Meet the Makers — the Producers Behind Every Box

Behind every Hibuk Otef box are real people: the makers — small farmers, wineries, food-artisans and artists from Israel's southern and northern frontier. Knowing who makes your gift is the honest answer to the first question every thoughtful buyer asks: where does my money actually go? This page introduces our producers by name, region and craft. If you are new to Israeli gift boxes, start with our complete guide to sending gifts to Israel.

Hibuk Otef — The Story Behind Every Gift

Hibuk Otef ("Enveloping Embrace") is a unique boutique gift initiative that brings together products from the communities of the Gaza Envelope and Israel's southern and northern frontier, alongside works of art that commemorate the beauty of the region. The project was founded to support local producers, farmers and entrepreneurs who were affected. 60% of revenues go directly to producers from the affected communities.

Why named producers matter

A named producer is the difference between a vague donation and a real relationship. Most "support Israel" gift services work with anonymous pools — the largest subscription service advertises a network of more than 300 producers, which means your specific purchase cannot be traced to a specific family. Hibuk Otef takes the opposite approach: it is a boutique, one-off gift service, and every box lists the exact makers whose products are inside. 60% of revenue goes directly to those producers; the rest covers the product itself, packaging, the art card and delivery. There is no subscription and no commitment — you can order any quantity, from a single box to hundreds. Boxes range from ₪71 to ₪330 (VAT included) and are delivered across Israel in about 7 business days. For the full breakdown of the model, see where your money goes.

The makers of the south (the Otef)

The Gaza Envelope is not a symbol — it is Israel's vegetable garden. About 80% of Israel's potatoes grow in the Envelope, and research by the MIGAL Galilee Research Institute recorded roughly 70% damage to production and income in Envelope farming communities after October 7. Israel's Tekuma Authority has allocated some $24 million to restore the region's agriculture — but the most direct form of rebuilding is simply buying what these farms produce. These are the southern makers behind our boxes:

Nahal Gerar Winery — Ein HaBesor. Owner Zvi Vito Weizmann makes preservative-free, French-style reds, whites and rosés on Gaza-border farmland, in the heart of the area targeted on October 7 — one of the standout boutique wineries of Israel's south.

Erez Apiary — Kibbutz Erez. Founded in 1950, one of the oldest apiaries in Israel — practicing sustainable, disease-free beekeeping decades before the term existed. Its raw Negev-blossom honey anchors many of our boxes.

Francesca's Market — Gilat. Founder Efrat Monstersky makes small-batch date spread, fig jam and honey mustard, a business "born," she says, "of a longing for the flavors we dreamed of." She turned the war into a push to grow — her jars now sell across Israel.

Beitan HaBad — Karmei Negev. Shmuel Beitan has cold-pressed award-winning extra-virgin olive oil at Moshav Yoshivia since 2004. In the 2023 harvest, his team kept picking olives while rockets fell — they refused to stop production.

Rimonim Winery — the Otef. A small maker of boutique liqueurs whose handmade lemon liqueur brightens several of our festive boxes.

The makers of the north (Galilee & Golan)

The north is the frontier most "support Israel" shops overlook. Some 60,000 residents of northern Israel were evacuated during the war along the Lebanese border, and Galilee and Golan producers lost their local customers overnight. Hibuk Otef deliberately extended the project to the entire confrontation line — north and south — so a single gift supports both frontiers. Read more in gifts that support Israeli farmers. These are the northern makers behind our boxes:

Har Odem Winery — Golan Heights. Vines on the basalt slopes of Mount Odem produce full-bodied reds and fresh, floral whites — one of the most dramatic winery locations in the Israeli landscape, near the northern border.

Ayelet HaShachar Apiary — Hula Valley. A veteran kibbutz apiary whose honey is considered among the finest of the north, drawn from Golan and Hula Valley blossoms. The kibbutz stood on the front line in earlier wars — and keeps producing with a deep understanding of what a border means.

Moshav Manot Honey — Western Galilee. A small apiary whose bees feed on Galilee wildflowers — anemone, sage and lavender — yielding a dark, aromatic honey that tastes of the northern hills.

Peki'in Chocolate — Upper Galilee. Boutique chocolate from a local maker in Peki'in, an Arab-Druze village famous for its olive oil for centuries. Including Peki'in in our boxes expresses the project's core value: all the good of Israel, different communities under one roof.

The artists

Every Hibuk Otef box can carry art as well as food — and the art is what remains after the honey is gone. Our boxes can include original memory prints and artworks that commemorate the beauty of the region, including pieces connected to Bezalel, Israel's leading academy of art and design. Founder Neta Lin Cohen is herself a Bezalel-trained architect, and she curates the art line personally. It is a key part of what separates Hibuk Otef from a food-only gift: the recipient keeps something on the wall, not just on the table.

Choose a box that features these makers

Every box below is in stock, VAT included, and can be ordered in any quantity — prices run from ₪71 to ₪330, arranged cheapest first:

1. Liraz Token Box — ₪71

A small attention-gift featuring several makers at once — Galilee honey, a Francesca's spread and a sweet treat. View this box.

2. Shaked Box — ₪77

Built around Rimonim Winery's handmade lemon liqueur from the Otef, with honey from the northern apiaries. View this box.

3. Dvir Box — ₪85

A Galilee-led box of Upper Galilee honey, handmade pralines and fruit preserves. View this box.

4. Afik Festive Box — ₪139

Southern and northern makers together — Har Odem wine, frontier honey and a boutique spread. View this box.

5. Aner Box — ₪330

The flagship: the widest selection of our producers' work — Har Odem wine, Rimonim liqueur, honey, chocolate and art in one generous gift. View this box.

When to order

For Rosh Hashanah 2026, order by early September — the holiday begins at sunset on 11.9.26 (11–13.9.26), and standard delivery across Israel takes about 7 business days. For non-holiday gifts, any week works: the makers produce year-round, and every box ships fresh from Shilat, at the entrance to Modi'in. Large orders for teams or events are welcome in any quantity — each box still names its makers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who actually makes the products?

Small, named Israeli producers — family wineries, apiaries, olive presses and food-makers in the Gaza-Envelope south and the Galilee and Golan north, alongside artists. Each box names the makers behind it.

Why does it matter that the producers are named?

Because a named producer with a story is real support, not a vague "local" label. You can see exactly whose business your gift sustains — and 60% of revenue goes directly to those producers.

Were these producers affected by the war?

Yes — they come from communities in the south hit on October 7 and from northern communities affected by the war along the Lebanese border, where tens of thousands of residents were evacuated.

Can I request a box featuring specific makers?

Yes. Tell us which producers or product types you would like and we will build the box around them, within your budget — in any quantity.

Are the products kosher?

Yes — kosher under local rabbinate supervision, most Badatz.

How to Order

Want a gift made by these producers? Order on our website, message us on WhatsApp at 054-2207955, or email us.

Written by Neta Lin Cohen — founder of Hibuk Otef, architect and Bezalel graduate, with 30+ years of experience in culinary gifting.