Telamim Park Dedicated in Memory of Lieutenant Colonel

Emanuel Moreno
On Sunday, June 20, a new
park was dedicated in
Telamim, a village near Sderot
in the western Negev, in
memory of Lieutenant Colonel
Emanuel Moreno, of blessed
memory. Emanuel Moreno
served in Israel's elite Sayeret
Matcal unit, and fell in combat
at the end of the Second
Lebanese War. Although the
details of his military career
are shrouded in secrecy to this
day, what is known is that he
was one of modern Israel's
greatest heroes. He lived with his family in Telamim, which is where KKL-JNF, with
contribution of KKL France, built the park commemorating Emanuel.

The ceremony was emceed by

Reuven Na'amat, KKL-JNF
emissary to France, who called on
Mr. Frederic Nordmann,
president of KKL-JNF France, to
open the ceremony. Mr. Nordmann
told the audience about the donor
of the park, Leo Jacques Alpern:
"Leo passed away in France at the
age of 103. He was a Holocaust
survivor who had no children of
his own, and his request was that
the money he bequeathed us be
used to make children in Israel
happy. This park is exactly what
he intended. I feel that both
Emanuel and Leo are here with us at this dedication ceremony today."
 "I did not know Emanuel Moreno
personally, but I feel as if I met him
through my acquaintance with his parents
and brothers. I know that he was a great
hero, and it is in his merit that we are
privileged to be here dedicating this park."
KKL-JNF Co-Chairman Avraham
Duvdevani, who was also recently elected
the head of the World Zionist
Organization, spoke about the sacrifices
necessary to build a country: "In the
Talmud, there is a story about a father and
son who are walking on the road. The son
asks his father, Father, when will we arrive at a town, a place inhabited by people? His father
answered him, When you see a cemetery, you will know that we are approaching a place that
is inhabited.

"Unfortunately, the road towards building a country passes through the cemetery. One of
KKL-JNF's guiding principles is to commemorate Israel's fallen warriors in our open spaces.
From the northern border to Eilat in the south, we remember our soldiers with a broken heart
and with great pride. This is why we are here today, thanks to the initiative of KKL-JNF
France. Although I didn't know Emanuel, I know his family, the springs whose waters grew
such a magnificent human being. Emanuel inspires us by his example, and he will be
remembered through this park, which will be a place where people come to enjoy themselves
and relax, a place of life and gladness."

Major General Amos Yadlin,

head of Israel Military
Intelligence, recalled that just two
years ago, he awarded the
Regional Command Citation to
Emanuel posthumously: "Emanuel
was awarded the citation not only
for the bravery he showed in
battle, but for his courage and
heroism during his entire military
career. He was outstanding in a
unit of outstanding soldiers, as a
soldier, as an officer and as a
human being. He met every
challenge with curiosity and
commitment, and radiated
confidence to everyone around him.
 "When I think of Emanuel, I recall
the Talmudic story of a man who
was walking in the desert and found
a tree full of fruit that was watered
by a nearby spring.'Tree, tree,' he
said, 'how can I bless you? You
already have bountiful fruits and a
nearby water source. I would
therefore bless you that your
seedlings be blessed as you are.' I
too, pray that this park nurture
young children who will grow up
and be inspired by Emanuel's
example. I know that there is no real
comfort for Emanuel's family for
such a loss. I would hope that some small comfort could be found in the knowledge that we
are educating our younger generation to follow in Emanuel's footsteps and to live by his
values."

Yuval Diskin, head of the General Security

Service (Shabak), said that Emanuel Moreno
was a person with a clear direction in life:
"He was totally committed to his vision and
goals. A nation blessed with soldiers like
Emanuel is a nation that may allow itself to
be full of hope that its future is assured."

