OUR MISSION
Safeguarding Israel’s lands through education and social action
Our Challenge: The State of Israel has not succeeded in fully safeguarding its lands or in maintaining the Zionist connection between those lands and the people of Israel. The resulting damage is two-fold. On the one hand, agricultural crime has become epidemic in scale, and on the other hand, a complete disconnect has developed between the people of Israel and their roots.
Our Solution: We take responsibility for safeguarding Israel’s lands by engaging in agricultural and forestry work alongside educational initiatives that strengthen connections to the land. We have been undertaking this mission for the past ten years with conviction, responsibility, civic courage and love of the land.
Our story
HaShomer HaChadash was established by Yoel Zilberman, from Moshav Tzippori in the Galilee, and On Rifman, from Kibbutz Revivim in the Negev, in response to the pressing need for protecting agricultural lands. The two realized that the act of safeguarding is based on a foundation that embodies a deep educational idea – love of the land, or in its more recognizable form, Zionism.
Since its establishment in 2007, HaShomer HaChadash has inspired love of the land by connecting tens of thousands of volunteers not only to the farmers and ranchers in need of assistance but to each individual’s personal identity. This is accomplished through a variety of innovative work and education projects that deepen our shared roots, further cultivating love of the land.
The founders
Yoel Zilberman: Yoel’s story begins in Moshav Tzippori where he was raised as a third-generation cattle rancher and brought up to love the land. This led him to pursue studies at the Ma’ayan Baruch pre-army leadership academy and at the Midrasha at Ein Prat. During his service in an elite IDF unit, his father’s ranch suffered from ongoing harassment and agricultural crime. These events led Yoel, while still in his officer’s training course, to spend nights helping his father safeguard his lands which, technically, belong to the State of Israel.
On Rifman: On’s story starts in Kibbbutz Revivim and continues to the Ma’ayan Baruch pre-army leadership academy and on to five and a half years of service as an officer in an elite IDF unit. After his service, On studied at the Midrasha at Alon and played a central role in establishing the Bnei Tzion Leadership Academy in Tel Aviv. Rooted in shared values and friendship, the connection between On and Yoel was established immediately after the “Shai Dromi” incident, which brought about the enactment of a new law protecting individuals who defend their land from criminal conviction. On was one of the leaders who paved the path towards this precedent-setting legislation.
OUR VALUES
Mutual Responsibility – As a people, we believe that we are responsible for preserving agricultural and forestry work in Israel, the presence of which lies at the root of our national existence. Even when the State is not able to fulfill this mission, Hashomer will do so in its place through study, action and implementation of the Zionist ideal wherever it is needed.
Civic Courage – Volunteering is no simple task: leaving the comfort of one’s home and driving distances to safeguard agricultural land as if it were one’s own against criminal elements pressuring a farmer to abandon his land. It takes true courage and demands a strong sense of social involvement and mutual responsibility, in their most profound and practical senses.
Love of the Land – This value connects all who live on the land and provides us with a sense of belonging. This Love is what gives us our Jewish and Israeli identity. Our goal is to be a movement identified with keeping love of the land as a relevant and thriving value, as it was in the past and should continue to be in the future.