Tree Planting in Israel on Tu Bishvat
Posted on February 13, 2017
On November 22, 2016 the forest fires started in Israel. Over the next days, the fires destroyed houses, trees, and forest plantations throughout different areas, including parts of Jerusalem, Haifa, Zichron Yaakov, and other places in northern and central Israel. More than 160 000 people suffered from these fires, which also caused destruction of hundreds of hectares of forest plantations of Israel.
RJCF and our community came together at once to support Israel in its hour of need. We asked you for emergency help and the fundraising brought fruitful and prompt results to help restore our Jewish homeland.
Over the last few months, RJCF has been working with our Israeli partners to find a meaningful project that would meet our goal of restoring the land while engaging with local adults and children to build even stronger bonds between our Massachusetts community and the people of Israel.
On February 10, 2017, on the eve of Jewish holiday Tu-Bishvat, two groups of Russian-speaking Israelis arrived in Lavi Forest, located between Tiberias and Haifa.
WATCH THIS VIDEO FROM ISRAEL
Photo album
A group of children and young adults - members of the project "Mehubarim" (“United”), from Ariel, together with parents and chaperons, as well as new immigrants, recently settled in Ariel were joined by students from Ironi Alef school in Haifa, who recently experienced the horrors of the fires first hand in their city.
Planting a treeWorking with KKL JNF, over sixty people, took part in a daylong tree planting and educational project in the Lavi forest. Realization of the plan was made possible only with financial support from RJCF and our community. As Alex Kaplan, an organizer of this event from Ariel and art director of Ariel municipal theater “Matapa”, said: Am Yisrael Chai – The Nation of Israel Lives! And as long as The Nation of Israel is alive, the people will defend its land - Erets Israel, regardless of where its sons and daughters live!
We are grateful to all of you who made this project possible! Together with you, RJCF will continue its efforts to support Israel and enhance the lives of its people.
