By Danit Schusterman
Goldy and Zalman Sandhaus moved to southern Dutchess County, NY, on Shlichus in 2014. They started their Shlichus having Shabbat dinners, ran a Hebrew school and made family programs. After living there for five years, the community grew and they needed a larger space to run their Chabad activities. While actively looking for the right place, it seemed that every time they thought they found one, it would fall through.
Looking for activities for their own children to do, they would visit different types of farms to go fruit and vegetable picking in the area. One day while visiting a farm with their children, they thought, ‘why not have a Chabad house on a farm?’ At first, it seemed like it was just a joke as both Goldy and Zalman are from Crown Heights and have no experience in farming. But the more they thought about it, the more they realized how many opportunities there would be if they ran a Chabad house on a farm. Suddenly it didn’t seem so crazy and it could actually become a reality.
Goldy and Zalman realized that having a Chabad house on a farm could offer Jewish people so many wonderful opportunities in regards to Jewish education, involving the community and so much more. The more they spoke about it the more serious it became until one day they decided, ‘Let’s do it!’
After much searching, they found a beautiful property owned by a horse vet. It was 33 acres where 15 acres were used as a horse farm and the remaining land was forest. As with any large purchase, they faced many challenges. Between securing the funding and getting a mortgage there were many ups and downs along the way. At times they even doubted if this was the right thing to do. However little signs from the Rebbe encouraged them to keep going.
On one such occasion, Zalman went to the Ohel to write in to the Rebbe. As he was walking out, he saw the Rebbe on the video screen talking about making a Pardes in the world. With the name “Pardess Chabad Farm” already in mind, this gave him tremendous chizuk that the purchase would pull through.
At another time when prospects looked bleak, Zalman sent another letter in to the Ohel via computer and as he was sending his letter he received a WhatsApp message from a very close friend. After completing the letter he opened the message to find a JEM photo of himself getting a Kos Shel Bracha from the Rebbe which was the exact chizuk and message he needed.
Today they have a welcoming home on the property as well as a barn which is also the Chabad house. There are rooms in the barn for Hebrew school and adult education classes, they have a weekly kosher market once a week where they sell kosher meat and chicken as well as much ‘nostalgic’ Jewish food such as lox, white fish, gefilte fish, Kugel’s, pickles, cholent, knishes and Goldy’s famous Challah.
They have a big tent outside for davening services and the view is something that is quite breathtaking. Their children absolutely love being involved in the work it takes to keep the farm going, such as working with the animals, planting, digging and getting dirty. They have many volunteers from the community who come help plant and take care of the farm. It’s a really wonderful opportunity to get the community involved and come together in a very non-threatening environment.
Zalman runs a fun program called ‘Tractors and Tfilin’, where he gets volunteers to come help mow the many acres of grass and then put on Tfilin.
On the farm they have goats, sheep, alpacas, chickens and baby turkeys. They plan to have the turkeys ready for Thanksgiving to offer as organic grass fed kosher turkeys for the community. They are currently growing watermelon, cucumbers, snap peas, zucchini, sunflowers, and blueberries. Currently, the blueberries and zucchinis are ripe and ready for visitors to pick and the rest will hopefully be available in August.
Their goal is to expand the Chabad house to accommodate more indoor programming, host events, and have a farm to table dining. There’s so many educational opportunities for all different types of people to learn, whether it’s about Judaism or farming, there’s always so much to discover at Pardess Chabad Farm.
For the summer the farm is open every Sunday by reservation only where families get to come and interact with the animals. Zalman and Goldy have made it a meaningful experience by teaching the melachos associated with farming in a real and hands-on way. There is a grass maze where children get a checklist and need to search for the different places that the Jews stopped in the Midbar hidden throughout the maze. There is ink making, wool spinning, and tractor rides. Children love visiting and learning, they love touching and interacting with the animals, milking the goats, getting a kosher ice cream on the way out, it’s just a wonderful place for people of all ages.
I love this!! I so want so want to join them! My husband and I love farming! Praying only for increased success!!
This was the best experience we had this summer and can’t wait to go back! So much to do there, and not enough hours in the day. Plus, the environment is so welcoming and warm. Hope we can make it again soon!
Would love to know how far it is from crown Heights and pricing. Is there a website?
The website is TheKosherFarm.com
Appx an hr and 45 minutes to 2 hrs from CH
thekosherfarm.com
it is at
171 BLUE HILL ROAD HOPEWELL JUNCTION NY 12533
1-845-440-7592 Rabbi Zalman and Goldy Sandhaus
Aprox 57.5 miles from Crown Heights
thekosherfarm.com
Was there last week with my children and grandchildren. They had a wonderful time. Largest zucchini I ever saw. I highly recommend it as a Sunday family outing.
Over 10 years ago, I had a Bus of over a Minyan of bochurim come up to the mountains to collect snow for our newly built mikvah, after a short time the majority of the poor 20 year old yingerlach were sitting in the warm van rubbing thir hands. To get the job done R’ Zalman did not stop until a truckload of snow was filled for 2 new mikvaos.
I knew he would be matzliach…..kol hakavod Zalman 😅
Highly recommend!