Planting hope in Samaria: A journey through vineyards, springs, and ancient history

We heard Jeremiah's words three times on this trip, at Har Kabir, Tura Winery, Har Bracha (Mount Gerizim), and in a stone cellar beneath an organic farm at Givot Olam. Each time, the person quoting the verse stood next to a vineyard planted within the last 25 years. This journey through Samaria was aimed at finding healing tourism destinations - places where people can heal their souls and refresh their bodies. The author brought his family along for the trip.

Two guides led the way: Lilian Zaitman, who had lived in Kedumim for 44 years, and Baruch Odeser, a field coordinator for the Samaria Regional Council who had been guiding for over 15 years. Twenty years ago, people in these communities only worked in the morning and returned home to sleep. However, local leaders recognized that farming and tourism could help the region, leading to the establishment of wineries, farm shops, and coffee carts.

Lilian Zaitman emphasized that agriculture and culinary culture were the path to bringing outsiders together and creating meaningful connections. Almost every stop on the trip proved her right.

The anchor of the journey was Kabir Winery on Har Kabir, located in Elon Moreh, close to 800 meters above sea level. The winery features a visitor center, a working winery, a dairy restaurant, guesthouses, and zimmers (couples' suites) with jacuzzis, kitchens, and private gardens. The complex is wheelchair accessible, accommodates Shabbat-observant guests, and features a synagogue nearby.

Dinner was served at the winery's kosher dairy restaurant, followed by a brunch on Fridays. Reviewers on an Israeli booking site gave the zimmers perfect scores, with guests praising the Friday meals as "not shaming a five-star hotel" and the hosts as warm and patient.

The mountain itself was the main attraction, offering panoramic views of Emek Tirza, a drop of roughly 900 meters below sea level, and ancient oaks. Itamar Weiss, along with his wife Chani, had turned this barren mountain into a thriving vineyard and tourism destination after arriving 26 years ago. Today, he hosts guests from all over Israel and abroad, and over 95% of them express a desire to live there after their visit.