A Visit With Shmuel: Eshkolot

Join me now, as I enter Eshkolot…

This is my first visit in Eshkolot in many years and it has grown by leaps and bounds. An isolated community, utterly enveloped by enemies at the southern tip of the Hebron Hills, Eshkolot faces continuous threats from hostile neighboring Arab villages. Instead of allowing fear and terrorism to define their reality, the brave pioneers of Eshkolot have worked tirelessly to advance their vision of settling and growing a Jewish presence in the Hebron Hills, with enthusiasm and a cheerful outlook. You would not think that a community located only a few short minutes’ walk from a hostile Arab village would attract so many new families, but thanks to their strong commitment to settling the Biblical Heartland and positive attitude, these brave pioneers are celebrating their 30th year.

https://youtu.be/eZ-hXKFKmco

Of course, I would prefer to take you to Eshkolot in person and introduce you to these dedicated, wonderful pioneers. But until then, join me for this virtual tour and get a sense of this inspiring community in the Hebron Hills.

God Bless,

Shmuel Junger
Development Director
CFOIC Heartland

Living in an isolated, vulnerable community is challenging for Eshkolot’s founding members and senior residents. These seniors want to fill their days with meaningful social activities. Not having a local senior center makes these activities beyond their reach due to limited mobility and lack of transportation. Eshkolot needs your help to care for and honor their older residents by establishing a local senior center. These seniors dedicated their youthful energy to settling this Biblically and strategically significant area in the Hebron Hills. You can honor these aging pioneers and provide them with a better quality of life in the Biblical Heartland.


Click here to support the community of Eshkolot

Related News

An Eye on Zion: Kochav Yaakov

Just over a century later, a group of devout pioneers sharing the same love and passion for the Land of Israel, founded a new community just north of Jerusalem. Drawing their inspiration from Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzeira, they named it “Abir Yaakov,” the same venerated title that was used to address the late Rabbi during his life. Subsequently renamed “Kochav Yaakov,” (“Star of Jacob”), the community has absorbed many Jews who, like Rabbi Abuhatzeira, left their respective countries of birth to live in the Land of Israel.

Read More
Mar 3, 2025

The Evil That Surrounds Us

As we watched the return of what we thought were the bodies of four beautiful Israelis, we wept with the families and with all of Israel. Shiri Bibas and her two gorgeous red-headed children, Kfir and Ariel — their story and their pictures traveled the world and became the symbol of the evil and cruelty of the Hamas terrorists.

Read More
Feb 25, 2025

An Eye on Zion: Kiryat Arba

On April 4, 1968, Rabbi Moshe and Miriam Levinger, a visionary couple, registered themselves and dozens of others to stay at Hebron’s Park Hotel. Just ten months after the People of Israel liberated Hebron and the rest of the Biblical Heartland during the Six Day War in 1967, this dedicated group excitedly planned to hold the city’s first Passover Seder in several decades.

Read More
Feb 17, 2025

The Price We Pay for Caring

What an emotional roller-coaster! Last Sunday and again this past Saturday, we waited with baited breath to see which hostages would be released and what they would look like. It had been more than a year since the last hostage release, and no one knew what their condition would be.

Read More
Jan 28, 2025

A Week in Washington D.C.

The experience of participating in what could be one of the most pivotal moments for Judea and Samaria left an indelible mark on me. I want to share with you, my friends, the highlights of this extraordinary journey.

Read More
Jan 23, 2025

An Eye on Zion: Yakir

The pioneers named the nascent community “Yakir,” meaning “precious,” the precise Hebrew word used by God to describe His “son,” Ephraim (Jeremiah 31:19).

Read More
Jan 13, 2025

Life in a Villa in a Jungle

It is hard to believe that another year has gone by—another year of seemingly unending war, tragedy, loss. There are still 100 hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza. While at least 36 have been murdered, it is not clear how many of the remaining 64 are still alive.

Read More
Dec 31, 2024

An Eye on Zion: Avigayil

Drawing their inspiration from the Biblical figure Avigayil (Abigail), Elisha and his friends decided to establish a new community in the southern Hebron Hills. They parked an old bus on a plot of land facing Maon, the ancient Biblical site where Avigayil lived.

Read More
Dec 9, 2024

Israel Welcomes Trump

What an astounding result in the US elections! While this regime change will have significant effect on many issues in the US, as an Israeli, I want to share with you my thoughts, which reflect the thoughts of so many in Israel, on how this change will affect Israel.

Read More
Nov 19, 2024

An Eye on Zion: Bet Hagai

On Friday evening of May 2, 1980, a group of students from Nir Yeshiva, located on the outskirts of the Biblical city of Hebron, excitedly headed to the Cave of Machpelah. There, they joyfully welcomed in the Sabbath with uplifting prayers.
That evening, however, terrorists threw grenades and fired bullets in the direction of the students, murdering three of them.

Read More
Nov 11, 2024