Meet the Passionate Producers of Lev Haolam

​ When Asher returned to Israel, he studied Food Science, and in 1988, when he completed his studies, he had the good fortune to marry his wife Veronique. They have been blessed with three children and, as of this count, four grandchildren! Asher settled into family life and began work with an established and well-known Jerusalem bakery, Berman’s Bakery. While employed at Berman’s Bakery, Asher took a wine-making course to build on his knowledge learned in Bordeaux. He embraced wine-making as a favored hobby in his spare time. Soon, his home became his winery! A winery in North Israel approached...

​ In 1984, he and six other families moved to Itamar to settle the land and reintroduce a Jewish presence there. He dreamt of providing a livelihood and economic independence for people in the area, and that’s where the story of Perfumes Itamar begins. When Shimon and his family arrived in Itamar, it was a bare hilltop with stunning views of Samaria and little else. The families who settled in Itamar faced multiple challenges, from security to lack of infrastructure and jobs. Shimon and others worked odd jobs and often traveled great distances to find employment. After some years of...

​ The spirit at Cocoa Forest is one of empowerment and collaboration! Yaara continues experimenting with unusual and unexpected pairings, but now she does it with the assistance of her outstanding employees! She encourages everyone to be part of the creative process. Yaara is obsessed with using the best quality ingredients she can source. She believes that if a recipe calls for fruit, it has to be real Israeli fruit picked at its peak and freeze-dried to preserve and maintain its flavor. Her raw materials are sourced from Israeli farmers and the best chocolate producers in the world. The cocoa...

​ When Ariel’s father moved his family to Ofra in Samaria, it marked the turning point for the pioneering family. They wanted to live a life closely connected to the Holy Land. Professor Alon believed that cultivating native herbs and others that grow well in Israel would have the basis for exquisitely flavorful herbal teas. His intuition proved correct and led to the establishment of Adanim Tea. The business began as many family businesses do, with passion and an adventurous spirit. Ariel recalls how in the early days, he and his father would harvest herbs and flowers and dry them...

Just like Orli’s ceramics, all our products are proudly 100% made in Israel and we are waiting to share them with you! We are located in Kfar Etzion, part of the Gush Ezion bloc just south of Jerusalem. From here, our team set out to meet the pioneers and discover their products, and learn about the communities they live in. We live and breathe the Bible and the Land of Israel and explore it every chance we get.

The Story of Hadas Hadas is bursting with energy and seems to always be moving at the speed of light. As a wife, a mother to two beautiful children, and a business owner her ability to juggle many responsibilities at once definitely helps! As a child Hadas was raised in a musical family that supported and encouraged her creativity which helped her handle many of the obstacles that came her way. School was not easy for Hadas but through her artistic inclination she found ways to succeed; instead of taking notes, she would draw pictures to help her remember key...

Get to know Eden Aviely, the founder of Sabon Eden! Part of the story of the Jewish people returning to Israel is the ability to get back in touch with ancient practices. Clearly, we have our modern twists, but the essence of soap making has not changed. People need to find ways to bind oil and water, two ingredients that usually don’t go together. It’s like the binding of the spiritual and the material worlds. Each one tries to go its own way but, for patient artisans, there are ways to combine them, bringing an inspiring range of experiences into...

​ With The Most Authentic Gift Box Directly From Israel ​ Your Bond With Israel is Crucial Now Support Israel and Forge Your Bond Dear Supporter of Israel,Welcome to Lev Haolam, the leading subscription box service based in Israel, bringing you the finest treasures from the Holy Land.We invite YOU to join our Israeli Family, where you can share your support and love for Israel and feel the love back. Join our members helping over 1820 heroic artisan families, revitalizing the Holy Land with farming and crafts, producing olive oil and dates, honey and chocolate, salt and spices, tea and...

The Story of the Fochtvanger Family Baruch and Shimrit settled in Negohot after a soul crushing experience of being expelled from their home. Following this harrowing experience they began a search for a new place to call home, a place that they could once again, put down their Jewish roots in Jewish soil. After spending time in different communities they discovered Negohot and knew that they were home. Shimrit and Baruch are religious Jews and it was important to them that they raise their family with a strong connection to the land. They too wanted to continue developing the Land...

From the Samarian Hills of Itamar, Batya Erdstein channels all her energies into her pottery kiln, producing a stunning variety of ceramic pieces with designs inspired by the Bible and the Land of Israel. Meet Batya, a ceramist who puts all her love into her products. Originally from San Diego, California, Batya’s original career choice was quite a different one from that of a ceramicist. Back in the US, she was a nurse, earning a nice salary and enjoying a pleasant, if not very fulfilling, life. However, Batya has always been a very spiritual person, deeply connected to Judaism and...

Discover the stories and products of dedicated Israeli pioneers supported by Lev Haolam, and see how their artisanal crafts connect you with the Holy Land. Explore the Unique Stories and Products of Israeli Artisans At Lev Haolam, we take pride in promoting various Israeli pioneers who dedicate themselves in all that they do. From natural cosmetics to gourmet chocolates, these artisans produce a wide range of items, all reflecting the rich heritage and customs practiced in the Holy Land. Here are just a few of the amazing artisans we work with: ​ To tap into the unique mineral resources at...

