Over 3,000 years ago, in ancient Bethlehem, a wealthy landowner named Boaz spotted a young maiden gleaning from his field. After learning that she was Ruth, the Moabite daughter-in-law of his widowed relative Naomi, Boaz, impressed with Ruth’s generosity and commitment to her mother-in-law, welcomed Ruth to glean from his field for the duration of the harvest season.
Addressing her later as a “woman of valor,” (Ruth 3:11), Boaz happily accepted Ruth’s request to “redeem” her in levirate marriage along with the inheritance of her late husband and father-in-law. Through this one act of “redemption,” Ruth conceived and gave birth to Obed, the grandfather of the future King David and the “restorer of life” to the bereaved Naomi. (Ruth 4:15)
Over three millennia later, just west of Bethlehem, a group of young pioneers seeking to further “redeem” and “restore” the Biblical Heartland founded Sde Boaz (“Fields of Boaz”) in 2002. This agricultural community, bearing Boaz’s name, occupies a location of both historic and strategic importance. Overlooking the hostile Arab village of Hosan, it sits in an area integral to the security of the Gush Etzion region, helping to connect it with Jerusalem to the north.
While acutely aware of the threats they face every day from nearby Arab villages, the residents of Sde Boaz have thrived and prospered! United in a mutual understanding that working the Land of Israel goes hand in hand with securing the Biblical Heartland, the pioneers of Sde Boaz established a community farm where, like their Biblical ancestor Boaz, they grow and harvest crops such as wheat, corn, watermelons and grapes.
Notwithstanding their unbreakable commitment to the Land of Israel, numbering just over 40 families, the community of Sde Boaz has borne a heavy burden since October 7th as their husbands and fathers have routinely been called back to reserve duty ever since that dark day. With more than several dozen hostages still in captivity, many of the community’s men continue to serve as reservists, remaining separated from their families. The women and children of Sde Boaz need your support now more than ever! Through CFOIC Heartland’s Homefront Resilience Initiative, please give NOW to families like those in Sde Boaz!
Learn more about the community of Sde Boaz.