One of our major goals is education. We believe that the future of Israel lies in the education of our youth. In order to achieve this goal we created our own school system. We have a kindergarten, Talmud Torah for boys, elementary school for girls, yeshiva high school for boys, and a yeshiva and kolel for high school graduates and young married men. We also have a seminar program where high school children from all over Israel come for Shabbatot to hear lectures receive answers to any questions they may have about Judaism. Unfortunately, since the Arab riots of late the seminar program has not been functioning. Schools, worried about the situation, are not willing to send their students to Itamar. Sadly to say, the people running the program have lost their source of income.

Another important goal of Itamar is settling the Land of Israel. It is not enough to live here. One must work the land. About 20 percent of the settlers on Itamar have realized this goal and are making their livelihood through agriculture. Our farming is completely organic. There are hothouses that grow vegetables of all sorts and strawberries. We have olive tree orchards and freshly planted vineyards. Goats are raised for cheese and milk and chicken coops supply us with organic eggs. We also have fish farming and honeybees.

We have started a Nachlaot program. Families interested in having their own piece of land on Itamar are invited to visit and apply to the program. Today we are in the midst of a struggle for our survival. Throughout our history it has always been a small number of idealistic Jews that have succeeded in leading the Jewish nation forward. The settlers on Itamar are on the front lines. We are struggling for the future of Am Yisrael. This last month has been particularly difficult, we lost two very dear residents of Itamar, Arye Arnaldo Z”l and Gilad Zar Z”l.

Arye, who made aliya from South America, had an inner love for the land of Israel at a very young age. He was one of the founding settlers of the settlement Migdalim and Shomron's new capital city, Ariel. Once he was assured of the prosperity and growth of these settlements, he went on to do the same on the frontiers of Itamar. It was there that his life was cut short by the terrorist's guns.

Last week, my neighbor, Gilad Zar was gunned down while driving the roads of Samaria. Gilad, one of the founding fathers of Itamar leaves behind a wife and eight children. There are no words to express our grief. He was well known for his position as security coordinator of the settlements of Shomron. Since Rosh Hashana when the new wave of Arab violence broke out, he risked his life day and night, traveling all over Samaria, coordinating the security needs for the settlements. The regional council of Shomron was planning on purchasing Gilad a bulletproof car. Gilad told the council that as long as there are settlers who are driving around without bulletproof cars he would not use the bulletproof car. Gilad, although a very busy person, still managed to find the time to help everyone. As Gilad's neighbor for the last 16 years, I literally tasted his kindness countless times. Gilad – we will never forget you!

Gilad's will and testament is very clear to all of us who knew him. We must go on and continue building the land of Israel.

This is where I turn to you. Itamar needs you! Anyone, who feels that he could join us in our struggle, would be dearly welcomed. Of course, any donations would come in handy at this difficult time.