Reviving biblical plants in the Judean Desert, Guy Erlich is bringing the Balm of Gilead, frankincense, myrrh, and ancient perfume plants back to life.

This episode explores why so many Tanach-era spices feel almost mythical today, how their plants and growing knowledge disappeared from the Land of Israel, and what it means to revive them in the very region where they once grew.

Guy Erlich is a farmer in Almog, who has spent 17 years rebuilding a living collection of biblical medicinal and perfume plants, including Balm of Gilead, frankincense, and myrrh.

Together, they discuss the mystery of the ancient balsam, the connection to ketoret and the Beit Hamikdash, desert agriculture, healing oils, Ein Gedi’s lost secrets, and the deeper spiritual idea of resurrection in nature.

00:00 Mythic Bible Spices

01:10 Lost Balm of Gilead

01:52 Meet Guy Erlich

02:27 Farm of Frankincense

04:50 Balsam Identity Mystery

07:04 How Revival Began

11:05 Building a Plant Collection

13:52 Healing Oils and Covid

17:56 Smell, Soul, and Temple

21:20 Miracles in Desert Farming

24:50 Past, Future, and Temple Talk

29:33 Funding, Support, and Visits

33:19 Rapid Fire Wrap-Up

37:06 Resurrection and Prophecy

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Ready to experience it for yourself? Visit https://judeasamariaexperience.com/ to plan your journey to Judea and Samaria.

What happens when fear, stress, and trauma don’t get processed—especially in a reality shaped by ongoing war?

In this episode of Live the Land, host Franny Waisman shares her experience at a weeklong somatic healing retreat and sits down with Jackie “Nava” Fuchs, a yoga therapist and somatic healer based in Tekoa. Together, they explore how the body holds onto unprocessed experiences—and what it actually looks like to begin releasing them.

From practical grounding tools (like breathwork, yoga nidra, and vagus nerve regulation) to deeper ideas about connection, vulnerability, and healing through the land itself, this conversation bridges somatic therapy with the lived reality of Israel today.

They also connect these ideas to timeless TaNaK narratives—offering a powerful lens on disconnection, transformation, and what it means to truly return to oneself.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or constantly “on edge,” this episode offers a grounded, honest look at what healing can look like—without bypassing the pain.

Timestamps

00:00 Somatic Retreat Awakening

00:34 How Unprocessed Stress Lives in the Body

02:21 Meet Nava Fuchs

04:35 Tekoa’s Landscape & Healing Environment

14:02 Meditation & Releasing Inner Constriction

19:23 Three Daily Grounding Practices

21:39 What Is Somatic Healing, Really?

23:54 Trauma-Sensitive Yoga for Resilience

32:00 Why Healing Requires Connection

33:26 The Human Need for Connection

35:08 Understanding the Vagus Nerve

35:32 5-Minute Tools to Calm the Body

37:07 Healing Through Connection to the Land

46:55 Healing as “Returning”

48:42 The Torah of Healing: The Root of Disconnection

How do museums, maps, and ancient artifacts change the way we read Tanach? In this episode, Franny Waisman sits down with Nachliel Selevan to explore how historical context, geography, and material culture can bring the biblical world back to life in a way that feels real, grounded, and deeply relevant.

Key Questions Explored in the Episode:

How can artifacts and museums help us better understand Tanach?

What was daily life actually like in the biblical world?

Why does geography matter so much when learning Torah?

How does life on Israel’s desert frontier echo ancient realities?

What can modern visitors do to experience the land with more context and depth?

Franny opens with reflections on the recent ceasefire with Iran and frames the episode around a central idea: Tanach becomes clearer when read through the realities of its own world. Nachliel Selevan, a Tanach and history teacher, shares how archaeology, museum collections, and historical artifacts help students understand the economic, agricultural, and physical realities behind biblical stories. The conversation moves from Babylonian artifacts and Judean silver weights to life in Pnei Kedem, where desert living, farming, shepherding, and security concerns create a strong connection to the rhythms of ancient Israel. Together, they explore how land, climate, and geography shape Torah, and why visiting museums and engaging with material culture can restore depth and context to the biblical text.

