Friends of Oz veGaon

The Oz veGaon preserve was established as a Zionist response to the murder of the three abducted youths, Gil-Ad, Eyal and Naftali, Hy"d, on the 3rd of Tammuz 5774 - July 1, 2014, in a forest grove on the hill above the Gush Etzion Junction, on state land within the municipal boundaries of the Gush Etzion local council. On that dramatic night in which the boys were found, dozens of members of Women for Israel's Tomorrow (Women in Green) together with residents of Gush Etsion and with the encouragement of the Gush Etsion Regional Council, ascended the hill overlooking the Gush Etsion intersection and began preparing the area to serve as a significant Jewish stronghold on the road from Hebron to Jerusalem. Women in Green, with the help of generous supporters from Israel and abroad, transformed the place, once used by the Arabs of the area as a crime scene and garbage dump, into a thriving Zionist educational tourist center in the heart of Gush Etsion. Pergolas, benches, picnic tables and playground facilities for children were built. The forester's house was cleaned and was turned into a synagogue, there is a coffee corner to serve soldiers from the entire area, 24/7; a Zionist boulevard was formed with signs with citations of Zionist leaders and special benches were built with barcodes which, when scanned with a phone, play beloved Zionist songs. After the murder of Ari Fuld hy"d, a beautiful lookout was built in his memory, overlooking Emek Bracha (the valley of the blessing) with a breathtaking view from Hevron to Jerusalem. In Oz veGaon we also commemorate Ezra Schwartz, hy"d , the youth who came for the year to Israel with yeshivat Ashreinu and was murdered by an Arab terrorist in November 2015 at the Gush Etsion intersection on his way to voluteer in Oz veGaon. In the preserve, a large tent serves as a Zionist library and a lecture hall and study house. From the very first days there have been lectures, lessons, exhibits and workshops and prayers on Shabbat and holidays. Thousands of people and tens of thousands of youths, come to connect with the soil of the Land of Israel, with their hands, their feet, their hearts and their souls. We get to realize all of the above thanks to your donations. The continued development and maintenance of the Oz veGaon Reserve is in your hands, dear lovers of the Land of Israel. We call upon you to be a partner! Every donation helps and is very welcome, Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar Oz veGaon 050-5500834