Let us tell you the inspiring story of Boaz Ido, the founder of Carma, who connects people to Israel’s biblical heritage through his high-quality olive oil. From Ancient Stumps to Flourishing Orchards Boaz Ido: A Mission Begins Boaz Ido didn’t just start a business; he embarked on a mission. Living in Alon, he founded Eretz Bereshit, or the “Land of Genesis,” an educational farm that brings the ancient world to life. Visitors are greeted in the style of Abraham, sitting on the floor in oriental tents, sipping herbal tea, and snacking on dates and almonds. Boaz’s connection to the Bible...

Discover how Idan Zait’s passion for the Dead Sea and his commitment to community empowerment created the exceptional 424 Salt brand! From Passion to Purpose: The Story Behind 424 Salt Founding Vision: A Pioneer’s Journey Idan’s story as the founder of 424 Salt who fell in love with the region around Dead Sea where it had been formed is no less than an inspiration. As an IDF paratrooper, Zait had spent significant time in the Jordan Valley which allowed him to forge a strong relationship with land. This resulted from the connection between him and the unique and mineral-rich salt....

​ Amir and his wife Yemima knew that they wanted to make a difference in the community by enhancing the lives of those who call the region home. They understood a major challenge faced by settlers is finding meaningful employment. By establishing Herbs of Kedem Amir has been able to strengthen the settlement and create employment opportunities. While his team is small, he has a vision of sustained growth leading to the employment of hundreds of local residents, which certainly will “make the desert rejoice.” In keeping with Torah commandments, his company observes the biblical law of shmita, which means...

​ Boaz Ido, who lives with his wife and family in the nearby community of Alon, always loved walking through the olive groves, and it pained him to see the once-beautiful trees destroyed. As a devout man of G-d, he was also keenly aware of the Torah’s teaching against cutting down trees. With the blessing of the community, Boaz took upon himself the mission of replanting the olive grove and making it flourish again. He sought counsel from the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture, and they advised him to cut down the old, non-fruit-bearing trees and start from scratch with new...

Many of you have written in lately to say how much you liked the Masik natural toothpaste we included in a recent package. We’re glad you liked it! This toothpaste is actually very special. It is made by Masik, a family-run natural cosmetics company based in the Golan Heights. This is one of the territories that the BDS movement is seeking to boycott, so your support is very important to them. Masik’s toothpaste contains no fluoride and is handmade from only natural ingredients. What makes it different from other natural toothpastes is that it contains Israeli Dead Sea salt. The Dead Sea truly is a hidden treasure tucked away deep in the Judean Desert, offering a myriad of natural health benefits. Salt has been used for hundreds of years to help prevent tooth decay because of its antibacterial and antifungal properties. Salt from the mineral-rich Dead Sea is particularly high in calcium, magnesium, silicon, phosphorus, sodium, and other minerals that promote good dental health. Regular use of Dead Sea salt as part of a good dental regime has even been linked to teeth whitening. The Masik toothpaste also contains honey and essential oils, including lavender, lemongrass, orange and tea tree. These ingredients give it a great flavor and leave your breath smelling wonderfully fresh! When you use this toothpaste, you can take satisfaction in knowing that not only are you using a product that’s great for your teeth, but you’re also supporting an extremely worthwhile Israeli business. We would love to hear from more of you. What were your experiences of using this unique natural toothpaste?

You probably noticed some special cosmetic products in our last package: an organic night cream and a citron serum made by the family-run business Arugot. Now we want to tell you a little about what makes these cosmetics so special, and about the incredible couple who make them… Itai and Esther Lachman live in Netivot, a town in the Negev region of Israel, close to the Gaza border. So close, in fact, that they have just 15 seconds to make it to a bomb shelter or safe room when the sirens warn that rockets are coming from the Hamas-led Gaza Strip. In recent times, those sirens have been very frequent. Netivot residents have become accustomed to living their lives on edge, knowing their activities could be interrupted at any moment, and being ready at all times to make the 15 second life-or-death dash to a safe place. Yet, it is here, amidst a sometimes daily existence of rockets and sirens, that Itai and Esther have created a little oasis, designing and producing their all-natural, chemical-free cosmetic range. The Arugot business was born out of the couple’s desire for a more natural lifestyle, free from the toxic chemicals today’s world is full of. They were already raising goats, chickens and growing their own vegetables, but Itai and Esther knew they had to address the chemical products they were using on their skin. Today the Arugot range includes everything from chemical-free deodorants to sunscreen, and even diaper rash ointment. All the ingredients they use are high grade and strictly organic. The plants, flowers and seeds used in Arugot cosmetics are grown on an organic farm, and the fragrances are personally blended by Esther, who trained in herbal medicine and natural herbal cosmetics. What’s more, Itai and Esther use their business to support other causes close to their hearts, including helping female survivors of violence and sexual abuse. At Arugot, they make a point of employing women who would otherwise struggle to find work. It’s clear to see is that Arugot is not just surviving in the face of difficulty: it is growing, flourishing and helping many others at the same time. What is it about adversity that sometimes bring out the very best?

