You Didn’t Just Receive a Box — You Experienced Israel
Looking back at the stories, flavors, and people behind the May Lev Haolam Box
By now, the May box has probably already become part of your home.
Maybe the cookies disappeared within a day. Maybe the spice blends already found their permanent place in your kitchen. Maybe you tried one of the Shavuot recipes from the magazine, or maybe you sat down “just for a minute” to read one story – and ended up reading the entire magazine cover to cover.
Because this month’s box felt different.
Not because of one specific product, but because everything inside seemed connected by the same feeling: a deeper connection to the people and spirit of Israel.
As we prepared this box, we kept returning to one idea:
Behind every product is a person with a story worth knowing.
And this month, those stories felt especially personal.
From the quiet desert of Mitzpe Ramon to the misty hills of Tzfat, from family workshops in the Galilee to spice farms near Bethlehem, the May box brought together people from completely different corners of Israel – all connected through creativity, resilience, faith, and a love for the land.
One moment you were tasting the rich flavors of Aunt Berta’s pomegranate teriyaki sauce, and the next you were reading about Eyal Cohen, the writer from Tzfat who spent years bringing Biblical figures like King David to life through stories that make them feel human and real again.
His story stayed with many readers this month.
Not only because of his books, but because of the journey behind them.
After years spent disconnected from Jewish tradition, Eyal unexpectedly rediscovered the Tanakh while traveling abroad, and that moment slowly transformed the course of his life. What began as curiosity eventually became years of writing, learning, and storytelling dedicated to helping others connect to the Bible in a more personal and emotional way.
And in many ways, his story reflected something larger that ran throughout the entire magazine: the idea that Israel’s story is still unfolding today through ordinary people continuing an ancient journey.
That theme appeared beautifully in the company message at the beginning of the magazine, which reflected on King David’s journey through hardship, faith, and perseverance. The message reminded us that even during difficult times, the Jewish people continue choosing hope, kindness, and connection to the land of Israel.
One line especially stayed with us:
“We continue to believe even when it is dark, as we keep walking in the way of faith, with our eyes fixed upward and our hearts open.”
And honestly, that feeling could be felt throughout the entire box.
You saw it in producers like Itay from Faran in Mitzpe Ramon, creating natural skincare products inspired by desert plants and the unique calm of life in the Negev.
Even while describing the realities of war, uncertainty, and the challenges facing small Israeli businesses, he continued speaking about hope, community, and the importance of continuing to create beauty in difficult times.
You could feel that same quiet resilience everywhere throughout the box.
In the producers continuing to build despite uncertainty.
In the recipes connected to Shavuot and the harvest season.
In the stories of families developing businesses across Israel.
In the map showing all the different places your support has reached throughout the country.
This month’s box didn’t feel like a collection of unrelated products.
It felt like a journey through Israel itself.
The magazine captured that beautifully, especially in its reflections on Shavuot – a holiday deeply connected to harvest, gratitude, and the bond between the Jewish people and the land of Israel.
And maybe that is why this box felt so meaningful.
Because everything inside carried that same spirit of connection:
connection to the land, to tradition, to family businesses, and to the people continuing to write Israel’s story today.
One of the most special things about being part of the Lev Haolam family is that over time, these producers stop feeling like strangers.
You begin recognizing the names.
The regions.
The faces.
You remember the winery from the north. The artisan workshop from Jerusalem. The family business near Gaza. The desert skincare producer whose products are made from plants growing in the Negev sun.
And slowly, Israel begins feeling less distant.
More personal.
More human.
That’s what makes these boxes so much more than products.
They create relationship.
And as we look back at the May box, we simply wanted to say thank you for taking this journey with us.
Thank you for reading the stories.
For supporting the producers.
For cooking the recipes.
For sharing these products with your families and homes around the world.
Because long after the products are finished, something much more important remains:
The connection.