About The Guest:

Nachliel Selevan is a Tanach and history teacher known for bringing the biblical world to life through archaeology, museum artifacts, maps, and historical context. Drawing from both scholarship and lived experience on Israel’s Judean frontier, he helps students connect Torah to the physical realities of the land, its history, and its culture.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Welcome and War Update

00:30 Why Context Matters

01:40 Ancient Israel Daily Life

02:59 Meet Nachliel Selevan

04:33 Teaching Through Artifacts

18:36 Life in Pnei Kedem

23:49 Shepherds, Farmers, and Security

28:21 Two Worlds, One Life

30:31 Why Homeschooling Works

31:09 Schools in a Changing World

35:36 Caves and Survival Geography

38:41 Continuum of Biblical Life

39:52 Travel Tips Rapid Fire

41:47 Artifacts and Favorite Figures

46:28 Restoring Torah Context

47:23 Egypt vs. Israel Dependence

50:59 Farmer vs. Shepherd Mindset

Ready to experience Tanach with fresh eyes and deeper context?

Tune in to the full episode for valuable insights.

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Ready to experience it for yourself? Visit https://judeasamariaexperience.com/ to plan your journey to Judea and Samaria.

What does real redemption actually look like—not in theory, but in real life? In this final episode of the four-part winery series, we explore a place where music, wine, and human connection come together to reveal a deeper vision of what it means to truly become a people.

In this episode, Franny Waisman visits Settler Winery and sits down with AY Katsof to explore a space that is far more than just wine. Through music, atmosphere, and intentional community-building, the winery has become a hub for connection, healing, and even relationships that lead to marriage.

The conversation weaves together themes from Tanach—particularly the vineyards of Shiloh following the chaos at the end of Judges—with the modern reality of life in Samaria. AY shares his vision of creating a place for the next generation to connect in a meaningful, grounded way, while Franny reflects on how this environment embodies the fourth stage of redemption: becoming a people.

About The Guest:

AY Katsof is the founder of Settler Winery, a unique wine and music venue located in the hills of Samaria. Originally from Los Angeles, he moved to Israel as a teenager and helped build a thriving hilltop community. Beyond winemaking, AY is an entrepreneur, community builder, and passionate advocate for connection through culture, music, and shared experiences.

Key Takeaways:

Redemption isn’t just leaving exile—it’s learning how to live together as a unified people

Wine has a unique power to bring people together and reveal deeper connection

Creating environments for authentic connection can impact generations

Ancient biblical themes are not just history—they’re actively unfolding today

Unity is built through shared experiences, not just ideology

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction to the Fourth Cup and Final Episode

02:30 Entering Settler Winery: The Unique Atmosphere

06:45 The Origin Story of the Winery

12:10 Building a Community Through Music and Wine

18:40 Life on the Hilltop in Samaria

25:30 Wine as Connection and “Liquid Prophecy”

32:00 The Meaning Behind the Name “Settler Winery”

38:20 The Social Power of Wine and Gathering

45:10 Stories from the Winery: Healing and Relationships

52:30 Rapid Fire Questions

58:00 What Does Redemption Really Look Like?

01:05:00 Biblical Parallels: Vineyards of Shiloh

01:12:00 The Fifth Cup and Ongoing Redemption

Ready to experience what redemption looks like in real life?

Tune in to the full episode for powerful insights—and maybe even start planning your visit.

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Ready to experience it for yourself? Visit https://judeasamariaexperience.com/ to plan your journey to Judea and Samaria.

What if the story of redemption was hidden not only in the Haggadah, but in the very grapes of the Land of Israel? In this episode, Franny Waisman explores the powerful connection between archaeology, biblical prophecy, and Israel’s modern wine revival through a fascinating conversation with Professor Shivi Drori.

Franny Waisman opens the episode by connecting Passover’s third cup, biblical themes of redemption, and the story of Israel’s wine revival. She is joined by Professor Shivi Drori, an enology professor whose groundbreaking research focuses on indigenous Israeli grape varieties. Professor Drori explains how viticulture and winemaking are tied to permanent settlement in the land, and how Israel’s ancient wine industry declined over time, especially under Muslim rule when wine production was restricted and grape growing shifted toward table grapes.