​ Saboneto is a young company of only five years! The thought and love that went into its creation started a long time ago. Sholomo Keshet used to work at an Israeli olive oil company and learned all about the health benefits and unique properties of olive oil. Inspired by his work and combined with his dedication and love of the land of Israel, Shlomo planted an entire orchard of olive trees in the Binyamin region. During the first olive harvest, Shlomo decided to not only collect the olives, but to harvest all the benefits they contained. He started the...

Brandon and Stephanie Treger immigrated to Israel with their four daughters from South Africa just over a year ago. The Tregers currently live in Efrat, one of the largest communities in Judea. In the short amount of time that they have lived in Israel, the Tregers already opened a chic boutique coffee shop called Power Coffeeworks. We recently went to visit and interview Brandon (and of course to taste the fantastic freshly brewed coffee), who is one of the newst producers for Lev Haolam’s Surprise Monthly Package Project. We arrived at the shop on a cold and rainy morning and were offered a hot cup of specially brewed cappuccinos, by Avi, the barista working there. We ended up going back for seconds. It was truly amazing coffee! Avi explained that the coffee was made from a blend of three coffee beans. I tried to remember what the blend was but quickly forgot. We sat down at one of the tables in the upstairs lounge to interview Brandon, the founder. Thankfully, Brandon repeated the ingredients that were so carefully selected and blended to form the delicious drink we had just experienced. The ingredients in our coffee are the same ingredients that are in this month’s package. Brandon went on to tell us about the coffee beans and the best methods for preparing the coffee. “In the Lev Haolam package, you’ve got our lightly roasted house blend which is perfect for black coffee or the ‘botz’ coffee.” Now to fully appreciate the interview, I want to introduce some of you to a new word that I learned during the interview. The word is “botz.” Having never heard the term before, I asked Brandon what “botz coffee” was. Brandon smiled and told me it was the Hebrew term used for the coffee grinds or sediment that sinks to the bottom of the when the grinds are used straight. In Hebrew, botz translates to “mud,” which is what the grinds at the bottom of the cup closely resemble. “We call it botz, because at the bottom of your cup you’ve got botz.” Brandon continued to tell us about the coffee in this month’s package. “We got a lovely blend Kenya, Brazil and Mysore, which will give you a bit of the high end spices of Kenya, the depth from the Brazilian and the smoothening out of the Kenyan with the Mysore. So, you guys are gonna have a great coffee. We’re going to grind it very finely so that the mud on the bottom will be quite tight and won’t interfere too much in your coffee experience - for when you get to the bottom of your cup.” “When you need it quick, just pour some boiling water over it . Then add your honey or your sugar, let it sit for a few minutes and then the sediment will sink to the bottom and then you can drink it until just before the bottom.” Brandon told us. “The other way of drinking it, for when you got a bit more time, is to put it in a pot, boil it up with the sugar or honey you enjoy, let it settle for a few minutes and then boil it a second time. Let it settle, pour it out without the bots at the bottom of the cup and sit back and enjoy the caffeine hit.” After hearing about this month’s coffee, we discovered that the idea for Power Coffeeworks and Brandon’s passion for his work was a recent development. Just a few years ago, Brandon was living in South Africa and working as a security and prehospital paramedics consultant. When inquiring about how he got started in coffee, Brandon started by telling us about his life in South Africa. “After I had my first child, in 2010, I started feeling a different influence from the paramedics and security industries. I started really struggling to do that kind of work. I realized later that I was also suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). It became more difficult for me. It started triggering hyper-anxiety and unpleasantness and by about 2013 I actually didn’t want to continue at all.” “When we were making Aliyah, I realized that I wanted to roast coffee and to make coffee for people and sit and talk to people across the coffee bar. That’s what I wanted for my future. And I wanted my kids to hang out in the coffee shop and to have this environment that you see around us now. It was a dream,” Brandon concluded. Brandon then elaborated on how he actually opened Power Coffeeworks. He explained that his father-in-law has been in the food industry for quite some time. “He has a restaurant, he produces chili sauce - he’s a flavors guy.” Additionally, Stephanie, his wife, is very artistic and has a “flare” and a good sense for fashion, as Brandon put it. We got to see her natural knack for design in action by looking around the shop which she designed. The shop’s decor is unique and simply breathtaking for those who admire detail. So with his father-in-laws knowledge, his wife’s artistic flair, and his dream of opening a peaceful place to enjoy good coffee and even better company, the Tregers had all the ingredients they needed to get the Power Coffeeworks store off the ground. On a more personal note, moving countries can be extremely challenging. Especially when you have a family. And while the Tregers are no exception to the challenges they face as immigrants, we could not help but admire Brandon’s face as it lit-up when he spoke about the opportunities he has found by living in Israel and how his children are thriving in their community, Efrat. “For me, everything is about the children. The thing I love the most is the environment that it offers the children.” “For children, Judea is the best area for children and our area of Efrat is the most amazing environment. The schools, the facilities, the social environment.” In one heartfelt story, Brandon recalled, “My little twins were swimming last year in Elazar (Judea) and they started crying. And I didn’t know why they didn’t want to go swimming. I was saying but you’ve always loved swimming. I had told them that they were going swimming like when they used to go swimming in Capetown. And they thought I was taking them back to Capetown and they started crying.” “I love the fresh air here, I love the rolling hills, the vineyards and the fact that we can go for a walk through the vineyards and enjoy the open air environment,” Brandon tells us. “Those that came to Efrat 30 years ago built an environment that’s phenomenal and we’re just settling into that environment.” Not far from Efrat is the holy city of Hebron. In addition to being a superb coffee maker, Brandon is also a proactive advocate for spreading awareness and educating others about the history and the present significance of the Judea region. “I take people on tours to Hebron as a bit of a passion. I study Torah in Hebron every Tuesday. Stephanie and I have a connection to Hebron, which dates back to a Shabbat we spent there and we connected with some special people that were kind to us.” “Sometimes I do a little tour of Gush Etzion and I explain a history of the Gush. I take them down Derech Avot (path of the forefathers) and I show them how our ancestors were traveling through this area, heading to Jerusalem, stopping along the way for a mikvah (ritual bath) and that our life has been recreated in this area. That we returned as Jews in our indigenous environment. And then I go through to Hebron - the plains of Mamre. I get a lot of pleasure out of people connecting to Hebron that may be used to thinking of Hebron as an esoteric place, a place that they see in the news that it’s just another place in Israel, a part of our roots. I try to share what makes it special to Steph and I,” Brandon explained. Before this month Brandon had known about Lev Haolam for quite some time. He wanted to become involved in what we were doing and subsequently contacted our product specialist, Neriya. When Neriya got back in touch with him, Brandon recalled emphatically, “It was great! I was really happy to get the call. It felt cool - like these are the guys I want to be involved with.” Brandon told us that the order he received from Lev Haolam was the largest order he has ever received. We were, of course, happy to hear this. “We don’t deliver that volume in one delivery by a long shot. We’ll usually deliver about 12 kilos at a time. Here, we’re delivering 350 kilos.” Brandon wanted us to tell the Lev Haolam subscribers the following message, “I’d like to thank you guys, both for the business because earning a living as a new immigrant is really important to me. I’d like to thank you guys for creating the biggest order we’ve had since opening our business. Thank you guys and I hope you love the coffee!”

