Iris Levin: "After Opening the Business on Shabbat, We Realized We Were Wrong"

The excitement in Iris Levin's voice is hard to miss. "We closed the business on Shabbat," she says with satisfaction, referring to the visitor center she manages - 'Ducks in the Village' located in Kfar Baruch in the Jezreel Valley Regional Council.

Last Shabbat, fifteen years after Iris and her family established the visitor center offering tours to explore the world of ducks and waterfowl, she decided to close the site's gates and announce to the many visitors that the decision was final: they will not open the visitor center on Shabbat anymore.

"We actually surprised the public a bit," she admits, "because we didn't prepare in advance and made the decision very quickly. All in all, I spoke with my daughter about the need to consider closing, and we set September 1 as the date to start the change. From that moment, it was clear there was no turning back."

"Opening on Shabbat Didn't Benefit Us"

When we talk to Iris the day after the work-free Shabbat, she wishes to note: "This isn't the first time we closed our business on Shabbat. We did it before for five years, but then we couldn't resist and reopened, because it wasn't easy for us at that time, and there was a crisis in agriculture. We thought opening the visitor center on Shabbat would give us a boost, but in hindsight, we realize it was a mistake, and the crisis wasn't related to opening the center. So, we have made the decision again, and we don't plan to reverse it."

And what led to the renewed decision?

"Look, I'm not a religious woman, but I see Shabbat as family time and an opportunity for rest. I have nine precious grandchildren, and I want to use Shabbat to be with them and enjoy them. One of our employees who heard about the decision to close on Shabbat expressed gratitude, saying: 'I’m so thankful; Shabbat is the first social commandment,' and I think he described it well. Our decision truly came from a personal place, wanting to provide ourselves and our employees with the time to be with family and experience Shabbat as a day of rest."

And what about the financial challenge? After all, Shabbat is surely a time when many visitors come...

"It's true, there are many visitors who come specifically on Shabbat and can't come during the week. However, we decided to overcome that and let go. We also anticipate that since we close on Shabbat, more religious visitors will come during the week, so it will balance out in the end. And even if not, it's still worth it to us. I decided that the family and personal side is more important than the financial gain."

"I Felt a Sense of Relief"

Although Iris doesn't define herself as a religious woman, she wishes to mention: "There's also another reason that led me to decide to close the business on Shabbat, and that is the personal wonder I experience every day at the marvels of creation. I see it firsthand at our visitor center, where we accompany ducks from the moment they form within the egg until they hatch and grow.

"Time and again, I am amazed by the structure of the birds' bodies. You can see how the Creator gave them everything they need to protect themselves. For instance, they have webbed feet like fins and a transparent membrane over the eye that protects it. Ducks have a gland that secretes oil, which they spread on their feathers to repel water because oil and water can't mix. So once they get out of the water, they are completely dry and don't need to dry off...

"When people visit us, we also show them the development of the chick within the egg, at different stages in the incubator. We illuminate the eggs with strong lighting, allowing us to see embryonic development - initially, you see blood vessels and the developing eye, sometimes you can even see breaths in certain situations. In later stages, you see the chick move inside the egg, pecking from the inside and starting to crack it. Sometimes we closely witness the moment of hatching. It's amazing, and I get excited every time, even though I initially thought I would guide only once and get bored. After such enlightening experiences, Shabbat gains added value."

How would you summarize the first Shabbat you experienced yesterday?

"There was great quietness, and it was truly enjoyable. The grandchildren came to visit, and suddenly we had the time to meet and see everyone. We ate the meal together, and there was a tranquility I find hard to describe. I think it's fair to say I felt a simple sense of relief."

Can you recommend this to other business owners?

"Certainly, wholeheartedly. I can say that I was personally influenced by other business owners who did it before me because it's definitely becoming a trend. I think anyone who tries it will understand why Shabbat wasn't given in vain, but it truly holds special importance."