Made in Israel

 Israel never ceases to amaze.

Too often, news about Israel is confined to its security situation, its tensions with its neighbors, and its complex yet unique relationship with United States. So every once in a while, I like to remind the congregation that there’s so much more to Israel than that.

Earlier this week it was reported that Israeli scientists are planning an experiment to test the possibility of growing seeds and plants on the moon. To quote the author of the article, this will be the most ambitious attempt yet at extraplanetary agriculture. This project is being sponsored by The Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research of the Ben-Gurion University Israel’s harsh Negev desert.

Who even knew that extraplanetary agriculture existed?

As well-known, Israel is famous for developing the technology and infrastructure to grow food in some of the most arid regions on earth. That’s how Israel’s pioneers “made the desert bloom.” Israel has shared its know-how, resources, and technology throughout the world. Whether in Africa, or right here in the United States of America, Israeli technology is helping to grow food where none grew before.

And now Israel is setting its sights even higher, hoping to use some of the knowledge it developed on earth to seed (no pun intended) research into growing crops on the moon.

The ability to grow plants in space is seen as crucial for long-term space missions and even possibly establishing human outposts elsewhere in the solar system.  Working collaboratively with universities in Australia and South Africa, Israeli scientists are preparing a tiny 2-kilogram greenhouse with a variety of seeds and plants that will head to the moon in 2025. It will be part of a lunar mission known as “Breesheet 2,” the second attempt at an unmanned moon landing by the Israeli Space ll nonprofit.

Now there are a variety of obstacles to overcome if this project is to be a success. The environment on the moon is of course different than that of earth. The greenhouse that is being specifically built for this purpose must survive the 4 ½ month journey to the moon, and the extreme temperature fluctuations that accompany space travel. Additionally, the entire project is complicated by the fact that the whole experiment can only last 72 hours, which seems to be the maximum battery length for a design of this size.

But if there is any nation in the world that has learned how to transcend the difficulties of climate to produce amazing results for all humanity, it is Israel.  More than half of Israel is classified as a desert (defined as receiving less than 10 inches of rain per year). Yet it is not only self-sufficient in food, but exports its produce throughout the world.  Israel lacks the natural resources of the United States, most of Asia, and Africa. Yet it produces science and technology (as well as art, literature and culture) that is the envy of the world. Indeed, the technology that I used to dictate my ideas for this Shabbat message into my phone was developed in Israel (as was so much of the technology in the phone as well), not Silicon Valley. Israel has a history of figuring out complex problems, and providing solutions.  While I am not scientist or a farmer, I am a proud Zionist and passionate supporter of Israel. So if Israel sets its mind towards figuring out how to grow food on the moon, I am confident that in time it will not only succeed, but be among the world leaders, if not the leader in this endeavor.
This is serious cutting-edge research, and a potentially transformative contribution to the future of space exploration.  Who knows: food in the future may be grown on the moon or Mars, but the knowledge will be Totzeret Ha’aretz, made in Israel.

It’s just another example of Israel’s remarkable capabilities, and another reason to be optimistic about his future. Despite its challenges, Israel builds, and thrives, and elevates all.