Land of Israel activists opened a Jewish spiritual and cultural center on Friday as part of an ongoing effort to create a strong Jewish presence at Shdema, south of Jerusalem. The center was inaugurated with festivities under the banner, “Morning in Shdema in honor of our mother Rachel,” a reference to the recent anniversary of the passing of the biblical matriarch Rachel.
Shdema Cultural Center
Shdema Cultural Center
"In these days, as the Land of Israel is being removed from the public agenda, we are working harder than ever” to emphasize the importance of the Land, activists said. Nadia Matar, head of Women in Green, said activists had begun to stay in Shdema on a regular basis.
The new Jewish cultural center began unofficial activities several weeks ago with weekly classes and concerts on Fridays. The activities are designed to appeal to all sectors of Israeli society, organizers said: religious and secular, young and old, native Israelis and immigrants.
Friday's program started with MK Arieh Eldad who stated that all candidates for the Knesset must commit, before the upcoming elections, to build Shdema as a Jewish community. His daughter, singer Karni Eldad, played songs by Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, accompanied by a string trio.
The Shdema Eretz Israel Cultural Center will be open every Friday morning and offer lectures, Torah lessons and concerts while keeping youths busy painting and fixing the buildings.
Shdema is an abandoned IDF encampment located near the Har Homa neighborhood of Jerusalem and looks over the main road connecting Jerusalem with Gush Etzion and Hevron. The Palestinian Authority hopes to build an Arab neighborhood in Shdema, a move that local Jews warn would endanger Israeli drivers.
Land of Israel activists have been fighting to maintain Israeli sovereignty over Shdema for several months, and say their activities have prevented the government from transferring the base to the PA. Activists have often clashed with Arabs, European and American leftists and Israeli anarchists who come to the area in order to push Jews away and claim the land for the Arab village of Beit Sahour.
"Thanks to the activities at this site and the perseverance of many, Shdema is, partially, in our hands” activists said. “Attendance at the events here is especially important, as it indicates to various authorities that we have public support.” The more support Shdema activists have from Israelis of all kinds of backgrounds, the greater their chance of success, they concluded.