You may have heard the term “Gaza Envelope” due to the October 7th massacre, but prior the region was more commonly known as the source for 70% of Israel’s vegetables. With foreign workers gone, farming communities in chaos, and suffering a heavy human and financial toll, what will be of Israel’s food security? In other words, when you go to the supermarket, will there be fruits and vegetables or will there be an acute shortage?
In the midst of hurt and destruction during the Iron Swords War, an unlikely hero emerged on the Israeli horizon: Hashomer Hachadash. This organization, deeply rooted in the fertile soil of Israeli agriculture, has shifted its central focus from protecting the farms to protecting our food supply. This isn’t just another tale of a charitable group doing good—it’s a story of resilience, determination, and cooperation.
Nevo Dor’s Journey: From Ashes to Rebuild
Meet Nevo Dor, a 45-year-old father of six and farmer in the Jordan Valley. He’s left his own farm in the Jordan Valley in the care of his father and wife and spends his weeks in the South coordinating hundreds of volunteer workers daily. Nevo’s involvement has gradually increased to this point over the past two years, but his involvement didn’t begin with a desire to save the day; it began with the ruins of his own dreams.
Nevo’s farm was not spared the grim fate of the agricultural terrorism that has spread across Israel over the past two decades. On a fateful night following the holy day of Yom Kippur two years ago, he found himself picking up the pieces from the flames that had devoured his livelihood. Before the fire, he had a small contingent of volunteers from HaShomer HaChadash assist him on the farm, but he describes himself as having been “not particularly involved” in the organization.
However, amid the ashes, an ember of hope emerged as Hashomer Hachadash’s CEO and others rushed to his aid after the fire, helping him rebuild and navigate the government bureaucracy to get compensation. It was a testament to the solidarity and communal spirit that defines the organization.
Hashomer Hachadash: Guardians of Israeli Agriculture
Hashomer Hachadash, originally formed to combat agricultural terrorism, had quietly been contributing to Israeli agriculture for years. But the magnitude of their impact only truly came to light when the nation was plunged into war.
The organization quickly morphed into the largest agricultural volunteering entity in the country. Since its inception in 2007, Hashomer Hachadash had been instrumental in supporting Israeli agriculture. Yet, the war created an urgent need for their services, igniting a level of mobilization previously unseen.
The Crisis That Shattered Israeli Agriculture
When the Iron Swords War broke out, it brought with it a cascade of unforeseen challenges for farmers across the nation.
Foreign workers, often the lifeblood of labor-intensive agricultural operations, left the country, due to the risk of the war.
It was a perfect storm—fields overgrown with unchecked crops, and a looming food crisis on the horizon. Zucchinis withered, cherry tomatoes lay unharvested, and crops that once thrived now faced abandonment.
The Art of Matching Volunteers to Farmers
Farmers are dealing with the situation differently, with some, “reducing capacity by 50%, others not watering the plants, taking a wait-and-see approach to the labor shortage, and others are planning not to plant for the next season.” When asked why that is, Nevo explains that beyond the labor shortage is an acute “sense of uncertainty. What will happen when the crops need to be tended? Will they have volunteers or workers to do the work?”
Reducing the uncertainty and getting the properly skilled volunteers to the farms that need them most is an ingenious system that sits at the core of Hashomer HaChadash’s operation and matches volunteers with farmers in need. Their sophisticated CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system enables them to coordinate volunteers efficiently, responding to the ever-shifting demands of Israel’s agricultural landscape.
A United Front: Support from All Walks of Life
In the darkest hour, Hashomer HaChadash saw an outpouring of support from all corners of Israeli society. Schools, corporations, soldiers with spare time, and even pensioners joined the cause. They embodied the rich tapestry of Israeli society, uniting around a common purpose: to ensure that the nation’s fields remained fruitful.
Sustained Support for Long-Term Impact
One key to their success has been their ability to provide not just volunteers, but quality volunteers who commit to the cause for an extended period. Student groups, for example, come for days or an entire week at a time. This gives them the opportunity to quickly learn the skills to tend the crops and become valuable assets for both farmers and their own understanding of agriculture.
Managing 300-600 volunteers a day is no small feat. HaShomer HaChadash has needed to acquire tools to conduct the work in the field, and bring trainers and team leaders to manage the groups.
A Vision for Tomorrow: Beyond Survival
Despite the challenges, Nevo Dor and Hashomer HaChadash remain resolute in their mission. Their primary objective is clear: to rescue farmers, salvage their farms, and secure the nation’s food supply. But their aspirations go beyond survival—they aim to inspire a new generation deeply connected to agriculture and the land. For many volunteers, this is the first time they are working in the fields. Nevo shares that, “People develop a deep appreciation of the intensive journey and the monumental effort to bring the vegetables in the field to the supermarket shelves. They don’t take it for granted.”
A Cultural and Social Renaissance
In the face of adversity, Hashomer Hachadash and individuals like Nevo Dor are not just saving crops; they are symbols of Israel’s resilience. They stand as a testament to the indomitable spirit of Israel and the power of unity in the most trying times. This isn’t just a story of hope; it’s a story of an agricultural and social renaissance, one where the strength of a community rises from the ashes to safeguard its future.
The Project:
Hashomer Hachadash is raising $5 million to rescue farmers, salvage their farms, and secure the nation’s food supply. Their team of 35,000 volunteers and 60 employees are committed to protecting and supporting the agricultural lands of Israel.
How to Give:
Hashomer Hachadash has teamed up with the JNF as an affliliate to provide donors with 501(c)(3) tax deductible receipts in the USA. Click here to make a tax-deductible contribution in the U.S.A.
Kosher Status:
The Hashomer HaChadash organization was founded in 2008 as a registered Israeli nonprofit and holds Section 46 status and a Certificate of Proper Management. In response to the Iron Swords War HaShomer HaChadash has needed to greatly scale their agricultural volunteering operation, coordinating logistics, obtaining tools and managing volunteers in the field. HaShomer HaChadash has been steadily growing over the past five years, more than doubling in size, while they have managed to keep overhead costs well under 10% (2022, last financial year available).
Fine Print:
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