​ It was after Shlomit and her family moved to Bat Ayin that a chance encounter created the impetus for Shlomit to start producing her own organic cosmetics. Shlomit recounts that about 11 years ago, her husband Tomer, who was running a survival training camp for the boys in their community, became sick and was unable to continue leading the camp. He asked Shlomit to take over the camp that day and to teach the kids something special. Shlomit took the opportunity to first teach the boys about a variety of plants and to then gather those plants with the...

Olga is the mother of 6 children. She lives in Tekoa (pronounced T’koa) a beautiful community in the Judean Hills, just south of Jerusalem. Tekoa is part of the area of Judea known as Gush Etzion (Etzion Block). Tekoa like all the communities in Gush Etzion, is located near the historical road called Derech Avot (Path of the Patriarchs) - a road traveled by all of the Jewish patriarchs. We traveled to Tekoa to meet with Olga, to hear her story and - although we did know it beforehand - to stand in awe by her masterpieces. Olga crafts stunning handmade candles that are bright even before being lit. Olga is truly an artist. The work that went into creating the engraved candles designed for our Lev Haolam subscribers requires an acute attention to detail and an intuitive spark of creativity. During our interview, we discovered that Olga’s passion for candle making came much later in life. “I’ve always dreamt of being a professional artist,” Olga tells us. “I love to paint, I love ceramics. And I searched for a long time for a profession that I could make money from and a profession that I would enjoy working in.” “By chance, I thought about candle making. I searched for as much information that I could find about candle making. And I began to become more talented at the art of making engraved candles. I became inspired,” Olga recalls emphatically. “And I knew that this was the profession for me.” We then asked Olga about the quaint community of Tekoa that she now lives in and how she came to find out about it. “I’ve been living in Israel for 18 years now and I made Aliyah (immigrated) from Ukraine… I really love yishuvim (small communities in Israel) and I have searched for a long time for a community like this one. And this community appeared to me. I also have family living here.” Olga went on to tell us, “The people here are very open. We live here like a family. I haven’t seen people in any other place. Also in our neighborhood in particular, we live like a family. When I leave my house, I don’t feel the need to lock my door. This says something,” Olga continued. “ is also a place which is very suitable for raising children. They leave the house without fear, despite the fact that our community is surrounded by many Arabs.” When we asked Olga about her business, she responded by telling us that it has grown. “It’s been about 4 years since I began this business. Today, I have come a long way from where I started. I now have a website which has enabled me to sell my products online. I also sell products in Israel - in Jerusalem, Tekoa. Tekoa in particular, I have been selling candles for many years and also candles for Havdalah (a post-Sabbath ceremony).” Olga also wanted us and the subscribers of Lev Haolam to know that she was thankful for their support for her and her family. “This really helps. It helps when so many people see it and when many people recognize it . And in particular, through the support of Lev Haolam, people outside of Israel also become aware of what we are doing, which is certainly good. And it is also good for the Jewish people that live outside Israel to know that we don’t just make candles, but that we make specially engraved candles and candles for Havdalah as well.” “I hope that with the help of Lev Haolam the business will be able to further develop, not just in Israel but also outside of Israel as well.” Would you like to help support the families and small businesses of Judea and Samaria? Consider signing up for the Surprise Monthly Package Project today.