Over more than a decade of research, Drori and his team surveyed the country, collected hundreds of wild grapevines, and identified nearly 100 unique indigenous varieties, including ancient wild ancestors. He also shares how they are working to connect present-day vines with archaeological grape seeds using DNA and seed analysis, revealing that some of these varieties may have been used as far back as 2,000 years ago. The conversation explores Israel’s opportunity to lead the wine world with truly local grapes, the surprising prominence of white wine in the ancient world, and the role wine continues to play in Jewish sanctification and identity. Franny frames the discussion as a story of redemption through restoration, bringing back to light what was never fully lost.

Professor Shivi Drori is an enology professor and leading researcher in the field of indigenous Israeli grape varieties. His work bridges agriculture, archaeology, genetics, and history, with a focus on uncovering the ancient roots of winemaking in the Land of Israel and helping shape its future.

* Wine in the Land of Israel is not just agriculture. It is deeply tied to settlement, identity, and continuity.

* Indigenous Israeli grape varieties may offer a unique future for the modern wine industry.

* Archaeology and ancient DNA are helping recover parts of Israel’s forgotten viticultural history.

* Redemption can be understood not only as escape, but as restoration of what was hidden or lost.

* Supporting Israeli wineries connects the present to a much older story rooted in the land itself.

00:00 Introduction and the theme of the third cup

02:10 Why wine matters in the story of redemption

05:00 Meet Professor Shivi Drori

08:15 How wine reflects permanent settlement in the land

12:40 Why Israel’s ancient wine industry declined

17:25 Rediscovering indigenous Israeli grape varieties

23:10 Ancient DNA and archaeological grape seed research

29:00 What ancient wine in Israel may have looked like

33:45 Israel’s opportunity to lead with local grapes

38:20 Wine, sanctification, and Jewish life

42:10 Redemption as restoration

45:00 Preview of the fourth cup and final reflections

Ready to discover how redemption can be found in the soil, the vine, and the story of the Land of Israel?

Tune in to the full episode for a fascinating conversation about archaeology, biblical history, and the revival of Israeli wine.

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Ready to experience it for yourself? Visit https://judeasamariaexperience.com/ to plan your journey to Judea and Samaria.

What does a vineyard on a remote Samaria hilltop have to do with memory, resilience, and redemption? In this episode of the four-part winery series, Franny Waisman travels deeper into the hills to explore Tom Winery, where breathtaking views, family farming, and a deeply personal story come together in one unforgettable place.

In part two of the winery series for Pesach, Franny Waisman interviews Ari Pollak from Tom Winery, a family-run winery perched high above the Jordan Valley in the hills of Samaria. Franny connects the winery’s story to the second cup of the Seder, exploring how redemption is not only about leaving behind the old, but about enduring, continuing, and choosing life through difficulty.

About The Guest:

Ari Pollak is a partner in Tom Winery in the hills of Itamar, where he works alongside Tomer Panini and his family to cultivate vineyards and produce wine rooted in the land and story of Samaria. Originally from New York, Ari made aliyah and built his life in Israel, where his connection to the land, faith, and memory all converge through the work of the vineyard.

Time Stamps:

00:00 The second cup of wine and the question of redemption

06:00 Ari shares the beauty and atmosphere of the vineyard

13:00 The family behind the winery

24:00 Biblical history, archaeology, and winemaking in Samaria

34:00 How the vineyard changed Ari’s perspective on life and faith

39:00 What visitors can experience at the farm

46:00 Torah reflection on the second cup and Yitzchak

57:00 Connecting perseverance, memory, and redemption

Ready to discover how wine, memory, and redemption come together in the hills of Samaria?

Tune in to the full episode for powerful insights, a moving personal story, and a deeper look at what it means to keep planting, even through pain.

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Ready to experience it for yourself? Visit https://judeasamariaexperience.com/ to plan your journey to Judea and Samaria.

What can a bottle of wine teach us about redemption, resilience, and the story unfolding in Samaria right now?

In this episode, Franny Waisman opens a special four-part Pesach mini-series connecting the four cups of Passover to four standout wineries in Samaria, beginning with Tura Winery and the first expression of redemption: “I will take you out.”

Franny launches a series exploring top wineries in Samaria through the lens of the four cups of Passover and the four expressions of redemption.

This first episode focuses on Tura Winery and the opening stage of redemption, “I will take you out.”

