The Elevated Tractor

From the age of 14, I dreamed of owning a tractor - at the time, we only had a donkey. As I grew older, I cultivated 2.5 dunams of cucumbers, sold them to “Daman” for 2,000 Israeli lira, and purchased the tractor from a friend in Gan Haim. As a result, I was summoned for a reprimand by the community leadership (during the Bolshevik-era mindset), as they believed I had squandered the earnings from the cucumber sales instead of depositing them in the moshav’s collective fund. I was forgiven once I explained that the money had been invested in purchasing a tractor.

During the Yom Kippur War, Yankele was drafted, and the tractor was operated by Arik Shor for the tomato harvest. At the time, Arik was in 12th grade, along with Dalia and Aryeh Davidesko - the legendary coach of “Hapoel Herut” basketball team.

Yankele worked with the tractor for many years. Eventually, he placed it on display in the yard of “Dalia’s Studio,” which was located in the orchards of the moshav.

Erez noticed that the tractor had been removed from its display spot at the studio and requested to take it. Yankele agreed, and that very same day, Erez transferred the tractor to the museum - before Yankele could change his mind.

The tractor participated in exhibitions across the country and was featured in the regional councils’ tribute parade held on the eve of Jerusalem Day (2002–2006).

To this day, the tractor remains operational and is the only known elevated tractor in Israel - it features narrow, large wheels that give it a raised structure, making it ideal for working in potato fields.

Donated by the Harari Family, Moshav Herut