Dror Israel’s Educational Orchards Cultivate Resilience

The war with Iran affected every part of Israeli society, from classrooms to office buildings, from families to farmers. In Dror Israel’s Educational Orchards, the impact was immediate and dramatic. But what followed was a powerful story of adaptability, community, and the deep connection between land and people.

Early July marks the peak of lychee season in northern Israel. Our educator-agricultural workers began the harvest just one week before the 12-day war with Iran broke out. Under normal conditions, 50% of lychee harvested in our orchards is exported internationally, and 50% is sold to consumers across Israel. Most of this work is done by young people participating in Dror Israel’s educational frameworks, such as gap year programs, schools, and youth movement initiatives.

Dror educators take to the streets to sell lychee directly to consumers after all exports were cancelled because of the war with Iran.

The Educational Orchards at Ravid grow mangoes, lychees, olives, and more. In addition to an agricultural endeavor, they are a hands-on educational space where youth movement members, school groups, and gap year participants come to connect with the land and each other through hard work and shared purpose.

But when the war began, everything changed.

With Israel’s skies closed, all exports were immediately halted. With all planned groups unable to reach the orchards, we suddenly found ourselves without our expected workforce. Still, we knew how to respond. Our teams quickly consulted the IDF Home Front Command to ensure operations could continue safely and legally. Former participants and graduates of Dror Israel programs returned to help. We shifted all sales to the local market and launched a direct-to-consumer effort. Incredibly, every single lychee harvested was sold, and none went to waste.

Teens from Kibbutz Eshbal and Kibbutz Ravid took part in packaging the lychees in areas in close proximity to safe rooms and shelters during the 12-day war with Iran.

It was a massive mobilization of young Israelis: educators, agricultural workers, and students. Children from Kibbutz Ravid and Eshbal helped pack lychees, and once the fighting ended, middle and high schoolers joined to pick them as well. Boarding school students from Eshbal came to lend a hand, along with soldiers led by a commander who had once been part of Dror Israel’s military preparatory program.

Now, with mango season in full swing, the work continues. The past two weeks have brought international gap year participants from Australia and New Zealand into the fields. We’ve also launched a program for young adults in Israel, post-army or currently in university, who spend six weeks working in the orchards, guided by a dedicated educator. Some of last year's cohort went on to move to the Gaza border region and continue working in agriculture long term as a group.

Dror Educational Orchards managed to pick and sell all lychee despite the unimaginable threats from the 12-day war.

Dror Israel’s Educational Orchards act as agricultural fields and serve as classrooms, hubs of community, and spaces where resilience is cultivated. Even in times of war, they offer a tangible way for young people to contribute, connect to the land, and help keep Israel growing.

Mango season is currently underway! Groups of young adults and youth movement participants are picking and packaging the fruits right now!