The Hebrew calendar year of 5768, a Shmita year, is now over. During Shmita, the sabbatical year, Jews refrain from any agricultural work and the land of Israel rests. The gardening nurseries in Israel are preparing to get back to work. In the following video, Israeli Salad, IsraelNN TV’s weekly magazine visits the Tzemed nursery whose managers made sure to act according to all the laws of Shmita.
Tuvia Marmelstein, one of the owners of the nursery told IsraelNN TV: "The Shmita year is over – we're beginning a new year with all the strength we received from the past year – we hope to beautify the country and make it prettier than it is today! We are also of course full of gratitude to G-d for all that he gave us. When someone receives a present he has to show gratitude."
The Tzemed gardening nursery not only grows flowers and trees that bring color to the land of Israel, but also contributes to the development of the land by supporting the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria (YESHA).
"We want to express solidarity and gratitude to these Jews,” explained Marmelstein. “We wish to do so by holding free educational sessions and workshops where we will teach gardening, especially after the Shmita year and in light of the water shortage in Israel. We're offering these programs to the public; and to the Jews in YESHA we're offering them for free!"