Tommy and his family found HaYovel as a United States 501c3 non-profit organization and begin making regular trips to Israel to bless and serve the Jewish people by harvesting grapes, pruning vineyards, and helping on farms.

By 2014, HaYovel is hosting more than 400 volunteers every year. Volunteers are flying in from dozens of countries around the world – from Hong Kong to South Africa and from Colombia to Latvia.

The first trees are planted in Har Bracha, Samaria by HaYovel staff members and volunteers. Testing and research is now underway to find out which tree species are indigenous to the Levant and how each one responds in the current soil conditions.

Despite international travel restrictions and limited volunteer help, HaYovel breaks ground on new forestry sites throughout Judea and Samaria and plants several thousand more trees. Generous donors sponsor an excavator, skid-steer, auger, and other heavy equipment that enable faster and more efficient planting.

No trees are planted from September 2021 to August 2022 because of Israel’s observance of the shemitah (sabbatical) year. In preparation for planting to resume in the fall of 2022, HaYovel releases the Greening Israel documentary and this website where people can donate to sponsor a tree. 3,000 new trees are planted in October and November 2022.

In May 2023, a new custom certificate option is offered that allows tree donors to receive a custom certificate delivered by mail in honor or in memory of a loved one. In June 2023, HaYovel’s special ops team, consisting of 25 young people ages 18 to 25, lands in Israel and begins planting 10,000 new trees across Israel’s heartland.