David Daniel has been a Lev Haolam supplier for a number of years. Among the many products from our Surprise Monthly Package Project, David has produced honey and therapeutic beeswax ointment for Lev Haolam, both of which come from the bee hives David owns and maintains in Hebron. His products are infused with his passion for the land of Israel. David was born and raised in the city of Hebron and currently lives there with his wife and 4 children. While it is true that David grew up in Hebron, his passion for the Hebron and for Israel goes beyond his personal history. In an exclusive Lev Haolam interview with David, we asked him why he chose to live, work and establish his family in Hebron, David responded “the simple answer that I give is that it’s in the Bible. I open the Bible and tell them about the holy forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and about all of the high mountainous areas around us - the places that our forefathers grew up in.” “After 2000 years of exile, it is impossible to think of everything that has been accomplished since then. Suddenly millions of Jewish people from all over the world returned to Israel. This shows the strong connection between the Jewish people and the land. the same connection between the Jewish people and Hebron is the same connection that the entire Jewish people have with the whole land of Israel,” David told us. David took us back in time to explain the deep and fascinating connection his family had to Hebron in particular. David told us of how his family returned to the ancestral land of Hebron approximately 30 years ago. He explained that the strong and vibrant Jewish community that once lived in Hebron had left the city in the aftermath of the 1929 Hebron massacre. During the massacre many Jews were attacked and murdered due to the incitement of leading Arab clerics. After 6-Day-War in 1967, there were many Jews who decided to move back to the community and reestablish the lost Jewish presence there. David’s parents were among these brave pioneers. David’s primary occupation is farming and beekeeping. In addition to harvesting honey from his bees, David uses the small and versatile creatures to also help create healing ointments and balms. David started learning about harvesting bee honey and working with bees from the time he was a young child. His Father, who was also a bee-keeper, taught him how to farm and how to raise bees and harvest their honey. David’s father went to the renowned Mikveh Yisrael school - the first agricultural school in Israel. David also explained that his father had taught him the art of creating beeswax creams and ointments. “About 7 or 8 years ago, I began to seriously produce beeswax creams and offer them for sale,” David explained. “Aside from honey, it is a wonderful product with tremendous health benefits, David continued. We got a lot of positive feedback on how great and helpful the products are. Given the positive feedback from our customers, we decided to begin mass production about 8 years ago.” In addition to being a Lev Haolam supplier David Daniel has been a friend of Lev Haolam founder Nati Rom for many years. In speaking about his first impressions and experiences with Lev Haolam, David recounted, “I started to work with Lev Haolam, a special company. I met with Nati in Hebron. We have been friends for many years and about four years ago, he mentioned to me that perhaps we could begin working together.””I am very pleased with the work that they are doing,” David continued. “They help support the economy of Judea and Samaria, and on top of that, they publicize the products produced in Judea and Samaria to the world. This gives strong encouragement to the mission of building communities in Judea and Samaria” David is very thankful for the support from Lev Haolam’s subscribers. During the interview David said, “I wanted to thank the supporters of Lev Haolam who purchase from Lev Haolam. They are really helping us develop our businesses. These large orders that I get from time to time give us the opportunity to grow and move forward.” “Lev Haolam really helps us and really gives us support financially and encouragement to continue to strengthen and build Judea and Samaria. And I wanted to say from me and my family, thank you so much!” Would you like to help support the families and small businesses of Judea and Samaria? Consider signing up for the Surprise Monthly Package Project today.

​ “My husband is a tour guide who likes guiding tourists but mostly he enjoys guiding solider groups. As he was instructing everyone to put their bags back on the bus – a truck came and hit him. The terrorist killed the soldier he was talking to instantly and my husband was thrown back, he rolled on the grass. He was surprised to discover he could get up and understood it was a terrorist attack and right away ran to shoot at the terrorist; he just shot his whole magazine and shortly was joined by others. A few seconds later,...

​ Several employees roll the dough, grind nuts, mix them with dates and spices, prepare the fillings and cut the ready cookies into pieces. While packing is done by a machine, almost everything else is done manually. “And you can feel free to taste them” says Uriel Mekhaber, Rachel’s husband and business partner. “The pastries taste different when they are made by hand. The fact that a given set of cookies in one box can come in different sizes, gives you a sense that the cookies are homemade. We like it and will stick to it.” Rachel and Uri got...

