What does a vineyard on a remote Samaria hilltop have to do with memory, resilience, and redemption? In this episode of the four-part winery series, Franny Waisman travels deeper into the hills to explore Tom Winery, where breathtaking views, family farming, and a deeply personal story come together in one unforgettable place.
In part two of the winery series for Pesach, Franny Waisman interviews Ari Pollak from Tom Winery, a family-run winery perched high above the Jordan Valley in the hills of Samaria. Franny connects the winery’s story to the second cup of the Seder, exploring how redemption is not only about leaving behind the old, but about enduring, continuing, and choosing life through difficulty.
About The Guest:
Ari Pollak is a partner in Tom Winery in the hills of Itamar, where he works alongside Tomer Panini and his family to cultivate vineyards and produce wine rooted in the land and story of Samaria. Originally from New York, Ari made aliyah and built his life in Israel, where his connection to the land, faith, and memory all converge through the work of the vineyard.
Time Stamps:
00:00 The second cup of wine and the question of redemption
06:00 Ari shares the beauty and atmosphere of the vineyard
13:00 The family behind the winery
24:00 Biblical history, archaeology, and winemaking in Samaria
34:00 How the vineyard changed Ari’s perspective on life and faith
39:00 What visitors can experience at the farm
46:00 Torah reflection on the second cup and Yitzchak
57:00 Connecting perseverance, memory, and redemption
Ready to discover how wine, memory, and redemption come together in the hills of Samaria?
Tune in to the full episode for powerful insights, a moving personal story, and a deeper look at what it means to keep planting, even through pain.
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Ready to experience it for yourself? Visit https://judeasamariaexperience.com/ to plan your journey to Judea and Samaria.
