Standing there it was obvious to us just how vital this place is strategically, biblically and historically. We learned that Hemdat was originally established as a “Nahal” military outpost by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in 1979.

Passover starts long before the night of the fifteenth day of the Hebrew month of Nissan.  As the festival of Purim ends housewives start thinking of what needs to be accomplished in the next month.  “And this day shall become a memorial for you, and you shall observe it as a festival for the L-RD, […]

Many of the boys at Bet Hagai come from problematic homes and, as a result, have severe behavioral problems when they come.  snacks.

Yaakov came to the Bet Hagai Youth Village from a particularly difficult family situation. His father had been in jail for most of Yaakov’s life, and his mother was unable to provide for her children.

Tuesday, February 9, 2016 This last trip to Israel was amazing. It was short, fast-moving, and full of energizing contacts as I visited some of the communities that CFOIC works with in Judea and Samaria. Each stop was a blessing, a testimony of the goodness of our donors and their love of Israel, and an […]

The Hebrew month of Kislev is called the Month of Glory and Heroism. Long before the 25th day of the month, when Chanukah, the Festival of Lights begins, the theme of heroism permeates our days. On one Chanukah, our local community center arranged for a very special evening remembering the Operation at Entebbe in 1976, […]

The first sweet rainfall came down a few weeks ago. It was no more than a drizzle. The sun was still shining bright and even my laundry, hanging out to dry, barely got damp. But my two grandsons, visiting for the day, raced to the closet, grabbed boots, coats and umbrellas and stood outside on […]

  To me, part of the thrill of living in Israel is the language. Until I moved here, Hebrew was the language of my prayer book, the language in which the Torah Portion of the Week was read aloud in synagogue, the language of the Bible. Granted, when I went to Bible classes, as a […]

It’s hard to believe that it’s been only three days since the High Holy Days passed…  Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and ten days later, Yom Kippur, the Day of Repentance, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.  In just two days the Feast of Tabernacles begins and we make a mood switch from […]

I hosted a crowd at my home for the Rosh Hashanah holidays.  Add that to me, my husband, kids and grandkids, and we were quite a house full.  Lots of people to house, feed, and keep happy. The basement was set up with guest beds and a crib.  My daughter offered to move out of […]

I just dropped my son Avraham off at the main entrance to our community.  He groaned when he saw the crowds standing near the guard booth, knowing he had a wait ahead of him for a ride.  He was on his way back up north to his  Israeli yeshiva program combining military service with Torah […]