Shmuel Meidad (Zangi)
Honenu was established in 2001 by Shmuel Meidad. Honenu in a non profit legal aid organization providing legal assistance to our soldiers and citizens, who at times due to the security situation are being persecuted by certain government authorities and a court system heavily influenced and pressured by anti Israel “human rights” groups. These groups are heavily funded by the European Union and others .
As a resident of Hebron, and an active soldier, Meidad personally experienced the complicated and constricting realities of combat against a creative and disguised enemy. The strict rules of engagement often put soldiers deployed on life-saving missions at enormous, even unnecessary, risk. To counter this lack of integrity for care of Jewish well-being, Meidad created Honenu to act as a positive and assertive influence in the political and judicial sectors and to influence and re-address proper standards of impartiality and fairness.
Today, Honenu has assisted over 15,000 Jews who have acted on behalf of Am Yisrael. These thousands include soldiers of all ethnic backgrounds, citizens of every corner of the country, men and women, older and younger, secular and religious, city dwellers and farmers. Honenu has also assisted non Jews who are loyal to Israel.
These individuals, whether defending themselves, fellow soldiers, families or property, quickly discovered the bitter truth of an agenda to restrict self-defense and punish those exercising any such inclination. In a matter of moments a decorated and respected officer could become victim of an arrest and trial with serious consequences including dismissal from army service, home confinement, and incarceration.
Many in these situations suffered from emotional, financial, and legal pressures. Most are confused and disoriented as to how to proceed with the Israeli legal system and the serious ramifications of such a trial. Some of these noble citizens remain free, some are incarcerated, yet all are in need of proper, and assertive, but costly legal defense. Honenu is there to assist them.
Why “Honenu”?
In Tehillim(Psalm) 123, King David wrote as a prayer and a plea to the Creator to bless us and redeem us. There is hardly a more appropriate Psalm for the current plight of Honenu’s clients:
“חננו ה’ חננו כי רב שבענו בוז”
“Favor us, Hashem, favor us, for we are fully sated with contempt.”
The Honenu Process
Honenu took upon itself to assist each client in every stage of legal consultation. Honenu begins advising and consulting with the client from the very first moment by providing an attorney who will remain at the side of defendant through the initial stages of the legal process. If there is an indictment Honenu advises through the process, the trial and possible plea, and continues to guide the client, if applicable, throughout the incarceration period. Honenu will be present for all court motions and appeals on behalf of each client. Lawyer fees are subsidized by Honenu.
If an individual is either found guilty of a crime or incarcerated, Honenu will facilitate an appeal and will offer the individual and his family financial aid within the limits available to the organization.