Rabbi Moshe Levinger, the father of the modern Jewish community of Hevron, is recovering from a stroke - but took time out to visit budding hilltop communities in Judea and Samaria.
Rabbi Levinger was hospitalized last November after suffering a stroke that ended, at least temporarily, his decades-long career of actively promoting settlement all over the Land of Israel. This week, however, he was able to tour, together with the leadership of the Land of Israel Faithful movement, several Biblical-area hilltops recently settled by Jews.
The tour took place in the Migron region near Psagot, and in the Shilo bloc, between Ofra and Tapuach. Rabbi Levinger took in the development in the area, and heard from the pioneers about their coming plans for continued building - including actions to be taken in the coming weeks.
Rabbi Levinger led a group of lovers of the Land of Israel to Hevron in 1968, a year after the Six Day War, and thus began Jewish settlement in the area - first in Hevron in a temporary manner, then the city of Kiryat Arba, and then again in Hevron. Kiryat Arba now numbers over 7,000 Jews, and Hevron - more than 500.
"I'm with you in spirit, and may you continue to ascend and build," the deep-voiced rabbi told the youth during his visit this week. He added that he sees these new settlement points as the beginning of the plan to settle many additional points throughout Judea and Samaria.
Migron is the site of the largest "unauthorized outpost" in the country, with 43 families. The government, spurred by a Peace Now court suit, promised the Supreme Court it would uproot it by this summer, but the plans to do so have been met with threats of fierce opposition. Another tiny satellite outpost has also been established just outside Migron.
Near Shilo are several small neighborhoods, which are growing and prospering at a very slow but steady rate. Among them are Achiyah, Givat Har'el, Yishuv HaDaat, Kidah, and others.