Farming With a Difference

 Some housing has been completed, and some land is still to be cleared, in a relatively recent venture taken on by a group of ultra orthodox Jews in Massachusetts, USA. They have commenced a communal farm, ‘Eretz HaChaim’ (the Living Land), and are trying to run it according to principles from the Torah and the Talmud.  They intend to grow produce, make maple syrup, and raise sheep, goats, chickens and cows.  Gentiles will milk the cows on Saturdays because the Talmud forbids Jews from milking on the Sabbath, but the cows still need to be milked for their comfort.  Other examples of their adherence to Jewish principles is that they will let their land lie fallow every seventh year, leaving the corners of the field for the needy at harvest and the chickens will not be fed grain during Passover. 

 The Lubavitcher Jews who have begun this project are not usually involved in agriculture but have a vision of an organic, kosher farm that can be used to embrace less religious or secular Jews and introduce them to religious Judaism.

 It is planned that the 70-acre communal farm will eventually become a self-sufficient community with a synagogue, Torah study centre, schools etc.  While the farm is not expected to be very profitable Rabbi Adelman, one of the project leaders, says they ‘aren’t opposed to money’. 

 Already seven families have joined and others are interested. There is an open invitation for Jewish believers to seek membership of the community and add to the numbers already involved.  The group screens interested families with essay questions about their spiritual goals and how they resolve conflicts. It is expected that 25 families will make Eretz HaChaim home and they intend to live a Torah life and have ‘the most perfect community you can imagine’. 

 Interestingly, ‘Eretz HaChaim’, is not only the name the Lubavitchers have selected for their farm.  The name is also that of a cemetery in Israel.  Situated on the outskirts of Jerusalem, on the road to Tel Aviv, it is in an area said to be the scene of the activities of Samson in Biblical days, and the area is still referred to as ‘Samson Junction’.

 Cemetery promotion states: ‘Eretz Hachaim is, beyond question, the most beautiful and modernly maintained memorial grounds in Israel…It is an area which is saturated with sacred memories of Biblical and post-Biblical days. Aesthetically, Eretz Hachaim Cemetery blends harmoniously with the surrounding mountain scenery. It is maintained with reverent respect for our most sacred traditions, and Rabbinic surveillance governs all aspects of its functioning. Eretz Hachaim arranges for the casket to be received at the Israeli airport, for its transfer to the cemetery, for the opening of the grave, and for the religious services which are conducted by our Chevra Kadisha in the presence of a Minyan. We will also extend every helpfulness to the family in the selection of a monument design, in keeping with the harmonious character of the cemetery. The prevailing custom in Israel is to inter husband and wife in adjoining graves. It is, therefore, recommended that purchasers make immediate reservations for the spouse.’