Have you ever wondered what inspires one to open a winery? For Avraham Moro and Michel Metzger, two French Jews who immigrated to Israel over than 30 years ago, the answer was quite fascinating. The two friends, who had been partners in construction business before, opened a winery when they wanted a business that would bring them not just money, but happiness. At the Amos Winery, you can feel it. Upon entering Amos winery, you first arrive at the visitor’s center, a welcoming place where wine or coffee is served all day, music performances are held every Saturday evening, and art exhibitions take place from time to time. When I ask the owners of the winery whether the visitors center brings any notable part of the profit, they start to laugh a bit nervously.”We do not lose too much on this,” Michel says with a sigh. “But we want to keep it anyway, because a winery is a business that you can only run with a joyous heart. Both me and Avraham like to have guests, like art and music, and we believe wine becomes better when there is music around.” “I always tell the musicians who come here: Remember, there are barrels of wine behind you, please play the music that the wine will like,” Avraham adds. He was the one who came up with the name for the winery - that of the prophet Amos, whose homeland was Biblical Tekoa and who said, “Behold days are coming, says the Lord, that the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.” When Avraham was a boy, he lived in Burgundy, France, where his grandfather would make wine for the family meals from grapes that grew surrounding their house. In 1980, following his several year long “pursuit of God”, as he puts it, Avraham came to Israel. Throughout his soul-searching, he converted to Judaism, took on the name of Avraham (which suits him - looking like a patriarch with his grey hair and big beard), and got married two years later. 30 out of his 37 grandchildren live in Judea & Samaria. In the winery, he is mostly responsible for technical and engineering processes, while Michel deals more with the financial part of the business. They also have a professor of oenology (winemaking science) from the Beersheba University visit the winery regularly for advice. Amos Winery produces 15,000-20,000 bottles of wine per year from the grapes grown by Michel’s relative in Latrun near Jerusalem. The owners are intended to increase this number to 40,000-50,000 bottles next year, mostly for the American market. Along with wine, they also make liqueurs - from raspberries grown in Tekoa, and from cherries grown in the Golan Heights. Stationing a winery in Judea & Samaria does not help the business, because of the BDS movement that makes it harder to market and sell products made outside the Israeli ‘green line’. But Michel and Avraham say opening a winery in Tel Aviv or elsewhere in ‘proper’ Israel was not an option for them. “I do not like the word ‘territories’ at all,” Michel explains. “I think all of Israel is our land, including the settlements, so why make distinctions? Our history is here, in Judea and Samaria, and we rely on people who understand this, and who are smart enough to tell art - which wine is - from politics.” Speaking about the order of Cherry Liqueur from Lev Ha-Olam, Michel says, “It won’t make us rich, but it warms our hearts to know that there are people around the world who know about our existence here and care about us, to know that we are not alone.”

Founder of the “Holy Cacao” chocolate factory near Hebron Jo Zander is one of just a few dozen producers of bean-to-bar chocolate in the world. He sees his work as realization of a major commandment in Judaism: Improving the world. What is your connection to chocolate, how did you come to founding a chocolate factory? My connection to chocolate is both old and new. My grandfather was a baker, and I worked for him as a kid. I did not like chocolate at that time, I didn’t even like sweets at all, but there I learned to do things from scratch. Then I went to college and studied engineering, which was not really exciting for me. I worked in the field a little, and after three years I was done, I could not do it any longer. So I left engineering and went to culinary school, and there I rediscovered chocolate. It was at a time when there were just five companies in America doing chocolate from the bean, and one of them was in Denver, Colorado, where I lived. I called them up and asked if I could come and see, and I was overtaken by the smell, by the beans… They made a very bitter chocolate, and there were flavors in it that I never really encountered in chocolate. It was something exciting I did not know even existed. So you decided you would establish the sixth chocolate company? Basically, yes. From this initial excitement grew this process of exploration of just everything possible - tree, growing, harvesting, processing. There wasn’t a place you could go to learn. The industry did not exist. There was an online conversation of enthusiasts, me included, about how you can make machines to make chocolate. It takes a lot of energy to transform the bean to chocolate. You have to reduce the size of the bean up to 100 times, and there is no one single machine that can do this, you need several. We (me and my partner) began to build my own machines. Our first roaster was a 10-year old dryer. There was a lot of discovery and experimentation, and that’s how the company got off the ground, and thank G-d in several years we were able to buy machinery that was the next level up in terms of production capacity.We grow beans in South America, so we control the entire process, we know exactly what gets into the chocolate we produce. We also import beans from other places like Papa New Guinea, Madagascar, and Venezuela. Why did you chose to settle in the Hebron area? One of my friends once invited me to visit this place, when I was studying in a yeshiva in Gush Etzion. While I was driving, I was thinking - this is too far away, there are too many Arabs, it does not feel like I could ever live here… But once I got on top of the hill, the entire view opened up, I could see the Dead sea. It does not happen here every day, but that day it was crystal clear. And I thought I want to have that view for the rest of my life. At that time I could not know yet that I will get so much love and support from the community here, which is such a warm feeling. And the fact that we were 5 minutes away from Hebron, from Avraham Avinu (Abraham our Father), is so powerful. Is it difficult to have company here? Very difficult. Every time we have a shipment, it’s very difficult to convince someone to deliver to this area. But I love to bring people here. Why at all did you chose to settle outside the ‘green line’, in Judea? Honestly speaking, I don’t see the difference between this part of the line or that part of the line. I don’t differentiate in terms of safety, and I consider this land part of the land of Israel. This is the land of Avraham, the land of David. There is so much Jewish blood in this land, for thousands of years! I personally have a connection to Maarat HaMahpela (the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron), something inside my soul connects a lot to this place, more than to the Western wall. This is the land that requires physical labor, like producing olive oil from olives, which has been being done here for thousands of years. This is our job. My job is to do the world a little sweeter each day. This is what G-d gave to us. You can look at this place and see it dark, and bitter, and not so great, but we are always looking for a little bit of good, because a little bit of good is actually all we need.