Dr. Hagi ben Artzi was Emanuel's teacher

in high school and was instrumental in
publishing a booklet in his memory: "I
recently visited the archaeological findings in
the City of David, where I arrived at a better
understanding of how much courage Yoav,
who was to become the head of King David's
army, had when he stole through the tunnels
beneath the walls of Jerusalem to enable
David's army to conquer the city. Emanuel
reminds me of Yoav, a lone warrior who
feared no obstacle. People visiting this park
will remember Emanuel's legacy, his unique
combination of faith and fearlessness."
 The head of the Lachish Regional Council,
Danny Moravya, said that when you know
the Moreno family, you understand
Emanuel's roots: "To commemorate
Emanuel, the family founded an NGO
named Bedarkei Emanuel, 'Emanuel's
Way', which supports educational and
leadership initiatives for youth in Israel,
something Emanuel would have totally
identified with. I would like to thank all the
various organizations, especially KKL-JNF
Israel and KKL France, for working
together to make this park into a reality. I
am personally committed to guaranteeing that the park is well cared for and will always
remind us that one of Israel's greatest warriors lived in our midst."

Mr. Naftali Bennet, Director-General of Yesha

Council, served in the army together with Emanuel
and noted Emanuel's two central qualities: "Emanuel
wanted to give everything he had for his people, and
was always trying to improve. As a soldier, he wasn't
always the best sharpshooter or navigator, but what
made him unique was that he always tried to do
things better. When we were out on endless hikes or
navigating all night, and everyone was exhausted
beyond words, Emanuel would get up and start
peeling potatoes for dinner. I remember these small
things about Emanuel; they made the greatest
impression on me."

Emanuel's brother spoke

about their special relationship:
"When I would see the
incredible efforts Emanuel
made to achieve the most
impossible of goals, I would
remind him of the words of our
sages in the Ethics of the
Fathers, 'You are not obligated
to finish all the work.' He
would come right back at me
and complete the phrase: 'And
you do not have the freedom
not to do it.' He was a person
who went out of his private
space and took responsibility
for the public. For this reason, I
feel like the new park is really a fitting tribute for him, because everyone leaves their homes
to come together as a community in this public space. I would like to thank KKL-JNF and
KKL France for finding such an appropriate way of commemorating my brother's memory."
Ilan Moreno, Emanuel's
father, also expressed his
gratitude for the park,
especially to KKL-JNF's
Yitzhak Mopsik and Etti
Lankri, who accompanied the
project from its beginning. He
spoke about the two people
whose names were
immortalized in the park: "It is
no coincidence that this park
commemorates two people
who are not with us today, my
son Emanuel and Leo Alpert,
the donor. Leo was a survivor
of the Holocaust in Europe,
while Emanuel fought so that
the Jewish people would never again experience a holocaust. Emanuel's full name is Emanuel
Yehuda Moreno, and Jews named Yehuda would call themselves Leo in the Diaspora. These
two Yehudas now share a commemorative plaque in a children's park in the land of Israel. On
behalf of our entire family, thank you all for being with us today".

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the

commemoratory plaque was unveiled by
Frederic Nordmann as the Moreno family
looked on. KKL-JNF Co-Chairman Avraham
Duvdevani awarded certificates of
appreciation to Mr. Frederic Nordmann and
the Moreno family, and children from the
local elementary school performed for the
audience. After the singing of Hatikvah,
Israel's national anthem, the audience was
invited for light refreshments.

Emanuel Moreno, one of Israel's greatest heroes, is survived by his wife, Maya, and their
three children, Avi, Neria and Noam Yisrael, who planted a tree in his memory in the new
park.
Achrai! Emmanuel Celebrates the Conclusion of the 2009-
2010 Program!
This past weekend the entire troup of Aharai! youth – including Aharai!
Emmanuel - participated in the year-end events. The groups hiked up to
Jerusalem Sunday via its signpost hilltops and listened to a survey on the
siege of Jerusalem during the period prior to the establishment of the State,
there continued a day of challenging and competitive sport, finishing up with
an exhausting hike with stretchers – climbing up Ein Hemed (Aqua Bella) to
Mount Hertzl in Jerusalem.

