As Israel's government weighs a proposal that would forbid Jews to build homes in Judea and Samaria, a new group has joined the struggle to continue settling the land. Unlike the many other organizations associated with the battle to build Jewish outposts, the latest group to join the fray is affiliated with the hareidi-religious community.
The organization, Halamish, gained a name for itself on Friday with the construction of a small outpost near the hareidi-religious city of Modiin Illit (Kiryat Sefer). The outpost has been dubbed Givat Sefer, and already includes a beit midrash building for studying Torah.
Men in the beit midrash
Rabbi Yitzchak Brand of Emmanuel visited the outpost and called on others to join in the building efforts. “We call on every person who is able to do so to fight the evil decree, the building freeze in Judea and Samaria,” he said. “They want to force America on us, to make America the ruling power in Judea and Samaria.”
Every structure built in Judea and Samaria is precious, he added. “Each and every house that is built in the land of Israel connects the Jewish people to G-d.”
Halamish – Hareidim for Settlement
Halamish is an acronym for the Hebrew words “Hareidim l'maan mityashvei Yosh” -- hareidim for Judea and Samaria settlers. Members of the group said their new outpost was built in response to rumors of an imminent construction freeze in the region, and to the government's refusal to approve construction within Modiin Illit.
The group has not limited its activities to building, and is also active in petitioning hareidi-religious MKs. “Is this why we elected you – so that we could live in neglected warehouses and dank cellars?” the organization asked MKs.
Many young couples in the rapidly growing hareidi-religious community have been unable to find a place to live due to the increasing housing shortage, and some have resorted to living in one-room “apartments” originally built as storerooms.
In addition, Halamish is involved in raising awareness of the construction freeze within the hareidi-religious community. “The heavens themselves cry out against the ongoing building freeze in our holy land. Hareidi MKs, wake up!” says a sign posted throughout nearby neighborhoods.