4 1 2 3 98 99 Chapter Six | Agriculture Muasi agriculture - suckling agriculture In the Gush Ka�f area, the main farming method in the Arab sector was the Muasi farming. It is an age-old agricultural method for growing vegetables in sandy areas near the sea using fresh groundwater that is not very deep. The meaning of the name Muasi is 'suckling', implying that plants suck water from the groundwater. Muasi agriculture was based on tracking groundwater by monitoring the development of vegeta�on, mainly palms, in low places, and digging a test pit that reaches the groundwater layer. Once water is discovered, the area is leveled un�l a layer of sand 20-30 cm deep remains above the water layer. Using increased fer�liza�on, one can grow up to two or three vegetable crops a year when the plant receives only one irriga�on. A�er that, its roots penetrate the water layer, and it does not need further irriga�on.42 Agricultural Commi�ee When the Gaza Coast Regional Council was established, the farmers needed to be united and assisted. Therefore, an Agricultural Commi�ee was established. It was ini�ally headed by Shimon Ovadia from Netzer Hazani, followed by Uri Hayoun from Netzer Hazani, and since 1999, Yossi Zarfa� from Gan Or. The commi�ee's role was to represent the farmers internally and externally, develop new fields, assist in obtaining crop and water quotas, strengthen the rela�onship with the Flower Council, maintain communica�on, transfer knowledge and informa�on, provide proper guidance, assist in obtaining foreign workers, connect between different farmers, and more. The Agricultural Commi�ee was the body that made the farmers' voices heard and helped them advance. When the disengagement loomed, the Agricultural Commi�ee helped obtain adequate compensa�ons, working with appraisers and represen�ng the farmers to the various ins�tu�ons.43 Agriculture by the Torah In Gush Ka�f the special connec�on between agriculture and the Torah of Israel is expressed. The combina�on of agricultural and Torah people generated interes�ng and unique connec�ons. Agriculture in Gush Ka�f also met the high criteria of both agricultural and halachic standards. To this end, farmers and agricultural instructors had to understand the Torah aspects of working the land. Rabbis and judges had to understand the needs and agricultural processes in every issue: crop hea�ng, fer�lizing and improving the soil, pest control, requirements of modern agriculture adapted to export abroad, and more. With the advancement of agriculture, various halachic ques�ons also emerged, such as whether to work on holy days and what is allowed and what is not on Shabbat and Shmita. To answer these and other ques�ons, a combina�on of professional knowledge and halachic knowledge was necessary. Responses to such ques�ons resulted in special technological developments, such as automa�on and computeriza�on, on the one hand, and new laws that had not been known in the Jewish world for thousands of years, on the other hand.44 The Shimta issue was catered to in-depth in Gush Ka�f. First, it was crucial to establish whether Gush Ka�f was part of the se�lement boundaries of the Second Temple or only within the boundaries of the First Temple. This research is significant as it sheds light on the historical and agricultural aspects of Shmita Laws. Then, many ques�ons arose about the export of Shmita produce and the status of special crops, such as flowers or cu�ngs, during the Shmita year. The detached growing substrates method, a unique solu�on, was developed through a collabora�ve effort between the farmers and the people of the Halacha. This innova�ve approach required solving numerous agro-technical problems, including those related to drainage, fer�liza�on, and high temperatures. Each solu�on had to meet both the halachic and agricultural requirements, demanding a high level of professional skill and halachic knowledge on the part of the farmer.45 Of course, the highlight of combining Torah with agriculture was the remarkable development of growing insect-free leafy vegetables, which allowed kosher observers to use leafy crops simply and easily in their private kitchens or the business sectors: restaurants, hotels and various ins�tu�ons. Here, too, solu�ons were required that combine halachic data and agricultural knowledge. For farmers who chose this form of cul�va�on, it was more than just about producing at a high level of agriculture. They also had to ensure a good kosher level, o�en facing the disappointment of a successful crop being rejected for shipment due to a high percentage of insects, from a halachic point of view. Thus, Gush Ka�f cons�tuted an excellent incubator for integra�ng Halachic agriculture, coming up with original solu�ons and significantly fostering the integra�on of Torah and agriculture in many fields of ac�vity.46 The Torah and Land Research Ins�tute To assist farmers' development and be at the forefront of technology and product quality on the one hand and meet the requirements of the Halacha and its laws on the other hand, the 'Torah ve HaAretz Ins�tute' was established in Kfar Darom. The ins�tute conducted research, implementa�on and explana�on of the mitzvot (decrees) that depend on the land, the mitzvot from which the Jews broke away for thousands of years a�er being exiled. The ins�tute's people were focused on reviving these mitzvot and crea�ng prac�cal solu�ons to the problems at hand.47 A technological incubator with sophis�cated laboratories was established in the ins�tute building. The research was based on Torah and science, which generated a fantas�c connec�on between professionals, Torah people and field people—the farmers. Later, the 'Mitzvot Garden' was established as an educa�onal and touris�c development to illustrate the en�re field. The ins�tute has gained impressive achievements in Shmita and insect-free leafy greens in Israel and worldwide, especially in the water cycle, detached growing substrates and pest control. The Torah thinking and the need for halachic solu�ons accelerated technical research and profoundly contributed to the development of general agriculture, thus turning the local farmers into the 'high-tech of agriculture'.49 The evolu�on of halachic agriculture also elevated the Torah level of the residents.49 The supervision of the crops required trust and faith, trust in the growers who do their best to meet the strict requirements, and the faith of the farmers that even if a crop is rejected and financial damage is caused, they are ready for it, and the main thing is not to trip (from a kosher-observing viewpoint) the customers with faulty produce.50 The combina�on of Torah and work increased in the quality of the produce, strengthened the rela�ons between Gush Ka�f farmers and contributed to all other areas of life in Gush Ka�f. The ins�tute's management members toiled to spread the unique crops of the region. They asked funding from the Ministry of Agriculture for the detached growing substrates, and on the eve of the Shmita year, they approached Rabbi Elyashiv (R.I.P.) to get his support for the produce of Jews from Gush Ka�f over Arab produce, and it worked..."I felt the fulfillment of the prophecy, everything blossomed and grew from the moment we arrived, and became the best produce in the world," said Ami Giat, director of Midreshet HaTorah ve HaAretz. 51 1 Crops on detached growing substrate in the Shmita year 2 Strawberries trellised in the Laloum greenhouse at Ganei Tal 3 Mo� Shomron in the Torah ve HaAretz Ins�tute vineyard 4 Picking insect-free celery in Kfar Darom
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