Rebuilding from the Ground Up

Since October 7, up to 90% of farms in the Western Negev have suffered significant damage, threatening Israel’s agricultural livelihood. In response, Jewish National Fund-USA has been working tirelessly to support local farmers. As part of our efforts, we opened the fourth Adam v’Adama 4-year agricultural boarding school this summer in Moshav Sde Nitzan, Eshkol. This will rebuild and strengthen the area, and create a strong, responsible local workforce. The school offers students a unique opportunity to combine hands-on agricultural education with full academic studies, attracting youth from diverse backgrounds across Israel.

For 16-year-old Tomer, a local resident from Moshav Yevul, the school provided a chance to give back to his community. “I knew the farmers would face immense challenges in rehabilitating their farms,” he said. “The school gave me the framework to help where it was most needed.”

For Hodaya, from Kibbutz Hafetz Haim near Ashdod, part of her reason for moving to the school after October 7 was to contribute to the region’s recovery. “Working the land day in and day out gives me immense satisfaction,” she shared.

Hannah, from Tel Aviv, found deep meaning in the mission. “To study and help rebuild the place they tried to destroy renews my faith in my nation,” she said. “It’s a privilege to be here at this time.”

Her classmate, Ma’ayan, from Jerusalem, emphasized the importance of leaving the ‘bubble’ of central Israel to become part of the agricultural workforce and help the region recover. “We’re here to rehabilitate and rebuild,” she said.

Hodaya summed up the significance of the school: “Waking up every day to work the land and help build a new school in the very place where so much destruction occurred on October 7, shows that our nation is capable of overcoming anything.”