Israel has begun planting trees after the conclusion of the shmita (sabbatical year), during which all agricultural work is stopped.
Arutz Sheva joined the Israel Trees project of the Zo Artzeinu organization and the Jerusalem Heritage House as they came to the farm of David Ha’ivri in the community of Tapuah in Samaria.
One of the volunteers who came out to take part in the planting was Jordan, originally from Florida, who said she had no problem with sweating for the land of Israel.
“I think putting your sweat into the land is a very good way to connect to it,” she said, a sentiment echoed by another participant, Ryan Burns, who made aliyah from the United States.
“It’s important for me to develop the land in Israel,” he said, adding, “It’s something we studied. This is our heritage. We need to invest in it. I’ve come here as an immigrant and it’s something that’s very much a priority for me.”
“This is our land and we need to help develop it,” stressed Burns.
Shmuel Sackett of Zo Artzeinu told Arutz Sheva that the significance of the project is that the land of Israel is being rebuilt and is thriving despite the fact that the world is in turmoil.
“We are building the land of Israel and we’re going to continue, because these are fruit trees. Fruit trees provide a sustenance, a livelihood, they provide food for people. When you plant a fruit tree, it’s here to say,” he said.
Ha’ivri spoke of the special feeling he gets when seeing “the enthusiasm and excitement of Jewish people who want to connect to the land of Israel.”