The Settlement of Har Bracha was started in 1982,on Independence Day. Families from neighboring settlements moved in, in spite of a lot of controversy from the left wing factions. Their intention was to stay on until more new families moved in and then return to their homes in other places. This in theory was fine, but in reality it didn't work. As the original families started to leave, so did the new ones. In the end only one couple was left here alone with a few soldiers. In 1988 there was a new move to start up Har Bracha. Young new families moved in to stay. In 11 years we have grown from 1 to 90 families ranging in size from 0 to 10 children.

The first years were the real pioneering years for all the new families. The settlement had very few commodities to offer and most people had young children. There was a food service once a week run by 'Shekem', it was similar to a book mobile. There was a huge truck that came with all the basic foods and everyone stocked up for the week. If you ran out of something you either borrowed from a neighbor, or did without until the next delivery. Every Wed. at 2:00 the truck pulled in and all the residents ran, with their kids to be the first in line. Supplies were limited and everyone wanted to be first.

Phone lines and electricity were also still very primitive in the first years, even though in other parts of the country technology had kept up with the rest of the world. The winters were full of blackouts, sometimes a few times a day and consequently most families stopped depending on electricity as a heat source.
The winter of 1990 we had a meter and a half of snow and were subsequently without electricity or water for four days. After that everyone turned to other energy sources, either gas or kerosene. No water was not exactly a pleasant, but melting the abundance of snow was the immediate solution.

Har Bracha is situated on the top of Mount Grizim overlooking the Arab city of Shechem(Nablus). Mount Grezim is the historical place where Joshua brought the Jewish nation when they entered the land of Israel. On this mountain the nation received all the blessings, and on the opposite mountain, Mount Eval, the curses. Har Bracha is no more than 3 miles from Shechem, which is the largest Arab city in Israel. On the other two sides we have the villages of Burin and Huwarah, both an easy walk away. Even given our difficult location, the settlement is growing all the time.

We are located about 45 minutes from Petach Tikvah to the west, and an hour to Jerusalem in the south. For people without a car the only way to travel is to hitchhike, and then traveling can take up to 3 hours. There are no direct buses anywhere from here. There is a local bus than comes in a few times a day, however that only helps getting out of Har Bracha in order to catch a ride elsewhere. At least 50% of the residents do not own cars. In any case both driving and hitchhiking have become increasingly more dangerous.

A few months ago we expanded our borders to the neighboring hill to the west. Mobile homes were moved out there with a generator, two couples with 2 children each and another newly married couple moved out there. More mobile homes have since been brought in and there are now approximately 10 families on this outpost. According to the Oslo agreement all land not occupied by the Jews will be handed over to the Arabs, therefore it is urgent for us to expand as much as possible at this time.

On the settlement we have day care for babies and kindergarten up to the age of 6. School age children travel everyday to Elon Moreh, a neighboring settlement. It is about a 15-minute drive on a bulletproof bus. There is no high school in the immediate area and all children have to travel elsewhere. Work opportunities on the settlement are also very few and most people have to travel to their jobs.

Given the present political situation growth and expansion are top priority. Only that way can we ensure our future here in the Shomron and all areas of the country.