During a Shemita year in Israel, which occurs every seventh year, all Jewish-owned land must lie fallow. This year being a Shemita year, it is a perfect time to visit one of the many farms in Israel to learn about Shemita first hand. Here are a few farms to check out on your next visit to Israel.
Meshek Muslow is a farm owned and run by Sue and Tzvi Muslow. It is located on Moshav Beit Gamliel, a religious moshav located between Rehovot and Yavne. The Muslows made aliyah in 1998 with their family and started the farm around 2005. “We built the farm because we felt that working in agriculture provided us with opportunities to connect in a very special way to Israel and Jewish life. As farmers, we live the holidays through what we grow. Around Rosh Hashanah, the pomegranates are ready. As Sukkot approaches we are busy getting the aravot, hadasim, lulavim and etrogim ready,” said Sue.
And this year the Muslows have the privilege of keeping mitzvot that only farmers in Israel can keep. They are keeping Shemita with Otzar beit Din, the beit din of their moshav. In keeping with the laws of Shemita, there will be no planting, plowing or pruning.
Meshek Muslow is a farm with a large variety of produce and a small petting zoo, פינת חי with sheep, goats, chickens, ducks, turkeys, quail and geese. Fruits, vegetables and plants such as olive trees, grape vines, banana plants, avocados, oranges and tangerines are also grown on the farm.
The special news this year is that Sue and Tzvi are offering tours focused on Shemita. “We explain to visitors what we are doing and why. Then we walk in the fields and see how we are keeping Shemita and what has changed from other years. We try to share a taste of some of our produce. This year we hope to share produce that is Kedushat Shvit. We also take visitors in to see and pet the animals,” Sue said.
Tours for families are given on Fridays by reservation. For groups of 25 or more, such as seminary, yeshiva and other groups, Meshek Muslow can offer a tour during the week, but reservations are needed. Tours are approximately two hours.
For reservations and more information: [email protected] WhatsApp +972-54-423-3129.
The Levis Farm, also located within Moshav Beit Gamliel, includes a variety of agricultural industries such as sheep, flowers, vegetables and fruits. “The Levis Farm’s goal is to combine agriculture and tourism and to let our guests experience the atmosphere of the farm. On Fridays our hayloft becomes a coffee house where we host breakfast. We are a religious family, and of course the meals are kosher and also Sabbath observant,” said owner Doron Levy.
The farm has a kashrut certificate from Rabbi Eliyahu Solomon, the moshav rabbi. The kitchen is dairy only. A meat meal can be offered, but in the field and not in the kitchen area. “Due to the year of the Shemita, the agricultural activity is limited but we intend to renew it after Rosh Hashanah,” Doron said.
The Levis Farm is happy to host groups and families by prior arrangement. A custom plan can be designed that will combine a tour of the farm, agricultural activities, and a meal. The Levis Farm can also host events such as bar mitzvahs and weddings. “We believe it is a unique place to celebrate,” said Doron.
For more information and for reservations email Doron Levy [email protected]
WhatsApp +972-528-477506 https://www.facebook.com/Levisfarm
Bio Tour, located within Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu, situated in the Valley of Springs in Northern Israel about five miles south of Beit She’an, offers another unique farm experience. Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu is a religious community and the pioneer of commercial organic farming and biological pest control in Israel.
Farm tours cover topics such as kibbutz life, organic farming and biological control. Visitors are able to visit the fields, taste the farm’s dates, learn about the trees, hear about organic farming in Israel, and discover ancient persimmon oil and enjoy many other farm adventures. Tours can be adapted to different age groups and for school groups. Private tours for families can also be arranged.
The Classic Tour consists of reception, coffee and cake, visiting the kibbutz, a trip to the fields and orchards, guidance on the BioBee company and pesticides, and date tasting. There is also the Sowing Dreams Tour for schools, that follows life in the kibbutz. Professional tours that include professional training and lectures are also offered. There are also short tours available as well as a day trip in the Valley of Springs that includes a visit to the wind farm in Ma’ale Gilboa.
The tours, approximately one-and-a-half to two hours long, are conducted with professional, experienced guides and are held in a variety of languages. Tours are adaptable for people with disabilities. At the cafe in the field, Cafe B’Sadeh, you can enjoy snacks or a light dairy meal. A meat meal can be ordered in the kibbutz’s dining room. Food is Kosher Halabi under the supervision of the local rabbinate Rabbi Achia Amitai, Rabbi of Sde Eliyahu.
Bio Tour is open all year round except Shabbat and Jewish holidays. Advance registration is required. To register for a tour and for more information www.bio-tour.com or call +972-46-096986, cell +972-54-5640540, [email protected]
Iza Pziza, Reckless Goat, located in the heart of the farming fields of Moshav Tal Shahar at the foot of the Jerusalem mountains, is the Zaban family boutique dairy and goat farm. Here, people of all ages can enjoy a unique rural experience, guided tours, workshops, experiential activities, and more.
At Iza Pziza you can tour the goat pen independently at your own pace, purchase a bag of mixture for feeding the goats and even stay with the goats and pet them. A guided tour includes learning about the establishment of the family farm and the way the goats are raised, a tour of the pen, the milking parlor and the cheese production room. Tours are 45 minutes in length and advance registration is required.
Iza Pziza also offers cheese-making workshops where visitors can make cheese themselves. This workshop includes meeting the goats, feeding them and learning about their breeding and milking. Participants also learn about the world of milk, different types of cheese from around the world and in Israel, see how simple cheese is made and observe the process closely. Visitors can also arrange for private workshops.
During Sukkot, Chanukah and Pesach, joint family workshops can be arranged, where each family can choose how many cheeses to make together. The cheese making workshop is approximately an hour and a half in length and advance registration is needed.
At Iza Pziza you can purchase dairy products at the deli or a cheese meal that you can eat at one of the on-site picnic settings. All the cheese is self-made with the milk from the family goat herd and without the use of preservatives. You can also order coffee and pastries and there is a variety of crackers, olives, spreads, olive oil, honey, jams, wine and loaves of bread. The food is Kosher l’Mehadrin.
“The farm for me is a way of life. It demands a lot but it also gives back a lot,” Alon said.
For more information and to make reservations www.izapzizadairy.com +972-08-6102876, +972-52-2589900
Susan R. Eisenstein is a longtime Jewish educator, passionate about creating special, innovative activities for her students. She is also passionate about writing about Jewish topics and about Israel. She has two master’s degrees and a doctorate in education from Columbia University.
