Ancient, biblical 'Jacob sheep' ready to return to Israel after Hamilton stay

A flock of ancient andBiblical sheep are ready to return to Israel after stops inHamilton and Abbotsford, B.C.

They're called the Jacob sheep, named for the ancient sheep that gave the wool in the multicolouredcoat Jacob was said to have given his son Joseph. A story told in the book of Genesis.

Thesheep were kept in Israel, so the story goes, but have been extinct therefor centuries. That's where Hamilton and Abbotsford comein.

The sheep live at Dunlea Farms in Jerseyville in West Hamilton, but soon will be headed to thehome of their ancestors.

About two years ago in Abbotsford, Gil and Jenna Lewinsky came to ownfour Jacob sheep a hearty breedknown for having a patchwork coat of white, blackand brown.

The sheep can have up to sixhorns, but most have four, often growing long andcurved. They came fromthe Levant region, an area to the east of the Mediterranean Sea including Israel, Syria, Jordan, Iraq amongother countries.

For me, it's conserving a part of history. And sending it back home to where it belongs.It makes me feel like I'm changing the world in my own way.- GilLewinsky, shepherd

When theLewinskyscame to learn the story of their sheep, they decided to grow theflock, now 119 strong, and see if they could returnthem to Israel to roam for the first time in centuries. It's not the path where the Lewinsky's expected life would take them.

"I had no intention of becoming a shepherd," said Gil Lewinsky, who studied law and holds two master's degrees. "We went from being urbanites to living on a farm."

The Lewinskys had no experience as shepherds buttheir planhad a biggerproblem. Livestock transfer between Canada and Israel was very difficult to do.

Reluctant shepherds

Fortunately, theplan caught the attention of Israel's government.

On Monday, theLewinskyswere visited by RafaelBarak, Israel's ambassador to Canada.Barakcame toJerseyvilleto meet Lewinskysand the Jacobsheep.

Normally, he explained, a livestock transfer like this just isn't allowed. But with a lot of persistence and willingness to cooperate, theLewinskyswere granted an exception for the Jacob sheep.

"It's a beautiful story, and I'm happy to be supporting them,"Baraksaid."The Lewinskys are to be commended.They were up against a lot of bureaucracy, and they won!"

The sheep had to travel to Ontario from B.C. because rigorous biosecurity protocols laid down by the Israeli Agricultural Ministry mandated a four-week quarantine for the sheep in this province. After that they'll leave for Israel.

In the meantimetheLewinskysare quickly getting used to life on the farm.Gil calls to theflock for feeding. He yells out"grain!" And the flock answers with a yell of its own.

The wholeexperience has made theLewinskyscome to feel they were called to play a part in something bigger than themselves.

"They've touched the hearts of almost everyone that's met them," said GilLewinsky."For me, it's conserving a part of history. And sending it back home to where it belongs. It makes me feel like I'm changing the world in my own way."

dave.beatty@cbc.ca | @dbeatty