Kosher and Jewish Life in Nes Tziona

There are three synagogues within Nes Ziona and not many kosher establishments. The history of Ness Ziona is based around Reuben Lehrer this is his story. Reuven Zangvil Patchornik was born in 1833, in the Czarist Empire. As happened with many Jewish youngsters at the time, he was press-ganged into the Czarist army at the age of twelve. With the aid of a cousin he escaped, dressed as a woman, and went into hiding on the 11,000 acre estate of a wealthy German (non-Jewish) family named Lehrer. He quickly worked his way up to become manager of the estate, and adopted his benefactor's family name Lehrer. (Some of his descendants would later revert to the original Patchornik.) A German priest named Benselberger introduced Reuven Lehrer/Patchornik to the craft of beekeeping. As a result, my great-grandfather became the first Jewish beekeeper in Eretz Israel, starting a family tradition that continues to the present day.