Farm-to-table events serve up a new kind of delicious in the Negev

Photo: Earth's Promise

Attendees of a recent Earth's Promise farm-to-table event enjoy a fresh, locally sourced meal in Be'er Sheva.  

By Adam Ganson

It was a rainy evening in Be'er Sheva, an unusual and rare occurrence in Israel's south, and a steady downpour had fallen since the afternoon. Many people remain indoors during this type of weather, complaining of the cold and only interested in staying warm. Good thing, because a perfect indoor opportunity presented itself. Inside a finely decorated cafe, about 40 guests filed into the cozy interior as servers prepared for a unique evening, Earth's Promise "farm to table" event. 

"Farm to table" is a worldwide movement that's now making its way to Be'er Sheva. The purpose is to encourage people to make local and fresh food choices. Many restaurants have started sourcing their ingredients from nearby farms and charge a premium for a quality meal. 

Earth's Promise, a Jewish National Fund partner, promotes urban agriculture in the south of Israel in order to support sustainable growth in the Negev region. Earth's Promise recently teamed with local restaurants to promote the farm-to-table idea and provide interesting local food and urban-agriculture opportunities for residents in the south.

It started with a JNF blue box: My lifelong love affair with Israel

An early start: JNF staffer Abigail Fleishman and her blue box (far right) are pictured in a local newspaper photo
about Tu B'Shevat. 

By Abigail Leviss, JNF director of grants and foundations 

I grew up in Los Angeles down the street from my grandparents. Each Friday night, we'd walk to their house for Shabbat. My grandmother would make matzo ball soup, chicken, and her famous eggplant salad, and my grandfather would lead us in the kiddush. Just after we lit the candles, he'd grab coins out of his pockets and we'd each place one in my grandparents' JNF blue box. It was a light blue, tin box with a map of the state of Israel on it and a small keyhole on the bottom. "It's for the children in Israel," my grandfather would say. 

Israel was a constant topic of conversation in our family. "There is nothing more important than protecting Israel," I'd hear it over and over.

Are you a social-media star? Get sent to Israel and help make a difference!

Last year, Vivian Grossman, a member of the Jewish National Fund's national board of directors, had a vision. What if JNF were to convene a team of creative, committed, forward-thinking social-media professionals to help tell the stories of the many people JNF touches and accelerate the organization into the juggernaut for Israel it was meant to be? 

Photo: Anne Taillandier

In the summer of 2014, Social Media Executive Committee Member 
Alicia Yaffe gets up close with plants at a Be'er Sheva community garden 
farmed mostly by new Ethiopian immigrants. 

With the help of Abigail Leviss, JNF's director of grants and foundations, and the blessing of CEO Russell Robinson, the social-media executive committee was born.

The inaugural committee featured an incredible group of volunteers -- employees of Saatchi & Saatchi, R/GA Advertising, The Huffington Post, CNET, and a startup that represents major clients including the estates of Janis Joplin and Michael Jackson. The group traveled to Israel last summer, heading north to south and east to west to visit JNF partners and see firsthand how the JNF is making an impact in areas like infrastructure, water, historical preservation, tourism, and care for the disabled. Upon their return, the group began working closely with JNF professionals to increase the JNF's visibility and sharing social-media tips with the JNF-loving masses.  

Then we started hearing from all corners of the globe from people who wanted the chance to be on the committee. That opportunity is now open to everyone.

Triplets in uniform, one disabled: A story of hope and determination

Photo: Tzippy Avni

Tzippy Avni and her three daughters.

Tzippy Avni of Eilat shared the following personal story with the Jewish National Fund in honor of Jewish Disability Awareness Month, an initiative to foster inclusion in Jewish communities worldwide.

Nineteen years ago, we had a beautiful set of triplets.

First May was born, and then Chen. Both weighed in at over 2 kilos (4.4 pounds), which enabled them to be released from the hospital within a few days. The last to be born was Shir, at a weight of 1.360 kilos (just under 3 pounds) that plunged to just 900 grams (less than 2 pounds) within four hours. Shir was so tiny that I would stroke her gently with my pinkie. From the first moment, I had this magnetic pull to her, a real telepathic connection. I feel her all the time, and she sees things in me that nobody else sees. It's a bond that is hard to explain.

Photo: Tzippy Avni

After a long period in the hospital, with innumerable tests and evaluations, they broke the news to us: "Your daughter is severely brain damaged. She has cerebral palsy and retardation. She will never walk and will be very handicapped her entire life. That’s the way it is."

"'Listen well,'" I said. "'This girl will run. This girl will sing. This girl will flourish and this girl will even go to the army.' They looked at me skeptically and said, 'Don’t be too optimistic.' I replied, 'I am her mother. I have no choice but to be optimistic. Wait and see what will come of this little girl.'"