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Daily Read: World

Montana Cowboys Blend Frontier Life with Zionist Faith

Deep in Montana’s remote wilderness, a Christian family lives as they did 150 years ago, hunting elk, raising cattle, and carrying revolvers for safety in Bear Country. Their log cabin is marked by a giant illuminated Star of David and interior pictures of Israel, reflecting a deep devotion to the Jewish people that stems from their Christian father who taught them the Torah. Documentary photographer Dan Lior and his friend Noam “Nofi” Genet, an American Jew who runs a rehabilitation program for Israeli reservists, visited the ranch to document this unique blend of frontier life and Zionist faith. During the visit, the family fired their revolvers into the air, a routine safety drill that turned into a friendly shoot‑out with the visitors, complete with bottle‑throwing and shotgun practice. Genet, who grew up in Florida, now lives near the Sea of Galilee, and he brings small groups of reservists on wilderness expeditions to help them cope with post‑traumatic stress. The family’s hunting expedition was a four‑day trek that aimed to secure winter meat, but they ultimately shot a large deer from 300 meters after failing to find elk. The ranch’s daily rhythm is early‑morning work, hunting, butchering, and transporting the 150‑kilogram carcass back to camp. Their story illustrates how a remote Montana family can combine rugged survival with a heartfelt support for Israel.

· ynet.co.il

The essential points

  1. 01The family lives like 150 years ago, hunting elk, raising cattle, and carrying revolvers for safety in Bear Country.
  2. 02Their log cabin features a giant illuminated Star of David and interior pictures of Israel, reflecting deep devotion to the Jewish people.
  3. 03Documentary photographer Dan Lior and friend Noam “Nofi” Genet, an American Jew, visited to document the unique blend of frontier life and Zionist faith.
  4. 04Genet brings Israeli reservists on wilderness expeditions to help them cope with post‑traumatic stress, linking the ranch to a rehabilitation program.
The full brief

Deep in Montana’s remote wilderness, a Christian family lives as they did 150 years ago, hunting elk, raising cattle, and carrying revolvers for safety in Bear Country. Their log cabin is marked by a giant illuminated Star of David and interior pictures of Israel, reflecting a deep devotion to the Jewish people that stems from their Christian father who taught them the Torah. Documentary photographer Dan Lior and his friend Noam “Nofi” Genet, an American Jew who runs a rehabilitation program for Israeli reservists, visited the ranch to document this unique blend of frontier life and Zionist faith.

During the visit, the family fired their revolvers into the air, a routine safety drill that turned into a friendly shoot‑out with the visitors, complete with bottle‑throwing and shotgun practice. Genet, who grew up in Florida, now lives near the Sea of Galilee, and he brings small groups of reservists on wilderness expeditions to help them cope with post‑traumatic stress. The family’s hunting expedition was a four‑day trek that aimed to secure winter meat, but they ultimately shot a large deer from 300 meters after failing to find elk.

The ranch’s daily rhythm is early‑morning work, hunting, butchering, and transporting the 150‑kilogram carcass back to camp. Their story illustrates how a remote Montana family can combine rugged survival with a heartfelt support for Israel.