Today, I would like to dispel a myth: one of the stereotypes which are associated with Jews is that Jews do not like to work the land.

It is connected with the fact that for centuries the Jews, who lived in Europe, were forbidden to own land, forbidden to settle in the city from time to time.

But history has placed everything in its place: more than a hundred years ago, the first settlers started settling Palestine, first by buying land from local Arabs. Those sold willingly, considering that they make an excellent deal, selling infertile soil, and Jews will move out in a few years, and land will return in possession of the former owners.

For a short time, even before the formal foundation of the State of Israel, in the desert, on stony land, in the swamps gardens, canals, vineyards were created by migrants’ hands, life was revived. In fact, the existence itself of Israel was made possible only because Jews started actively working on the land. Israel began with kibbutzim.

Kibbutz is a group, a community. One hundred years ago, enthusiasts came to the desert and began to fight for their lives from nature. It was decided not to have children in the first kibbutz, because it was impossible to take care of them, not to marry. But these people had a sense of unity, a great family and a common cause. People went to Eretz Yisrael fleeing from persecution, with a desire to create a new, just society.

Just imagine: for 2 thousand years no one cared for this land. In the south of the country there were wetlands, in the north – a desert and rocks. Despite the difficulties, Israel was reborn in kibbutzim, and most of the first innovations and discoveries arose there.

In the first decades of the 20th century, Israel was a breeding ground for malarial mosquitoes: lands in the Jordan Valley, which Jews bought from Arabs, were uninhabitable. People were massively ill and went to work, knowing that no one else would help them. They drained swamps, irrigated dry land, built irrigation canals to stop the spread of disease. Their work was so successful that the commission of the League of Nations came to Palestine to learn from their experience. For 20 years Israelis completely overcame malaria and began to plant plants.

Forests were planted in the desert, wheat started to be grown on former swamps, vineyards were planted on the slopes of the mountains and vegetables began to be grown in the Arava desert. And all this was achieved for the first 20 years of existence of the State of Israel.

Not to be short of products Israelis bred new plant varieties resistant to drought, different kinds of diseases, which can be watered with salt water. At the same time, Israel willingly shares its experience and now all of these products are grown in the neighboring countries.

Over time, kibbutzim began to develop their own successful business, there were companies that sell new products in agriculture: for example, insects and animals that fight blasts and pollinate plants in greenhouses, drip irrigation system, sea water desalination, etc. Do you know that sea water can flow out of the ocean in a tap for less than 1.5 hour? It is possible if there is no other choice. And it is possible to water a garden or vegetable garden with water collected from the air: in Israel such traps for dew are used extensively. They collect and direct moisture straightly to plant roots. Also Israelis came up with the purification of already used water using ultraviolet light. Today, Israel uses more than 80% of waste water.

Today, Israel is selling vegetables, fruit, and fish, grown in the desert, where it seems nothing can grow. And it was made by people themselves, enthusiasts, who believed in their own strength. I believe that with the help of advanced technologies and Ukrainian industriousness we will reach the same heights and be able to get out of the hole and overcome all difficulties.