Esther Karish
Esther Karishועד מתיישבי השומרון

Long-time land of Israel activist Esther Karish, the former deputy head of the Kedumim regional council, passed away Thursday after a long illness. Her funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, and will begin in the Nechamat Rachel synagogue in Givat Shalem and proceed to the Kedumim cemetery.

Daniella Weiss, the former head of the Kedumim council, was among those who mourned Karish on Friday. “She was a truly kind woman,” Weiss told Arutz Sheva. “Her giving was exceptional, there was no person she did not help.”

When Palestinian Authority terrorists began targeting Israeli motorists in “Intifada” attacks, Karish set up special security patrols along the roads at night, Weiss said. “She never went to bed before the last patrol returned,” she recalled. Weiss noted that Karish’s activities on the community’s behalf “were all volunteerism.”

Samaria Regional Council head Gershon Mesika said, “Esther was a leader, a pioneer, who was active for years in volunteerism for Samaria, for the return to Israel and for the needy. Esther managed the Samaria Residents Council on a volunteer basis since its establishment, and always pushed forward and led the way. “There is a huge hole now in the Jewish settlement in Samaria,” he concluded.

MK Orit Struk (Bayit Yehudi) mourned Karish as well. “She always enchanted me with her real caring, her sense of responsibility, and her warmth,” said Struk.

A statement from the Yesha (Judea and Samaria) Council said Esther Karish “worked tirelessly to help individuals and to establish the community in Kedumim in Samaria, and in doing so did much to strengthen settlement. We send our condolences to the family and to the community of Kedumim.”