Ten years ago, Blessed Buy Israel began in response to boycotts against Israel. For years, we had publicly declared the words that we would “Never Again” be silent in the face of persecution and murder of six million Jews in the Holocaust. Then in late 2015, we were forced with a decision to take action or be silent.
On November 11, 2015, the European Union announced that products originating in Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria (aka the West Bank) could not be labeled as “Made in Israel.” It was impossible not to notice a parallel to the Nazi boycotts of Jewish shops and businesses that began in 1933. Back then, signs were posted and Stars of David were spray painted on glass storefront windows. In addition, many businesses had Stormtroopers posted in front to discourage people from shopping. The EU actions in 2015 paralleled these actions by singling out Jewish businesses in the heartland of Israel for discrimination because they disapproved of where these Jews chose to live.
A truck of Nazi Brownshirts keep watch in front of a Jewish business in Berlin, in 1933. The signs on the truck read "Germans! Defend yourselves! Do not buy from Jews!"
Unfortunately, this antisemitism didn’t stop in Europe. Just a few months later the Obama administration reiterated and threatened to enforce old Clinton-era guidance that said the same thing–products made in Judea and Samaria could not be labelled as “Made in Israel.” For us, that was the final straw, and we traveled to Judea and Samaria to find targeted small businesses and artisans to work with. We were determined to go on the offensive. If the nations were going to boycott, we were going to find the products they were cracking down on and help these businesses sell even more products.
Taking a Stand for Israel's Heartland
When we traveled to Judea and Samaria in early 2016, we found nothing of the caricatured nameless, faceless violent settlers the EU demonized as stealing land. What we found instead was many Jewish families of incredible faith building their families and homes and restoring the beautiful biblical heartland, and producing amazing products in the process. On that first trip, we met Batya and Baruch Erdstein and their six children. They live in the community of Itamar, planting trees and making beautiful ceramics. We met Shlomo Keshet in Kochav HaShachar, who started Adva Soap to provide a job for his son Elnatan, who has Down Syndrome. Now, he employs other young people with special needs and has enriched the earth with olive trees, almond trees and vineyards. And the list goes on. We began bringing not just their wonderful products to the world, but their stories of faith and determination as well.
Some of the beautiful people restoring the Heartland of Israel! Clockwise from top left: Batya and her son in the ceramics studio, Shimon and Sarah from Itamar Cosmetics, Sarah Feld from Jewelry with a Meaning, Baruch from Negohot Honey, Shlomo and his son Elnatan at Adva Soap, and David Ross from Shalva Tea
Where are we ten years later? The world considers the future of the heartland of Israel, Judea and Samaria, still up for grabs, even after the massacre of October 7, 2023 exposed the utter futility and depravity of “Land for Peace.” This year European nations have doubled down on their boycott efforts with a flurry of actions against Israel just this year. Most recently, On September 8, 2026, 11 European countries and Canada announced plans to introduce or pursue trade restrictions on goods produced in Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria (commonly known as the West Bank). Some countries have already implemented measures, while others have committed to or are considering further national action.
Perhaps the most severe, are the measures enacted and now being enforced by the Netherlands. Under Dutch criminal law, ownership of products from Judea and Samaria is punishable by up to six years in prison or fines of €110,000, potentially rising to €1.1 million in major cases.
This year has seen a flurry of activity against Jews in the biblical heartland, Judea and Samaria
Unfortunately we can’t take for granted that the United States will not eventually follow this pattern of European denialism. Right now, Israel has a steadfast friend with President Donald Trump in the White House. But he has just over two years left in his second term and the Democrat party has been hijacked by a strong antisemitic cohort. Already, House Democrats are chomping at the bit to slap Israelis they deem as violent settlers with sanctions. And here's the current House Minority Leader on the two state “solution”: “I support Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state,” Jeffries said. “And we need to lean into the notion that creating a Palestinian state — so that the Palestinian people can achieve the dignity and self-determination that they long deserve — needs to be a twin priority. And I think that’s a view broadly shared within the House Democratic Caucus.”
We are going to continue to do everything we can to support the brave pioneers of Israel’s heartland. We’re here to tell the real stories of faith, determination and restoration of the Promised Land. The land that was barren for thousands of years is being restored. These antisemitic actions by the nations of the world only encourage us to do more to spread the word and bring you more of the amazing fruit of the heartland of Israel. We are here “for such a time as this.”