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Hugs in Kedumim

(If you are a returning visitor to this page, you can skip the following introduction and click on the links following it to get the latest updates.)

Located in northern Samaria, near Karne Shomron, the town was founded in 1975 during Hanukkah. It has a population of approximately 2,900 people according to 2004 census stats. The town has been noted for its emphasis on education. Among the educational facilities there are the Bnei Chayil Yeshiva (for boys with ADD and ADHD), the Har Efrayim Yeshiva; the Lehava Ulpana High School (for girls), a music academy and a public library. Its mayor is Daniella Weiss.

On March 28, 2001, two young teenage boys (aged 14 and 15) who were students at the Bnei Chayil Yeshiva were murdered by a Palestinian suicide bomber as they waited at the bus stop for the bullet proof bus that would take them to Kedumim. They were from Petah Tikva and Givat Shmuel respectively.

In April 2005 there was a terrorist suicide bombing attack at the entrance to Kedumim that claimed the lives of 4 Israelis. An older couple and a 16-year old boy who were residents of the community as well as a 20-year-old girl doing her army service in the community. As it happened, the older couple stopped to pick up 3 hitchhikers…the 16-year-old boy and two others. Unbeknownst to them, one of the riders was actually a terrorist disguised as a haredi Jew. By the time they realized they had a suicide bomber in the car with them, it was too late as he detonated his bomb inside the car. Reports later said that the couple saved the community from a larger attack by refusing to drive in once they realized one of the passengers was a terrorist. It was a particularly devastating blow for the community because the older woman ran the after school program for the

children in the community and for years had been someone many of those who are now teenagers and young adults had grown up with as something of “second Mother” to them.

When I read the reports, I immediately made contact with a community representative and offered to donate one of the inflatable bounce castles to them. They were tremendously touched. A short time later, the Mayor of Kedumim called to make arrangements to pick the castle up so that the children would be able to enjoy it during the upcoming Pessach holidays. What a blessing to come along side of them when the community really needed a HUG! Check back later for more photos. Below is a copy of an email received from a community spokesperson.

Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 9:53 PM
To: Brenda Giles
Subject: Re: Pessach Greetings!

Dear Brenda,
Thank you for all your wishes. Pesach is over and we just had a very emotional Yom Zikaron. It took place exactly on the 30th day of the murder in Kedumim. We had activities for kids on Yom haazmaut and they enjoyed the castle you gave so much I asked for pictures and when I will have them I will send it to you.

It is such an original idea for giving as a contribution and it makes so many kids happy.
God will bless you and your organization.
Hope to be in touch with good news. Raphaella