On the Monday of Chol Hamoed Sukkot, we joyfully celebrated Chubeza’s traditional Open Day. After three years of war, hostages, grief, pain and fear, we all greatly need breathing space. The Open Day offered the perfect way to celebrate together with you – in the open air, alongside Chubeza’s field and vegetables that steadily accompany us all with diligent growth, determination, and total indifference to human chaos.

When we set out on our first tour in the field, I marched together with a group of children alongside the lush green lettuce beds. These kids spied the lettuce with a spontaneous, excited “Wow!” Which was exactly our feeling as well, and what we felt you experienced together with us – wonder, heartfelt joy, breath filling our lungs, and eyes widening at the myriad shades of green crisscrossing the plots. We hope that Chubeza’s “green shower” you were blessed to receive will give you strength and joy – for a sweet, wonderful year.

And now, it is my obligation and delightful privilege to thank everyone who worked so hard to make this happen. Thank you to Chubeza’s dedicated, amazing workers, partners, and loyal friends, without whom the Open Day could never happen:

A giant thank you to all our workers for their advance preparations – setting up the awning, leveling the ground in the area, building the sukkah, preparing cold water, harvesting vegetables, and much, much more.   

• Thank you to Einat the Champion, who had a hand in every effort – working tirelessly to organize and run the vegetable sale with super efficiency, accuracy and charm
• Thank you to Nant for preparing and manning the refreshment table – washing, peeling, slicing and serving fresh Chubeza veggies nonstop for the masses to munch on (and along the way, cajoling quite a few kids to sample some less-familiar veggies)
• Thank you to Emanuel for commandeering the pita-making on the saj, for helping wherever needed, for cleaning up – before and after – and taking responsibility for the cooking flame. Everything was delicious!
• Thank you to Gefen and Sara for manning the Craft Corner, for explaining to and helping children wherever needed, for their patience, and for happily letting some kids just scribble on a page. We’re all for creative freedom.
• Thank you to Gabi for helping with everything, tirelessly, for driving the Tractor Tours with great safety and responsibly – almost nonstop (without a break) between the tours.

And of course, to you all – Thank you for coming, asking, chatting, touring, noshing, harvesting, and praising. Thanks to everyone who introduced themselves. It’s always nice to connect a name to a face and to meet you in person – not just via messages or phone calls.

We had a great time, as we hope that you all did as well!

Wishing everyone a smooth Return to Routine.

May this week, filled with painful, difficult memories, enable us to draw strength from nature and thrive.

From us all at Chubeza