict areas throughout Israel – every day – 365 days a year.

Hatzalah Yehuda & Shomron maintains a staff of professionally trained medics, paramedics and licensed physicians outfitted with the latest in life-saving technologies. With over 700 volunteers operating throughout Yehuda, Shomron and along the lines of conflict areas such as Sderot, Modi’in and the periphery of Jerusalem, the volunteers work tirelessly, often under life-threatening conditions, to save the lives of their fellow Jews. Hatzalah Yehuda & Shomron operates in conjunction with the IDF, Israeli Police Force, the Fire Department, MDA and regional security officers.

What we do:

Hatzalah Yehuda & Shomron operates a central crisis center, which is the primary source of information in times of emergency. In times of crisis, volunteers are called to the scene to provide emergency care and are most usually the first responders to terror attacks and accidents across Judea and Samaria. Hatzalah volunteers are spread throughout the region and are on call 24 hours a day. This allows for faster response time, which is all too often the difference between life and death. With over 200 paramedics and medics we respond to dozens of emergencies a day, ranging from household emergencies, to fatal car accidents and terrorist attacks.

Hatzalah Yehuda and Shomron is financed wholly from donations such as yours. In light of the current conditions in Yehuda & Shomron and the serious security concerns today that will most likely continue into the immediate future as well the following priorities have been set in order to provide doctors and paramedics with the tools they most urgently need.

]]> http://fundisrael.org/hatzalah-yehuda-shomron/feed/ 0 http://fundisrael.org/the-heritage-association-of-the-upper-galilee/ http://fundisrael.org/the-heritage-association-of-the-upper-galilee/#comments Sun, 11 Nov 2007 16:17:25 +0000 israel independence fund http://fundisrael.org/?p=14

Who we are:

The Jewish community of Peki’in in Israel’s Upper Galilee has long been a symbol of the uninterrupted Jewish presence in the Land of Israel from time immemorial. This never exiled Jewish community has existed in Peki’in uninterrupted for over 2,000 years with documented evidence since the days of the Second Temple. Thus it has become an icon to the Zionist movement and the State of Israel.

Peki’in, now a town with a Druze majority, has an array of unique Jewish archaeological sites and a synagogue typical of the post Second Temple period, with artifacts reputed to have been salvaged from the ruins of the Holy Temple itself. The ancient synagogue of Peki’in is familiar to many. Due to its unique importance it appears on Israel’s currency (the NIS 100.note).

According to the Talmud, Rabbi Simeon bar Yohai(זצ”ל) a bitter opponent of Roman rule in Eretz Yisrael, was forced to go into hiding with his son for many years. They sheltered in a cave in Peki’in. Tradition has it that next to the mouth of the cave a carob tree sprang up and a spring of fresh water gushed forth. Thus provided against hunger and thirst as they wrote the Holy Zohar. The cave, carob tree and spring are protected and preserved to this day for all to see!
Imbued with a sense of social responsibility for the welfare of Peki’in’ s Jewish and Druze residents the Heritage Association strives to further strengthen the unique ties between the two communities and to educate the Israeli public about Peki’in in particular, and the Galilee in general

What we do:

The ancient synagogue complex is being renovated and maintained. As part of their educational activities to strengthen the Jewish/Zionist ethos, the Association offers seminars, walking tours, and religious study sessions in the ancient synagogue to groups of soldiers and officers from the IDF, from throughout Israel and from around the world. Last year alone over 18,000 IDF soldiers and officers where introduced to the unique Jewish history of Peki’in and its importance to our collective identity today!

With the maintenance of ancient Jewish sites in Peki’in, and the exciting educational programs offered, we are witness to benefits for all the residents of Peki’in, Jewish and Druze alike. The village enjoys increased tourism, now barely reaching its potential. The efforts of the Association are of particular importance since the Second Lebanon War and the resulting effect on local economies.

Accomplishments:

To date, the Heritage Association of the Upper Galilee has attracted hundreds of groups to Peki’in from both Israel and abroad, contributing to local tourism and the economy, breathing life into our most ancient community and its synagogue. The Association has overseen the renovation of holy sites including the community’s ancient synagogue, and conducts seminars for over 18,000 IDF soldiers, thousands of Israeli High School students and others bringing the unique history of Peki’in to thousands and thousands annually!

IDF Visitors Center (Unique Naming Opportunity) $ 48,000.
Program for the Reclamation of Jewish properties in the Galilee $ 23,000.
Furnishings for IDF Visitors Center $ 8,000.
Cost of One Day Seminar for IDF Group $180.