Senior Scientist Departs Torah and Ha'aretz Institute After 40 Years

The Torah and Ha'aretz Institute held a New Year's gathering where they reviewed the institute's research and agricultural activities, bid farewell to the outgoing head of the scientific department, Dr. Moti Shomron, and announced several new appointments. Dr. Shomron is concluding his tenure after approximately 40 years with the institute, during which he was involved in its scientific and agricultural work. Agronomist Yehuda Heller, previously Shomron's deputy, has been appointed as the new head of the scientific department. Heller, a graduate of the Alon Moreh Yeshiva, is completing his doctorate at Ben-Gurion University. Shomron will continue to advise the department.

Additionally, Rabbi Meir Braali was appointed director of the Halachic department, overseeing religious and legal research under the leadership of Institute head Rabbi Yehuda Amichai. Rabbi Braali also serves as the rabbi of the community of Assael in the Hebron region and leads the "Ohelai Halacha" project. Rabbi Yitzchak Dvir was appointed director of content and public relations, responsible for consolidating expertise and disseminating the institute's activities. Dvir is a graduate of Alon Moreh Yeshiva and a senior rabbi at the institute.

The event also celebrated Rabbi Amichai's 70th birthday and launched his new book, "Nechalat Halevi Responsa," which compiles his rulings on the Sabbatical year. The institute reported on its recent publications, including "Terumot Ha'aretz," the third part of its flagship book on laws pertaining to the land, and additional books on Shabbat laws, the connection between great rabbis and the Land of Israel, and the Torah's stance on vegetarianism and animal welfare. Thousands of copies of these books have been sold.

In children's content, the institute released two comic books, selling around 3,000 copies, with a third volume forthcoming. In agricultural research, the institute developed new watermelon rootstock varieties intended for commercial use and conducted studies on blueberry and nectarine cultivation, as well as on pesticides in imported produce.