Franny is joined by Vered Ben Saadon, who shares the complicated story behind her family, her journey to Jewish identity, and what it meant to plant vineyards and build a winery on an empty mountain in Samaria.

About The Guest:

Vered Ben Saadon is one of the founders of Tura Winery, a pioneering winery in Samaria established in 2003. Born in Holland and raised in Israel, Vered brings a deeply personal story of family history, Jewish identity, and resilience. Through her work, she has helped build not only an award-winning winery, but also a powerful expression of Jewish return and rootedness in the land.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Why Wine Matters

03:25 Four Cups Framework

04:51 First Cup Mindset

06:55 Meet Vered Ben Saadon

07:27 Wine Redemption

08:15 Vered’s Origins and Aliyah

16:21 Planting First Vineyards

17:57 Building Through Conflict

20:17 Living With Uncertainty

23:04 Prophecy in a Bottle

28:45 What the Wine Says

33:17 Noah, Wine, and Redemption

42:14 Plan Your Visit

Ready to discover how wine, faith, and the land of Samaria come together in one remarkable story?

What draws someone to build a life on a lonely hilltop with no water, no electricity, and no certainty about what tomorrow will bring?

Eliana Passentinis shares pieces of her journey from growing up in San Francisco to moving to Israel as a child, her early resistance to Hebrew and Israeli life, and the unexpected path that eventually led her to help build some of the earliest hilltop communities near Eli.

She reflects on the intensity of those pioneering years, including a tense first Shabbat that could have ended very differently, and a powerful moment the next morning when something unexpected happened on the hill. Along the way, Eliana speaks about the unique spirit of the Binyamin region, the deep historical layers surrounding Shiloh, and how living in these places can change the way people understand the land and its story.

Through years of hosting visitors and guiding tours, Eliana found herself having conversations she never imagined—from travelers searching for connection to surprising encounters with diplomats and policymakers. She shares why those face-to-face moments can shift perspectives in ways arguments rarely do, and why places like Shiloh, the wineries of Binyamin, and the desert landscapes of Nahal Prat carry meaning far beyond what most visitors expect.

Ready to think differently about the impact good conversations can have?

Tune in to the full episode for a thought-provoking exploration of encounters versus aguments.

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Ready to experience it for yourself? Visit https://judeasamariaexperience.com/ to plan your journey to Judea and Samaria.

Is the opposite of peace really war—or is it ambiguity? In this powerful conversation, Franny Waisman explores how clarity, sovereignty, and purpose shape the future of Judea and Samaria with Nadia Matar.

Key Questions Explored in the Episode:

Is ambiguity more dangerous than open conflict?

What does sovereignty over Judea and Samaria actually mean in practice?

How did the Oslo Accords shift the national conversation?

What changed after October 7 in the public discourse around sovereignty?

Can clarity and conviction create the conditions for true shalom?

Summary of the Conversation:

Franny Waisman opens with a personal story of volunteering with her son on a hilltop in Judea and Samaria, where planting trees and uncovering ancient pottery sparks a deeper reflection on peace and ambiguity. She is joined by Nadia Matar, co-founder of Women in Green and a longtime sovereignty advocate, who presents the case that the absence of Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria creates instability and danger. Matar traces her activism from opposition to the Oslo Accords to the 2011 push for full Israeli sovereignty over Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. She argues that ambiguity legitimizes competing national claims and erodes security, especially in light of October 7. The episode closes with a Tanakh-based reflection that true shalom emerges not from avoiding struggle but from clarity, responsibility, and moral conviction.

About The Guest:

Nadia Matar is a sovereignty activist and co-founder of Women in Green, a grassroots movement advocating for Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria. A prominent voice in the national camp, she has been active in public policy debates since the Oslo era and continues to promote a vision rooted in Jewish historical and biblical connection to the land.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Ambiguity and Peace

05:39 This Is Our Land

09:25 Hearing the Land

11:20 Women in Green Origins

12:52 Oslo and Activism

16:54 Sovereignty Plan Push

18:29 Zionist Response Hilltop

22:45 What Sovereignty Means

28:07 Residency After October 7

29:02 Relocation and Sovereignty

30:20 Ideology Over Economics

31:42 Europe Warning and Mosques

32:23 Joshua and Gradual Conquest

33:16 From Extreme to Mainstream

35:26 Sovereignty as Mission

36:39 Land Is Alive

42:28 Ambiguity Versus Peace

43:07 Spies Panic and Clarity

51:46 Psychology of Not Deciding

54:46 Accountability of Clarity

Ready to think differently about peace and sovereignty?

