A Visit With Shmuel

A Visit with Shmuel, is a virtual 360° look at Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. Each month, as Shmuel Junger, CFOIC Heartland Director of Development, travels across the Biblical Heartland, he'll share with you the landscapes of new Jewish communities, their biblical roots, and anecdotes about the life of its pioneers.

A Visit With Shmuel: Avigayil

Located in a predominantly barren region in the Hebron Hills, Avigayil is surrounded on all sides by hostile Arab villages, including the large city of Yatta. The community was established in 2001, during the height of the Second Intifada, by a small group of incredibly courageous pioneers committed to defending their Biblical inheritance.

A Visit With Shmuel: Bat Ayin

I traveled to the beautiful Judean Hills to visit Bat Ayin, a small, very spiritual community located among the rugged hills just outside Gush Etzion. This community was established with one goal in mind: to create a purely God-centered life in a natural environment, away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

A Visit With Shmuel: Bet Yatir

I am excited to introduce the first installment of my new series, A Visit with Shmuel, a virtual 360° look at Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. Each month, as I travel across the biblical heartland, I’ll share with you the landscapes of new Jewish communities, their biblical roots, and anecdotes about the life of its pioneers.

A Visit with Shmuel: Einav

I was supposed to go to Einav on Tu B’Shvat and film their tree-planting ceremony, sponsored by you, our CFOIC Heartland donors and friends. But then Israel was plunged into lockdown and my visit had to be cancelled. So when life opened up again, I took the first opportunity to visit Einav and it was a fabulous day indeed.

A Visit With Shmuel: Eshkolot

This is my first visit to Eshkolot in many years and it has grown in leaps and bounds. Of course, I would prefer to take you to Eshkolot in person and introduce you to these dedicated, wonderful pioneers. But until then, join me for this virtual tour and get a sense of this inspiring community in the Hebron Hills.

A Visit With Shmuel: Gevaot

You’re not going to want to miss the newest episode of my new series, A Visit with Shmuel, where I virtually bring you to new communities in Judea and Samaria and share their unique character. In this episode, I drop by the village of Gevaot, a community of forty families in the hills of Gush Etzion. The people of Gevaot are truly modern-day pioneers who dedicate their lives to creating a thriving utopian community.

A Visit With Shmuel: Gitit

A Visit With Shmuel: Givat Hanan

Givat Hanan represents the pioneering spirit in Judea and Samaria. Two years ago, in response to the increasing number of Arabs encroaching on Jewish land in the area, eleven young families, dedicated to protecting the Jewish claim to the land of their ancestors established a new neighborhood of Sussya.

A Visit With Shmuel: Migdalim

I love visiting the community of Migdalim. Boasting 360° of breathtaking views of the Samarian Hills, green agricultural lands, and the Jordan Valley, Migdalim has always captured my heart. Join me in this episode, as I visit Migdalim, a vibrant, growing community in Samaria, tagged as Samaria’s Capital for Young People.

A Visit With Shmuel: Otniel

This month, I visited a community that is practically in my own backyard. Just a few kilometers from my home community of Zufim, is the community of Salit. Located at the western edge of Samaria, it boasts an amazing view of the Samarian mountains to the East and the Mediterranean coast to the west.

A Visit With Shmuel: Rechalim

Rechalim represents to me, more than anything else, is incredible bravery in the face of enormous security challenges. In this film, I show how Arab homes are located so close to the local kindergarten and how a concrete wall had to be erected to protect the children from Arab snipers.