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November 15, 2002/Kislev 10 5763, Vol. 55, No. 12
The living land
Jewish farming community purchases land for organic kosher farm
TRACY SULLIVAN
Western Massachusetts Jewish Ledger
Children and parents enjoy a hayride at a Jewish Farm Festival in Sunderland, Mass.
Photo by Connie Gould
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Seventy acres of land in Sunderland, Mass., just north of the Amherst border, will soon be used by an observant Jewish farming community to create an organic kosher farm and build homes for its community members.
This community, known as Eretz Ha'Chaim, which is Hebrew for "the living land," recently purchased 61 acres in Sunderland and nine in South Hadley. The property was purchased for $620,000 using donations.
An Amherst-based developer, the Levi-Nielson Company, provided much of the money to purchase the land, says Rabbi Chaim Adelman, director of the Chabad House of Amherst.
"It's been a Godsend. God has answered our prayers," the rabbi says, adding that Scott Nielson, a partner in the company, is "God's messenger."
Adelman, who first came to Amherst in 1988, says the idea to create a kosher farm was the result of his unhappiness with available kosher food.
"Companies don't really know about kosher laws. Mistakes often occur," he says. "It's a very complicated industry and requires a lot of knowledge."
"My thought was to go to scratch - square one - and make my own food," he explains.
Adelman says the idea soon evolved to creating an observant Jewish community to live on the farm. For Adelman, the farming community will answer the Lubavitcher Rebbe's call to make Israel where you are by creating an ideal spiritual place and community.
So far, seven families have expressed interest in moving onto the organic kosher farm and taking part in the project.
He adds that the non-kosher community has expressed interest in the organic food that will be produced on the farm.
"A lot of people here, even the non-Jewish population, are into organic foods and health living," he says.
Plans for the land are being developed before seeking approval from the town.
The goal is to have the homes built in 18 months.
"With God's help, it will be that quick," says Adelman.
The property is currently zoned for 13 units, with hopes to increase the zoning to accommodate more families. There are also plans to construct a Torah center on the property to serve as a place for study and possibly as a school for preschoolers and older students, Adelman says. The organic kosher farm will raise animals, and Eretz Ha'Chaim will produce food such as vegetables, bread and dairy products.
"We hope to provide as much self-sufficiency as possible," Adelman says. "If we could do it all ourselves, that would be ideal."
Tuvia Helfen, a farmer, and his family recently moved from New Mexico to live and work on the land.
During its second Farm Festival on Oct. 13, Eretz Ha'Chaim planted garlic.
"Hopefully in the spring we'll start something more substantial," Adelman says.
A large part of Eretz Ha'Chaim's mission is to educate people about the Jewish farming perspective and kosher farming. The farming co-operative hopes to develop internships for students who want to work on the farm.
Adelman says, "It's a big dream, but we'll see."
For more information about Eretz Ha'Chaim, call (413) 549-8404 or visit www.thelivingland.org.
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