 New Junction
Inauguration of the
Convoy
Junction
On
Monday March 12, 2007, the 22 of Shvat, the municipalities of Efrat and
Gush Etzion inaugurated a new junction, in honor of the convoys that
secured Gush Etzion in 1948.
At a very moving ceremony on
highway 60 the"Northern Efrat Junction", was changed to
the" Etzion Convoy Junction".
Today great honor was given to the valiant and heroic
defenders from the different convoys who lost their lives in order
to help the besieged Gush Etzion. The Etzion Convoy Junction
gives honor to the convoy of the 10, the 35, and the convoy of Nebi
Daniel . It was the strong belief and hope then and today of the
residents and defenders of Gush Etzion that a secure Jerusalem depends on
our continued existence in Gush Etzion.
March
26, 1948
The largest convoy organized to
bring aid to Gush Etzion is attacked on its way back to Jerusalem.
Fourteen men are killed in a 24 hour battle on the road. It becomes clear
that no further land communication with Gush Etzion is possible.
Building where
Nebe
Nebe Daniel convoy
Daniel defenders fought
from
enters Gush Etzion
pictures credit to the Bnei Etzion Foundation www.etzion-bloc.org.il
An original armored bus from 1948,
drove from Jerusalem with one of the drivers who drove the bus also in
1948. Many defenders took part in the ceremony, many had not seen their
friends in many years. The children of Gush Etzion gave them each
honorary certificates of bravery.
Armored bus "Mishuryan" arriving from Jerusalem
Armored Bus credit
to the Egged Bus Museum
Egged bus drivers in
Gush Etzion 1948
Minister of Transportation Shaul
Mofaz dedicated the junction and the survivors, defenders and residents
of Gush Etzion burst out in singing songs from the Palmalch.
Defenders and Residents from 1948
Gush Etzion Children honoring the defenders
Mayor Shaul Goldstein, Regional
Council, Gush Etzion said in his speech "My father Yerachmiel
Goldstein z'l, was in the group of defenders that fought in the
convoy of Nebe Daniel, for me living in Gush Etzion closes a circle,
being part of this great national mission and also being part of
the Zionist dream that has been handed down from generation to
generation.
Efrat and Gush Etzion today are deeply rooted in the Zionist history of
the State of Israel. Gush Etzion today is "The Southern Gateway to
Jerusalem".
There are still many challenges ahead for our residents and our region.
We are less than two weeks from burying one of our dear residents Erez
Levanon, who was brutally stabbed. This unfortunate sorrow has been
with us since our first pioneering fathers arrived in our region. But
today along the path of our Patriarchs and Matriarchs a modern day miracle
has occurred, and we have been blessed, with beautiful vibrant
communities, the city of Efrat, many educational
institutions, tourism, industry and agriculture and many many
children, who will continue to live in Gush Etzion for years to come.
The Convoy Junction will always play a major part in the renewal and
continuation of Jewish life in Gush Etzion".
Below two children
from Kfar Etzion living in Gush Etzion today.
The woman is one of the only two children who had fathers that
survived the battle.The man lost his father. They both have children and
grandchildren in Gush Etzion today.
A very special thanks to all the
departments in the Regional Council of Gush Etzion for putting this
event together ,under the direction of the special project coordinator,
Oriya Dassberg.
Gush Etzion's New Logo
"Gush Etzion, an Israeli Home"
In recent months the Regional
Council of Gush Etzion has decided to take a refreshing approach to
reinforce the commitment and importance of of our
communities, as an inseparable part of the State of Israel, and to
integrate these values into greater Israel. It was decided to proceed
with a strategy that would be made up of several stages, promoting
these ideas. The first step
involved months of research, a poll, and a questionnaire with a
professional marketing company, in order to learn what the impression and
knowledge of the rest of the country is toward Gush Eztion.
The result showed mainly that the majority of the people of Israel are
connected to Gush Etzion by its famous history during the War of
Independence, its close connection to Jerusalem and that Gush Etzion will
always be an inseparable part of the State of Israel. It made it clear
that we would need to create certain activities to promote and to
to reach awareness in the Israeli public about the importance of Gush
Etzion's past, present and future.
Besides activities commemorating the 40 years of renewal to the
Gush,1967-2007, that will be taking
place through out this year, (the March of the convoy of the 35 was
the kick off to these events Jan.2006} major marketing and PR changes
will be made to strengthen the awareness that Gush Etzion portrays today
in the
Israeli public.
The slogan" Gush Etzion an Israeli Home" was chosen from three
possibilities.
Gush Etzion was built on the values of friendship and partnership,
dedication and commitment. The separation and longing to return to the
famous oak tree, to Gush Etzion, is the symbol through out the years.
This symbol has turned into the very values needed as a people and
as a nation to proceed into the future with the challenges that face all of
Israeli society today". Home, an Israeli home, that symbolizes,
security, connecting generations with their Jewish History , roots
and heritage, as a people and as a nation. Home is where families live
together, in harmony, bridging gaps, connecting and embracing one
another. "Home an Israeli home, Gush Etzion".
The Oak Tree
The new logo/slogan can be seen soon on our new
buses, that are run by the Gush Etzion Development Company.
New Sign for buses
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