At the end of the hike we were pleased to meet Ilan and Sylvia (Moreno), who
were excited to meet with the youth full of sweat and exhausted but very
pleased. I’d like to take this opportunity to again thank you for your support
during the year and at its end, and to wish for continued and deepening
relations in the coming years. I am reminding all that the finishing project at
Mvasseret Zion has been set for the week of 11th-16th July and of course all
are invited to take part and to come and to help out.

Shmuel Lebanon
Pre-Army Project Leader
Talmud Torah Emmanuel Welcomes its 100th Student!
Talmud Torah Emmanuel, based in the village of Tlamim not far from Sderot
in the south of Israel, recently welcomed its 100th student enrolled in the after
school program. The project aims to instill the values of Emmanuel combined
with Torah study from a young age, providing “ranks” to those who progress in
the program.

Says David Moreno, brother of Emmanuel and

coordinator of the program, “Emmanuel was a Jewish
hero and a brave fighter, but in addition to that
Emmanuel was an incredible individual in that he
combined a noble personality with lofty ideals and a
strong spirit and character. Our goal is to impart the
legacy of Emmanuel to the children of Israel, with an
emphasis on Jewish values, leadership, charity and assistance to those in
need. We have started in Emmanuel’s village, though our vision is to
eventually reach all the children of Israel.”

The program serves the regional area of Lachish

providing instruction and lunch daily. The roughly 100
boys and girls are led by 10 instructors in the program,
carefully selected to create a uniquely warm and open
environment that is welcoming to students from
different socio-economic backgrounds and religious
exposure.

B’darkei Youth Celebrate Festival of Fruits with the Family

B’darkei youth celebrated Tu B’shvat together with Moshe Moreno,
coordinator of the

Achrai! youth program, at the home of Alain and Sylvia Moreno in Jerusalem
(21 January 2008). The family invited Achrai! Youth from Jerusalem and
Petach Tikva for an evening of special prayers over the different fruits and
shared stories about the land and the harvest. Alain noted that fruits that grow
in Israel today developed special qualities over the years that were not
available in the early days of the State. In other words, the variety found today
is testament to the prophesies...Israel has come a long way since the days of
the tasty Jaffa orange!
Ir David Foundation dedicates Beit Emmanuel in the ancient
quarters of the city
Ir David, the Foundation for the renovation of the
City of David’s ancient quarters just outside
today’s Old City walls, honored Emmanuel’s
memory by naming a newly renovated building
after the fallen soldier. Beit Emmanuel was
sponsored by friends abroad who wished to
convey their solidarity with the Jewish people
even if they could not be living in Israel today for
various reasons. In an emotional exchange,
Maya Moreno, Emmanuel’s wife, read from
passages of “To you the glory of silence”, and
emphasized Emmanuel’s message of Rabbi
Akiva and his way of dealing with crises. “The
best way [in dealing with crises] is to use the evil
that would topple us as a lever for strengthening ourselves as a people, and
to reach new heights that we would not have achieved had we not faced such
challenges.” B’darkei Emmanuel Moreno is grateful to those who organized
this wonderful event and wishes the new residents of Beit Emmanuel a life full
of joy and spirituality. Kol hakavod!

B’darkei Emmanuel opens up a third group in Nizan

B’darkei Emmanuel opened up its third group together with Ahrai! Youth
Leading Change in the southern town of Nizan. Nizan is home to former Gush
Katif community members, many who carry psychological and emotional
scars from the destruction of Jewish homes in Gaza. The youth group will
focus its efforts in this important community and carry Emmanuel’s message
forward, who believed so strongly in the pioneering ideals of our forefathers
while respecting the importance of the IDF. B’darkei Emmanuel would like to
thank Ephraim Zarbiv for taking up the challenge and looks forward to his
leadership. Ephraim is a resident of the city and graduate of the Golani
Brigade of the Israeli Defense Forces. Ephraim joins a wonderfully dedicated
team including Hillel Shalev and Oren Shafir of the Jerusalem and Petach
Tikva groups, respectively, as well as Niv Rotem (Jerusalem Regional
Coordinator) and Shmulik Levanon (Ahrai! National Coordinator).