By Nativia Samuelsen

In the heart of Sde Nitzan, a small community in southern Israel, a trail-blazing agricultural school is quickly transforming both the landscape and its young Israeli students. Founded just six months ago on a four-acre plot of land, this new farming school is already making a powerful impact, with its innovative learning techniques and the strong desire among students to help renew the battered South and drive its future growth.

The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem is privileged to be part of this innovative school by providing a new greenhouse classroom, which will expand the school’s agricultural programs and offer students invaluable, hands-on experience.

When our ICEJ delegation arrived on a recent visit, the school was alive with activity. A bulldozer was at work preparing land for the new greenhouse, marking an exciting new phase for the school, while the youthful students were busy preparing for an open day aimed at introducing the next group of classmates to the school.

In a conversation with the school’s leaders, Ofek Salomon shared how the school was established in response to the challenges of the past sixteen months of war since the atrocities of October 7. The team had a vision for revitalizing the region and encouraging youths from all over Israel to come South to live in dorms and help rebuild the devastated agricultural communities.

They quickly mobilized, recruiting specialized teachers in just a month and opening the school doors on September 1 last summer. Despite the tight timeline and the absence of any infrastructure to show potential students and parents just months ahead of the opening, they managed to recruit 30 students who believed in the vision.

“In one month, we changed the whole thing,” remarked Asher Wolf, director of the boarding school.

“We want to create the Harvard of agricultural schools,” added Ofek with a smile.

This ambitious vision is off to a fast start, from its first open house to the greenhouse classroom addition and other cutting-edge farming adaptations. The farming school is not just about teaching kids to work the land; it is about cultivating a new generation of agricultural innovators.

As part of the curriculum, the school is committed to hands-on learning and inventing. The greenhouse “classroom” provided by ICEJ will serve as a hub for experiments in crop efficiency, new agricultural technologies, and sustainable farming practices. The students wake up at the crack of dawn, eager to get their hands dirty and explore the possibilities that agriculture offers.

Ma’ayan, a new student, shared her personal journey and reasons for choosing to come to the school.

“After the war, I felt like I wasn’t doing anything,’ she shared. “I was looking into a lot of different programs, but nothing really fit. Then I came here for the opening day, saw everything, and Ofek explained the vision. I felt like this was the right thing to do.”

“I never thought about agriculture, but I really liked nature,” Ma’ayan explained. “And then, after the war, I wanted to do something meaningful. It’s the best choice I’ve ever made.”

The new greenhouse, a significant part of the school’s ongoing expansion, will serve the students as both an educational tool and a real-world application of their studies.

“The hope is that these studies will intrigue them enough that they would want to study agriculture after their army service and impact Israel and the world,” noted Asher. “It’s not just about working hard in the field. It’s about inventing new things and being at the forefront of agricultural technology.”

Current plans call for continued building and expansion of the facilities, including staff housing, classrooms, and more specialized areas for agriculture research.

“We want the students here to feel that studying is important,” said Ofek. “This is the way to do it—field trips, experiments in the greenhouse, and exposure to the latest in agriculture technology. It’s not just about growing food, but growing minds. We keep saying that we don’t want it to be a nice toy or a museum [but] … a real place of learning where students can take risks and push boundaries.”

At its heart, the school aspires to foster a sense of ownership and connection to the land.

“We want Israeli kids to see how incredible it is to live here in the Negev. Maybe, they’ll even meet their spouses here and start a life here in the community. Our goal is to rejuvenate the South and calm the worries and fears of living in this region,” Ofek concluded.

“This vision of bringing young people to the Negev to learn, innovate, and rebuild at a time when so much was destroyed in the agricultural infrastructure there, is what inspired us to be a part of this project,” explained Nicole Yoder, ICEJ’s Vice President for AID & Aliyah. “We knew it was what is needed right now. It is also an incredibly hopeful and forward-thinking project at a particularly difficult time. With our donation, we want the people of Israel to know that Christians are with them in their determination to reclaim the Negev and continue the pioneering tradition of Israel.”

“Especially now, after what we went through on October 7 in this place, where they tried to destroy us, we are building our lives towards a better future,” said local farmer Asaf Farchi. “The students see you believing in us, and they learn that there are good people out there, who are willing to help out of the goodness of their hearts, and it warms our heart as well.”

In addition to agricultural studies, the school also offers a full educational path from 9th through 12th grade.

“We’re planning, within five years, to expand to possibly 100 students,” Ofek mentioned. “The plan is that they will come from all over Israel for more than just one year. They will stay, study, and hopefully go on to live here after their military service.”

The ICEJ is excited to be part of this project at the ‘forefront of agricultural schools.’ We are investing in a strong foundation for the future of farming in the Western Negev. With infrastructure like the new greenhouse classroom, ICEJ is supporting young individuals to become leaders and pioneers in Agro-Tech. As we left the project, we were struck by the powerful sense of community – where learning and nature come together.

“This initiative would have been hard to walk away from, knowing the opportunities it holds for the future,” stated Nicole.

Thank you for giving to our Israel in Crisis fund, which helps rebuild communities shattered by the events of October 7, 2023. Your generosity is bringing hope to the people of Israel.

Give today at: help.icej.org/crisis

Main photo: Plants flourishing inside the agricultural school’s greenhouse “classroom”.