Shalom Dear Friends,

Now that Sukkot is over, with thousands of people visiting Oz veGaon, the preserve goes back to being a center for educational activity.

Groups of youths from the Land and from abroad come to the place for meaningful Zionist social and leadership activity.

Attached are photos illustrating some of the activities that were held at the preserve in the past days:

• Students of Ohr Torah Stone’s Leadership Program, which trains leaders for the Ethiopian communities, took part in an activity with the ODT Zikit Company.
• Students from the U.S.  who are in Israel for a year of studies came with AFSI (Americans for a Safe Israel) for a lecture by Avi Abelow
• In memory of Ezra Schwartz, Hy”d

The Ashreinu Yeshiva, under the leadership of Rav Yudan, where Ezra, Hy”d, studied, came to Oz veGaon to continue volunteering and participating in activities to develop the preserve, as Ezra, Hy”d, did.  Ashreinu!

• A family from Gush Etzion celebrates a Bat Mitzvah at Oz veGaon
• On Shabbat agroup of motorcyclists from throughout the Land came to strengthen. They promised to return and continue riding throughout the entire area of Judea and Samaria “to show who this Land belongs to”.
• The Ramat Gan urban religious high school for girls repairs the terraces at Oz veGaon. There is no greater joy than touching the stones of the Land of Israel. A few blisters only add to the joy of participating in the activity.
• At the Havruta Beit Midrash for Women at Oz veGaon, women from Gush Etzion, Kiryat Arba-Hevron, Jerusalem and even Nehusha, combined meaningful Torah study together with increasing the Jewish presence at the preserve.

*Friends of Avital Sharansky, who joined her in her struggle, came one evening this week to Oz veGaon to view her uplifting, optimistic drawings, full of the beauty of the Land of Israel. The hall was buzzing with words in Hebrew and Russian. Natan Sharansky, the “groom” of the celebration, encouraging and praising his “bride”, received the attendees with warmth and grace. The sense of redemption was in the air. All are invited to come and visit Avital’s paintings.

In addition, groups of adults and families continue to come to the site as well.

Come and enjoy!