Ben Shemen Forest is one of the largest forests in Israel. It covers about 21,000 dunams of land east of the city of Lod and west of Modi'in-Maccabim-Reut. It is mainly planted with pines, cypresses, and eucalyptus trees. This is one of the most beloved by the Israelis forests in the center of the country, where the smoke of the barbecues does not cease - after all, a BBQ is the national sport in the country. The name Ben Shemen is associated with oil presses and with a verse from the book of the prophet Isaiah, which says: "The vineyard is dear to me in the lands of Ben Shemen."