Israeli Distiller Weighs Future Amid Border Tensions and War

Yuval Job, an artisan distiller, operates his Julius distillery just 100 meters from the Lebanese border in Hanita, northern Israel. He has lived and worked in the area for a decade, but the ongoing conflict has significantly impacted his business and sense of security.

Job expresses deep concern over the proximity to Hezbollah, noting that a Hezbollah bunker was recently discovered near his distillery, ready for action. He reflects on the past, when residents of Hanita could freely cross into Lebanon, a stark contrast to the current tense reality. The war has forced him to evacuate his home and business for two years, and while he has returned, he admits that if he had unlimited funds, he might relocate the distillery to Germany or Austria.

The conflict has also hit his business hard. Before the war, 10% of his 35,000 annual bottle production was exported, but this has dropped to 5%. He laments that in Italy, he could live comfortably on the same production volume, highlighting the economic strain of operating so close to the volatile border. His international business relationships have also suffered, with his US importer leaving and Job now seeking a Jewish importer, noting past antisemitic experiences with the previous one.

Despite the challenges, Job continues to produce a variety of spirits, including unique distillates from etrogs (citrons), carobs, fenugreek, and even blue cheese, sold through his website. He also produces liqueurs and mead, which helped him survive financially during the periods he was evacuated. He dreams of housing the piano of the late Hanita native Matti Caspi at his distillery's visitor center.

Job's commitment to his craft and his location is evident, but he candidly states he would not open his distillery in Hanita today if he had known what would happen on October 7th. The sound of explosions from across the border serves as a constant reminder of the precariousness of his situation, yet he remains, partly due to the difficulty and expense of relocating.