Full Breakdown
The Revival of Jewish Farming in America
By Drooid · · How we work
The Revival of Jewish Farming
Across the United States, a growing number of Jews are establishing farms that blend religious tradition with contemporary food-system values. Wendy Rhein, a 52-year-old single mother, left a high-rise kitchen in Washington, DC, to purchase a 10-acre property in Tryon, North Carolina, where she raises sheep, ducks, chickens and a pig. She donates 10 % of her harvest to a local food bank, reflecting the Talmudic concept of pe’ah (giving part of the harvest to the needy).
Historical Roots and Modern Organizations
Jewish agricultural activity dates back to the early 20th century. The Jewish Agricultural Society, chartered in 1900, helped Eastern-European refugees settle on U.S. farms. By 1933, professor Gary Moore of North Carolina State University estimated that more than 100,000 Jews earned a living from farming. Today, the Jewish Farmer Network—co-founded by Shani Mink—serves about 1,800 farmers, most of whom are first-generation agriculturalists, and offers conferences, classes and farm-to-table Shabbat dinners.
Profiles of Notable Farms and Farmers
- Rhein’s Chutzpah Hollow (NC): a 10-acre mixed-livestock farm that integrates prayer into animal care.
- Adamah Farm (CT): a 20-acre nonprofit at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center offering three-month fellowships to young Jews.
- Ma’alot Farms (CA): a 16-acre operation run by Rabbis Shoshana and Philip Ohriner, providing produce and living-wage jobs while emphasizing Jewish values.
- Ekar Farm (CO): an intergenerational garden that donates roughly 20,000 lb of organic produce annually.
- Robariah Farms (MA): run by certified shochet Zalman (Robbie) Friedman, tending about 1,000 birds; a quarter of customers are non-Jewish.
- Migrash Farm (MD): 32-acre farm where Ian Yosef Hertzmark grows ancient grains timed to the Passover calendar.
Practices, Scale, and Community Impact
Jewish farms vary in size—from Rhein’s 10 acre plot to Hertzmark’s 32 acre fields—and in production focus, ranging from livestock to specialty grains. Many operate under a tzedakah ethic, directing surplus food to food-insecure populations, including refugees and seniors. Non-Jewish customers increasingly value regenerative practices, as seen at Robariah Farms where about 25 % of patrons are not Jewish.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I am very clear this is not a quote-unquote ‘Jewish farm’,” — Wendy Rhein