Tune in to the full episode for a thought-provoking exploration of clarity, conviction, and the future of Judea and Samaria.

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Ready to experience it for yourself? Visit https://judeasamariaexperience.com/ to plan your journey to Judea and Samaria.

What would make a family choose to live on a rocky hilltop without reliable electricity, Wi-Fi, or even running water? In this episode of Live the Land, Franny Waisman reflects on a lone flickering light in the Southern Hills of Hebron and explores the deeper story of connection, courage, and legacy that draws pioneers to this demanding landscape.

Franny opens with a powerful image: a lone light glowing on a remote hilltop in the Southern Hills of Hebron. She introduces the theme of connection, rooted in the meaning of Hebron, and welcomes Ayala Bar-On, head of the foreign desk for the Regional Council of the Southern Hills of Hebron.

Ayala shares the region’s vast geography, nearly one million dunams stretching from forested highlands to the Judean Desert, and her journey from working with Jewish federations through the Jewish Agency to launching an international desk that builds partnerships rather than only donations. She describes creating real relationships between Israelis and Jews abroad, learning from Diaspora challenges such as antisemitism, and strengthening mutual responsibility.

The conversation moves from biblical resonance, including King David’s refuge in the Zif Desert, to modern pioneering efforts like hilltop farms. Ayala highlights local gems such as Lily Chocolate in Otniel, local wineries with award recognition, and ancient First Temple period sites. The episode closes with Franny’s Torah reflection contrasting Moses’ blessings to Joseph and Judah, exploring Achsah’s request for springs in Judges, and unpacking how the demanding land of Judah shapes leaders who embody both tenderness in Torah and fierceness in battle, like King David.

About The Guest:

Ayala Bar-On is the head of the foreign desk at the Regional Council of the Southern Hills of Hebron. With a background in Jewish Agency work and engagement with Jewish federations worldwide, she now focuses on building meaningful partnerships between the region and Jews and Christians abroad. Her work centers on connection, shared responsibility, and bringing the story of the Southern Hills beyond politics and into lived experience.

Time Stamps:

1. 00:00 A Flickering Light in the Hills: Who Chooses to Live Out Here?
2. 01:09 Why the Southern Hills of Hebron Matter and the Big Question
3. 03:33 Meet Ayala Bar-On: Seeing the Land Beyond Politics
4. 06:02 Building Global Bridges: How Ayala Started the International Desk
5. 10:01 Bible Comes Alive: King David, the Zif Desert, and Living the Text
6. 12:39 Hilltop Farms Explained: Pioneers, Misconceptions, and Security Reality
7. 17:08 Ayala’s Family Story: Aliyah, English, and Connecting Jews Worldwide
8. 21:58 Off-the-Beaten-Path Travel Picks: Chocolate, Wineries, and Ancient Sites
9. 26:20 A Vision for the Southern Hills: Joyful Tourism, Chocolate, Jeeps and Wine
10. 27:33 A Heroic Story from October 7: Rescue, Loss, and Unity Across Communities
11. 31:27 Rapid-Fire: Biblical Guests, First Impressions, and a Must-Read Book
12. 35:02 Why This Land Produces Resilient People: Opening Tanakh and Leaving Preconceptions
13. 36:50 Judges and Achsah’s Dry Land: Digging Deep for Springs and Depth
14. 40:38 Bounty vs. Prayer: Joseph and Samaria Compared to Judah’s Spiritual-Military Calling
15. 45:19 King David’s Blend: Softness and Fierceness Forged by the Hills of Judah
16. 47:49 Final Takeaway and Challenge: Balancing Courage and Sensitivity

Ready to experience the Southern Hills of Hebron for yourself?

Tune in to the full episode for powerful insights on connection, courage, and the legacy of King David

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Ready to experience it for yourself? Visit https://judeasamariaexperience.com/ to plan your journey to Judea and Samaria.