About Us

Rabbi Yehuda HaLevy Amichay

 Director of the Halachah Research Department

Resident of Kiryat Arba. Alumni of Merkaz HaRav yeshivah in Jerusaelm. Holds the title Yoreh-Yoreh. From 1984-1989 served as rabbi of the agricultural settlement Karmel in the southern Hevron hills. From 1989-1990 was the rosh yeshiva of Orot HaNegev in Beit HaGedi, near Netivot. In 1994 served as chairman of the Cheif Rabbinate's Shemitah Committee. Published the books Tefilat David on the siddur of Rabbi Eliyahu David Rabinowitz zt"l and Nachalat Avot, written by Rabbi Petachya Menkin zt"l. He also edited part III of Shabbat Ha'aretz Chukat Ha'aretz, and the series HaTorah VeHa'aretz (seven parts), Hoda'at Ha'aretz, Netiyot Ha'aretz, Bikkurei Ha'aretz, Sukkat Katif, and the periodical Emunat Itecha. From 1995 until today serves as a dayan in a monetary court in Kiryat Arba and in the Cheif Rabbinate conversion court.  

Rabbi Yaakov Ariel

 President of the Torah VeHa'aretz Institute.

Leading halachic authority in the Religious Zionist community. Former chief rabbi of Ramat Gan, head of beit din for monetary matter, and president of the Ramat Gan hesder yeshiva. Authored many halachic works, including BaOhalah Shel Torah, Ma'ahale Torah, Olah Min Hamidbar, and Halachah Beyameinu. Founder of the yeshiva high school Beit Yehudah in Kfar Maimon, former rabbi of the yeshiva in Yamit, and former president of Tzohar.

Rabbi David Eigner

Halachic researcher at the Torah and Land Institute, specializing in halachic matters related to agricultural sectors involving animals, such as dairy farms, poultry, and sheep. A graduate of the Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva, he grew up on an agricultural moshav Kfar HaRo'eh of Poalei Mizrachi. His deep connection and familiarity with agricultural issues are evident in his activities and in his spoken and written words: in field tours, lectures to farmers and professionals, and his articles in the periodical Emunat Itecha of the Torah and Land Institute.

In 5772 (2011-2012), the institute published his booklet Halachot Gidul Tzon (Laws of Sheep Rearing), a product of his labor, with the endorsements of Rabbi Yaakov Ariel and Rabbi Yehuda HaLevy Amichay. The uniqueness of this booklet lies in the blend of professionalism and halachic, serving as a paradigm of a halachic work that encompasses extensive halachic scholarship and broad professional knowledge. He is the editor of the Halachah-Agricultural Encyclopedia project.

Rabbi Netanel Oyerbach

Torah scholar at the Halachah Research Unit of the Torah VeHa'aretz Institute.

Resident of Bene Dekalim. Studied at Merkaz HaRav yeshivah for 12 years, 3 of which he served as noseh venoten (meishiv), answering students' questions at the yeshivah. Launched and edited articles on Talmudic topics by yeshivah students. BEd and teacher's certificate from Michlahah Bayit Vagan Jerusalem College and MSc in Science, Halachah, and Education at Bar Ilan University.

Dr. Mordechai Shomron

Director of the Agricultural R&D Department

Resides in the new community Bnei Dekalim, formerly a resident of Neve Dekalim in Gush Katif. Studied at Yeshivat Hakotel in Jerusalem. Holds a Bsc. Hebrew University (Rechovot) and a Msc. from Ben-Gurion University (Be'er Sheva) in horticulture. Managed the gardening department in the development town of Yerucham and worked with youth in disempowered neighborhoods. Established a public gardening company (development and maintenance) in Neve Dekalim, managed and developed gardening in all the settlements of the Gaza Coast Regional Council. Additionally, he worked on the development and operation of wastewater treatment systems and their use for irrigation through computerized systems. Served in various public roles: member of the management committee, chairman of the absorption committee, chairman of the emergency team. Currently serves as an agronomist for Torah VeHa'aretz Institute and the Chasalat-Alei Katif company, trains farmers and coordinates R&D.

Rabbi Dr. Yoel Friedemann

Torah scholar and lecturer at the Torah VeHa'aretz Institute, editor of Torat Ha'aretz series and of the Emunat Itecha periodical.

Currently resides in Nitzan, a former resident of Neve Dekalim. Studied at Merkaz HaRav and Yamit yeshivot. Holds rabbinical ordination from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and a PhD. Lectures on the topic of the land-dependent mitzvot at Emunah College in Jerusalem. Published Sefer Haterumah by Rabeinu Baruch ben Rabbi Yitzchak in Hilchot Eretz Yisrael. Wrote numerous articles, especially on the topic of the land-dependent mitzvot. 

Rabbi Avraham Sochovolsky

Head of the Torah VeHa'aretz program to train rabbis on the topic of the land-dependent mitzvot.

Former resident of Atzmona, Gush Katif; currently resides in Shomriya. Studied at Chorev yeshivah high school and alumnus of Merkaz HaRav yeshivah, two years of which he studied concurrently at the Halachah Berurah-Berur Halachah Institute, nearby. Holds rabbinical ordination from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. Since 2002, involved in the study of the land-dependent mitzvot.

Rabbi Moshe Bloom

English Department Director, lecturer and tour coordinator at Torah VeHa'aretz Institute. 

Born and raised in the religious kibbutz Ma'aleh Gilboa to parents who made Aliya from the United States, he was exposed to agriculture from an early age. Studied at the Yerucham hesder yeshiva and received the yoreh-yoreh ordination of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. During his compulsory army service, served as an officer in Shimshom Battalion, and currently serves as a battalion rabbi in the reserves with the rank of Major. 

He holds a BEd and teaching certificate in Tanach and Jewish Philosophy from Herzog College, and an Msc in Science and Halachah from Bar Ilan University. He worked as a Tanach teacher in Yerucham and head of Torah MiTzion in Warsaw (5774-5777), concurrently serving as a rabbi in the Warsaw Jewish community and as assistant to the Chief Rabbi of Poland. He was also a member of the Conference of European Rabbis during these years. He has been involved in various fields including kashrut supervision, mikvaot, eruvim, synagogue management, holidays, and more. He is an alumnus of the Barkai program. Currently, he serves as the rabbi of the Netzach Shlomo community in Petach Tikvah.

Rabbi Itzhak Dvir

Deputy director of Torah VeHa'aretz Institute. 

Community rabbi in Elon Moreh, where he serves as a community rabbi, certified as a rabbi of a city by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. 

Studied at yeshivat Elon Morah. Besides his work at Torah VeHa'artez Institute, he works in the field of kashrut certification, serving as a rabbi in Kosharot and was the former director of the Elon Moreh kashrut department. 

Published numerous articles on various topics in Emunat Itecha, some of which were compiled into a series of books Kashrut Kehalachah and published in Techumin, HaMaayan, and other publications. Involved in disseminating content and public education on the land-dependent mitzvot.

Yehuda Heller

Alumni of Yeshivat Birkat Yosef (Alon Moreh) with a BSc in soil and water studies and an MSc in orchard fertilization (Hebrew University). Agronomist for Torah VeHa'aretz Institute and Chalasat-Alei Katif, guiding farmers and engaged in agricultural R&D.