Thirteen years ago, the idea was born to reconnect older Ethiopian Israelis to the land, in order to remind them of one of their most fundamental strengths, which had been hidden within them for many years and had not been possible in the new reality they encountered in the neighborhoods of Gedera.

Last Sunday, on the occasion of the start of the new year, we held an evening of appreciation for the farmers, partners, and donors who play an important and meaningful role in our activities.

Eylio Tashger, representative of the farmers, shared: “When I was in Ethiopia, I thought that when we would arrive in the Land of Israel I would have a very large plot of land, and when we arrived I always saw farmers and fields along the roads and I was envious and nostalgic for that work. This garden gave me the opportunity to return to working the land.”

Tashger’s powerful testimony proves that we succeeded in realizing our vision. We therefore created an opportunity to thank both our partners and our farmers—without whom none of this could have been achieved—and to present them with a small gift as a token of our deep appreciation

At the exhibition held in our agricultural garden, we displayed moving photographs capturing everyday moments of the farmers at work. The images were taken by the talented photographer Gidon Agaza. Each farmer received a canvas print of themselves in the garden, and our partners were gifted a calendar featuring photographs of the farmers, together with the book Trailblazing People, which includes a profile of Yuvi Tashome-Katz, Executive Director of Friends By Nature.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in the event and in our ongoing work. We wish us all a good year filled with shared endeavors, growth, and community spirit.