We launched our latest initiative, the Biodynamic Beekeeping course, in May 2024. This innovative project, in cooperation with MAAN Workers Association, began earlier this month with 17 Arab and Jewish women participating under the expert guidance of Yossi Oud, founder of the “Bees for Peace” coalition. In fact, the course was so popular that there is already a waiting list, with high demand for another course!

Scroll down to learn more and then read “Protecting the Bees and Empowering Women” which includes more interviews of the participants in this course.

  

The course aims to promote an environmentally supportive lifestyle, and foster healthy, sustainable local food production. Seventeen inspiring women from the Triangle region are participating in this unique opportunity taking place at the MAAN office in Baqa al-Gharbia. Nadia Giol of Sindyanna and Wafa Tiara of MAAN are managing this course, and will follow it in the coming year.

Biodynamic beekeeping addresses the critical issue of bee population decline by allowing bees to live in conditions close to their natural habitat. This method avoids the use of chemicals, sugar, antibiotics, or toxic substances. Honey collection is done in harmony with the bees, ensuring they are not deprived of their food.

   

Participants will gain both practical experience and theoretical knowledge in biodynamic beekeeping. In addition to honey production, they will learn about various uses of beeswax, such as candle making and creating cosmetic and health products. After six sessions of theoretical instruction, they will visit Oud’s Freedom Farm for Bees in the Jerusalem mountains. Upon completion, each participant will receive a certificate, a beehive, and a swarm of bees for home breeding.

Wafa Tiara, believes that this joint activity contributes to the advancement of society as a whole. “This is our way of giving hope in the difficult days that Arab and Jewish women alike are going through since the traumatic October 7th.” This course represents a significant step towards environmental sustainability and economic empowerment for women in the region.

Michelle Anne, one of the participants, shared her enthusiasm:

Sisterhood led by the Queen Bee and her workers

It all began with a phone call. A mutual friend suggested we talk…that both our community projects could benefit. And so began a friendship that has literally changed my life. Aviv Wasserman, the founder of Sorgot Kehila (Knitting in the Community), strongly recommended that I have a chat with Hanaa Tawfik from Um El Fahem.

We immediately clicked and agreed to meet in person. When hearts meet magic happens, and so began a stimulating and inspiring friendship through multiple meetings across cultural and language barriers.

Soon after, Hana introduced me to Wafa Tyarh from another nearby village, Kufr Kara. Wafa is an activist and the director of MAAN Workers Association’s program Women and Work. She is also the chairwoman of Sindyanna of Galilee, the only internationally certified Fair Trade social business in Israel. Wafa and Hana initiated a series of meetings and workshops involving Jewish and Arab women from the Triangle all through 2022 that would encourage acquaintance and convergence between Jewish and Arab women. The meetings occurred against the background of violent clashes between Arabs and Jews that occurred in May 2021. We held creative workshops, cooking sessions, hydroponics, olive picking, natural beauty treatments, basket weaving, belly dancing and delicious food in the warmest hospitality. In groups of 25 to 40 women, we met and learned together.  Bonds were created and fledgling friendships formed.

Then one day our worst nightmare happened, the shadow and crippling heartbreak of October 7th. Trauma, loss, fear, dread and terror threatened to engulf us all in hopelessness and pain.

A few months ago, I was invited by Wafa to join in a visit to the art sale exhibition Bread and Roses, which took place in Tel Aviv in March of 2024. This exhibition, a tradition of 18 years carried out by MAAN and Sindyanna, raises funds for the project Women and Work, gathering more than 400 artists every year. I decided to go. This time I was the only non-Moslem from the original group, but everyone received me with open arms and it was uplifting to see my friends again.

In the bus, Wafa mentioned the 6-week Beekeeping course that was about to start in May. I immediately signed up. From the very first lecture by educator and bee expert Yossi Aud, I was mesmerized. The world of bees is fascinating! We were all clearly hooked from the beginning, ladies were sharing stories and memories of their grandmother or grandfather tending bees and hives in their back yard. There is so much to learn from bees and the divine gifts they bring to the world, so much more than just honey, beeswax, propolis. I learnt that even their sting is known to have healing qualities.

There is something about their Busy Bee attitude, their gentle hum and the balance in the hive …they are enchanting and bring magic unlike any other creature I have encountered.

I’m so grateful for this opportunity to deepen my knowledge of the natural world and for the special bond that has resulted in this new sisterhood led by the Queen Bee and her workers.