In just ten years, Nicole Yehezkel has changed her life in all ways possible. She moved from Florida to Israel, from school to the IDF, became religious, moved to a community in Judea and Samaria, and started her own business. She sells natural cosmetics and medicinal products from Israeli-grown materials - herbs, oils and flowers. As we exit the car in the community of Halamish, or Neveh Tzuf, located in the hills of southwestern Samaria, just 26 km from Jerusalem, a stunning view with green hills all around opens up. I ask Nicole Yehezkel what she likes about living in Neveh Tzuf. She replies, “Same thing that you saw when you first arrived. The view. The air. You can breathe here. Wow, it’s just beautiful. Don’t you feel the magic?” She first saw the place when she served in the army base nearby. “It would be nice to live here,” she remembers thinking. The road to settling in Neveh Tzuf, however, took several years, which started with her moving to Tzfat, getting married, opening a restaurant, closing it down, getting divorced and then meeting her current husband, who already lived in Neveh Tzuf. Another stop on the way to Halamish was Nicole’s journey in becoming religious. “My sister was pregnant with twins, and there was a moment during her pregnancy when she was at risk. When I learned about this I took the Book of Psalms, which I had hardly ever read before this, and just started reading. It was an impulse which came from within. I had always been spiritual, and my parents - Israelis who left for the US - brought me up knowing what Shabbat and kashrut are, although they themselves are not religious. So Judaism came as something very natural,” Nicole reveals. It took another pregnancy - this time, her own - to get her interested in holistic medicine and healthy living. Three years ago, she started studies in Shelem College in Jerusalem in ‘complimentary medicine in the spirit of Judaism’, where she still takes courses in naturopathy, Chinese medicine, acupuncture, aromatherapy, reflexology. Bringing theory to practice, half a year ago she opened her own naturopath practice, serving the community of Halamish, and started producing natural cosmetics and medicinal products under the brand “Shoresh” (‘root’ in English). “Unlike traditional medicine which treats symptoms, I want to get to the root of the problem a person has with his health,” Nicole explains her choice of the brand name. “Also, I think we all need to get a bit back to the roots, to how things used to be. You did not need to go to the doctor or to the pharmacy for any small issue you had with your health - you knew which herb to use, or you could ask your mother… You did not buy all the food in the supermarket, you used to grow it yourself… I feel there is something very healing being in contact with soil, with nature. I grow some of the herbs I use, like calendula or thyme, myself, and I collect some others inside the settlement. You basically have everything you need around you, you just need to stop and look around! But that is exactly what a modern man is not able to do.” As we talk, Nicole adds a sizable piece of beeswax into a large saucepan with olive oil, which had been previously heated for several hours together with calendula petals. She stirs it until it is melted, then adds several drops of lavender oil. Calendula salve - a perfect treatment for skin problems, including rashes, scrapes, and dry skin - is ready. All the components Nicole used were Israeli home-grown products. She has been packing about 20 different-sized orders per week so far, all for Israeli customers. Everything, including labeling and packaging, is done inside Nicole’s house, with the help of her husband. The one who used to add five spoons of sugar to a cup of tea has gradually become a warm proponent of healthy living, Nicole laughs. On the wall there is a picture of her husband with a herd of goats. He used to have a dozen goats which he herded himself, until they were stolen several years ago. During the November fires in Israel, their house escaped fire narrowly, with the family needing to be evacuated in the middle of Shabbat. For several days Halamish residents were constantly on alert, trying to catch the fires around the settlement early and to prevent damage to the houses. “Life here is not easy,” Nicole admits, “but I would not trade it for living in the city.” She believes she has found the right thing to do in her life, and the right place to do it.

Discover the journey of Tzvika and Adi Zamir as they build Asif, a boutique Israeli cosmetic brand blending science, nature, and family heritage. The Founders: Tzvika and Adi’s Journey Tzvika Zamir’s path to creating Asif started long before he ventured into cosmetics. A proud Zionist, Tzvika served in the IDF as a paratrooper, eventually becoming an officer. It was during this time that he met Adi, his future wife, who played a pivotal role in his life and later in the development of their business. Their shared experiences, both in the military and in life, strengthened their bond and prepared...

Amid war and hardship, our brave producers continued their work, supported by Lev Haolam subscribers who helped keep their businesses alive. How Our Producers Faced the War: A Year of Courage and Survival When war erupted on October 7th, 2023, it wasn’t just a fight for survival on the frontlines – it became a battle for the heart and soul of Israel. For our producers, this war was deeply personal. They faced not only the threat of rockets and violence but also the immense challenge of keeping their businesses alive. Every day brought new hardships, from disrupted supply chains to...

