Synagogue Inaugurated in Homesh Settlement Following Evacuation

A dedication ceremony for a synagogue named after Rabbi Kook will be held in the Homesh settlement on Wednesday, October 11th. The event will feature government ministers, rabbis, the head of the Samaria Regional Council Yossi Dagan, families who have returned to northern Samaria, activists from the 'Homesh First' movement, members of the Homesh yeshiva, and the general public.

The ceremony will include the bringing of a new Torah scroll, followed by the synagogue's inauguration and a central rally. The event begins at 5:00 PM with gathering and writing letters in the Torah scroll. The Torah procession starts at 5:30 PM, and the synagogue dedication ceremony is scheduled for 6:30 PM. Attendees will include residents of Homesh, activists who have supported the settlement over the years, alumni and rabbis of the Homesh yeshiva, its head Rabbi Elishama Cohen, and families from new communities in northern Samaria.

Prominent rabbis expected to attend include Rabbi Elyakim Levanon, Rabbi David Dodedkovich of Yitzhar, Rabbi Aharon Cohen of Yakir, and Rabbi Mordechai Shariki. In the past year, 16 new families have moved to Homesh, bringing the total to approximately 30 families living in two neighborhoods. The new neighborhood includes families who were previously expelled from Homesh and have now returned, as well as young couples.

Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council and a former resident of the renewed settlement of Sa-Nur, invited the public to the event. He stated, "21 years after they tried to uproot Homesh, we are returning and rebuilding Homesh and returning to northern Samaria. The synagogue that was destroyed is returning to being a house of prayer, with new Torah scrolls, and Jewish families are returning to build their lives in northern Samaria." He added, "This is an occasion of gratitude for the journey we have taken, but also of commitment to continue, to continue the return, to continue building, and to continue repairing what was done here. We invite all of the people of Israel to come and be partners with us in this great miracle. In northern Samaria, there will be hundreds of thousands of residents in many cities and settlements."

Benny Gal, a former resident of Homesh and a leader of the 'Homesh First' movement, expressed his emotion, saying, "It is moving to see that the dream for which we struggled, fought, and persevered for over 21 years is, thank God, coming true, and the people of Israel are returning home, not only to the settlements from which we were expelled but to the entire expanse of northern Samaria. We invite everyone to come and take part in settlement, in support, and in realizing the dream."