When most people finish their military service, they look for comfort and stability.
But Baruch Kogan has never chosen the easy road.
Born in Russia, raised in the United States, and shaped by eight years in the U.S. military — including two tours in Iraq and work rebuilding irrigation systems in Afghanistan — Baruch could have built a comfortable life anywhere. Instead, he followed a deeper calling: to live and serve in the Land of Israel.
After making aliyah, Baruch settled in Judea and Samaria, where he has devoted himself to restoring the soil of the Bible. With your encouragement and support, he helped launch the Miyawaki Forest, planting 10,000 trees to bring life back to Israel’s heartland. Now, that same vision is thriving on a new hilltop: Ayyir Hashachar.
Real Progress on the Hilltop
Life in Ayyir Hashachar is not easy. This small community of 25 families has faced limited electricity, weak water pressure, and the challenge of transforming barren soil into fertile ground. But thanks to your partnership, real progress is being made.
Baruch recently built a new power station that will supply electricity to both the electric fencing and an additional irrigation pump designed to pressurize the system. This major step will finally allow consistent irrigation for the forest.
“This week or next, I have a guy coming to install the inverter and battery,” Baruch shared, “and once that’s done, we’ll finally have power.”
He has already planted several hundred sabra (prickly pear) plants and has hundreds of marula trees under irrigation near his home — preparing them for planting later this fall and winter.
The hilltop community is also addressing the larger water issue. As Baruch explained,
“In general, we are solving the water pressure issue by putting a new main in for the whole hilltop, which is happening in the next month or two. We’re raising money right now. I’m putting in a separate solar-powered booster pump as well. At that point, the irrigation will work, and I’ll plant.”
Once these two main challenges — water and electricity — are fully in place, Baruch plans to begin large-scale planting of thousands of Tabor oak and sabra trees this fall, while continuing to grow seedlings from seeds and cuttings for winter and spring planting.
Planting Hope for Generations
Every advancement on this hilltop — every pump installed, every seed nurtured, every tree planted — is made possible by your generosity.
Because of you, Ayyir Hashachar is growing stronger. The soil is being renewed, the land is coming alive, and families are taking root in the heart of Israel.
If you feel inspired to continue standing with pioneers like Baruch, your ongoing support helps keep this vision alive — powering irrigation systems, planting forests, and restoring the land of Israel, one hilltop at a time.
You’re not just cultivating soil — you’re planting faith, hope, and a future.