Experience the rich heritage of Israeli craftsmanship through MASIK, a family-run cosmetics company dedicated to creating 100% natural products inspired by the beautiful landscapes and organic goodness of the Golan Heights. The Story Behind MASIK Amnon Mizrachi’s journey to establishing MASIK began with a personal struggle. After being diagnosed with psoriasis, he sought a solution to soothe his skin condition. Following his dermatologist’s advice to try natural olive oil soaps, Amnon realized there was a gap in the market for a soap that was not only effective but also a pleasure to use. Drawing inspiration from the abundant olive trees...

🌿 Planting Roots, Reviving Traditions ​ Decades ago, a small group of families arrived in this corner of the desert determined to restore the land – and themselves – through shared labor and purpose. Their work began with patience: clearing neglected soil, tending young olive trees, and learning to live by the rhythms of the seasons. Over the years, hands both young and old have cared for the groves, passing on knowledge, songs, and laughter. Elders from Neot Smadar speak gently about making the desert bloom. For their children and grandchildren, every olive harvest is a chance to live out...

✨ Every Membership Brings Growth, Courage, and Community Batya says it best: With your support, Batya added not just more clay – but more dreams. She saved for new glazes, expanded her collections, and – one joyful morning – welcomed her fourth kiln, laughter echoing off the studio walls. Her workshop became a gathering place for other local artisans. They watched her journey, and whispered, “If Batya can, maybe I can too…” Batya’s story is echoed by many artisans touched by Lev Haolam and supported by dear subscribers. Your membership doesn’t just give Batya a reason to keep going –...

A Life Shaped by the Land Shimshon Farm began more than 40 years ago, but Hezkia Dromi’s connection to agriculture started much earlier. What began as a personal connection slowly became a way of life. Hezkia and Yael planted olive trees, built a home, and raised their family on this land. Six of their seven children were born here, growing up among orchards rather than fences. The farm sits in the Jerusalem Mountains, where rocky soil and changing weather demand patience. Trees grow slowly. Yields depend on timing, rainfall, and restraint. It’s not an easy place to farm, but it’s...

Each Month Tells a New Story Assi Olive Oil – Emek HaMa’ayanot ​ At the heart of the January box is extra virgin olive oil from Assi, produced in Emek HaMa’ayanot, one of Israel’s most fertile regions. Assi’s olive oil is the result of patience, craftsmanship, and a deep respect for the land. The olives are carefully harvested and cold-pressed to preserve their natural aroma and flavor. The result is a smooth, balanced oil that reflects the region it comes from – rich, grounded, and full of life. Olive trees are among the oldest symbols of the Land of Israel,...

A Different Kind of Success Story ​ Most people do not move to the desert to start a business. But for Itay, Mitzpe Ramon was never only a location. It was a calling. Founded in 1999, Faran Cosmetics was born from Itay’s deep connection to the desert and his belief that life in the Negev offers something impossible to find anywhere else. Surrounded by the beauty and stillness of the Ramon Crater, he began creating natural skincare products inspired by the plants, minerals, and spirit of the Israeli desert. As Itay explains: “Here I can tap into the spiritual side...

How one family near the Gaza border turned a search for safe products into a mission of wellness, resilience, and redemption ​ That may be the simplest way to explain Arugot. But it hardly captures the depth of the story. Because Arugot is not really about soap. It’s about healing. About rebuilding. About rediscovering the wisdom hidden in nature and ancient roots. Why have we accepted so many harmful things as normal? Moving Toward the Border – On Purpose In 2010, the Lachmans made a decision most people would never consider. Together with six other families, they moved south to...

A Map of Israel’s Heartland More Than Dots on a Map ​ Look closely at the producers featured throughout Lev Haolam’s boxes and a pattern begins to emerge. Some live in the hills of Samaria, where communities overlook the same landscapes once traveled by biblical figures. Others build their businesses in Judea, among vineyards, olive groves, and ancient Jewish towns that have existed for thousands of years. Some work in Jerusalem, where modern life unfolds alongside layers of history found nowhere else on earth. Others come from the Jordan Valley, the Judean Desert, the Negev, and the Galilee, each region...

Meet Tamir Peled, the father of five building sweetness in northern Israel during wartime Building a Business While Holding Life Together Tamir grew up in Kfar Tavor, in Israel’s Lower Galilee region, and over the years built Beit Hashaked into a growing snack company loved by families across Israel. For him, the business was never only about selling snacks. He speaks about the products the same way parents speak about meals they prepare at home – wanting them to be good enough, safe enough, and joyful enough for his own children. That feeling shaped the company from the beginning. As...

The Story Behind the Shoresh Body & Soul Candle From Miami to the Hills of Samaria ​ Nicole did not grow up imagining she would one day live in Samaria. Raised in Miami, she made Aliyah in 2005 and moved to Israel as a young woman seeking something deeper. The transition was dramatic. She left behind a familiar life and found herself adapting to an entirely new culture, language, and reality. “It was scary to move from Miami to the middle of nowhere,” she recalls. Soon afterward, she enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces as a lone soldier and served...