As part of the ongoing cooperation between KKL-JNF and Nefesh B’Nefesh to promote activities connecting immigrants from the US, Canada and the UK to Israel, KKL-JNF organized a special tour for new and veteran immigrant families from English-speaking countries. During the week before TuBishvat, they toured the Golani nursery and experienced planting trees in Israel at Lavi Forest.
On an especially rainy Friday (January 26), KKL-JNF organized a special excursions for immigrant families assisted by the Nefesh B’Nefesh organization. New and veteran immigrants, who were not deterred by the stormy weather, gathered at the KKL-JNF nursery at the Golani junction. After enjoying a hot cup of tea, the participants heard about KKL-JNF’s various fields of activities and about Tu Bishvat, the holiday of the trees, from KKL-JNF Forester and Northern Region Forestry Department Director Klil Adar:
“The nursery is open today to the general public so that people can come and see what we do here and learn about the different stages of growing. There will be Tu Bishvat seders in various communities, events and tree planting ceremonies all over Israel, along with diverse activities for the general public.”
The tour through the nursery was led by Hirui Amare, Director of the Golani nursery, who has been working at KKL-JNF for over 20 years. “There are currently three nurseries in Israel, and this is the northern one. We grow all the seeds for planting trees in forests here in the north, and also for urban spaces like gardens, parks and schools. When the trees are ready for planting, we distribute them to the foresters and to public organizations.”
During the visit, the participants learned about all the stages of growing a tree – from collecting the seeds, to sprouting the seeds in greenhouses under the various conditions necessary for the sprouting process, until planting the saplings in containers. All in all, the nursery produces about 250,000 seedlings annually. At the end of the visit to the nursery, the visitors received a gift in honor of the holiday – a choice from a range of potted herbs ready to for planting in the garden.
From the nursery the group proceeded to nearby Lavi Forest. This forest was planted by KKL-JNF during the 1960s. It spreads out over an area of about 750 acres, and most of the trees are conifers like pines and cypress, along with eucalyptus. The forest offers a number of hiking trails, overnight camping and picnic sites, along with outdoor equipment for the benefit of the general public.
“We have a ‘Plant and Go’ event here today, where people can plant a tree and continue on their way. The ground is ready and waiting for everyone with pre-prepared holes and seedlings,” said KKL-JNF Assistant Forester Sammy Ladger, who greeted the guests at the planting site in the forest. “We hope that even in this stormy weather, people will go out and plant. This is our and KKL-JNF’s special task for Tu Bishvat. People have already came and planted today. Every year there are plantings at Lavi Forest, with the intention of renewing the forest. The old forest, which has diseases and pests, is cut down, and the forest is renewed. The saplings include Aleppo pines, Atlantic pistacias, Tabor oaks and figs. This is how we create diversity.”
Nefesh B’Nefesh was founded in 2002, and since then has helped new immigrants from the United States, Canada and Great Britain to make Aliya and successfully integrate in Israel. The organization helps new immigrants economically and socially, including with finding employment, dealing with governmental bureaucracy, support and assistance to lone soldiers, education and more. To date, more than 50,000 people have immigrated to Israel with the organization’s help.
Tzipi Openheimer, the organization’s northern region coordinator, who immigrated to Israel in 1982, noted that “the goal of our cooperation with KKL-JNF is to strengthen the immigrants’ connection with Israel and with the land. Too often, immigrants don’t learn enough about the land due to the language barrier. Here they have an opportunity to learn with their feet and develop a deeper sense of identity with the state.”
Brian is a veteran immigrant from England who recently became a grandfather. His children stayed overseas, in countries all over the world, while he immigrated to Israel with his wife. “We live on the Carmel, and we originally came from Manchester, so the cold and the rain don’t bother us. We have been in Israel 8 years now, we immigrated in 2010 and very much love being here. We wouldn’t go back to England for anything.’
Brian really loves the Nefesh B’Nefesh outings and volunteers in Israel’s English speaking community. He organizes visits to the Knesset, the Supreme Court, and more.
Natalie also immigrated to Israel without her family. She lives in the north with her husband and hopes her children will also come to Israel. “The organization helped us a lot and made it so much easier for us. They organize a lot of outings and help us to get to know Israel better.”
Joe, who came back after leaving Israel for Maine in the USA 30 years ago, has been in Israel for ten months. “Now we’re here to stay. We sold everything and we’re building our home in Israel. I really like Tu Bishvat, it’s the last holiday in the chain of Jewish holidays that we didn’t have a chance to experience in Israel yet.”
Galia, who is also a new immigrant from the United States, said that the organization “helps us with professional training and with outings to get to know the country. We love Israel very much. Of course it’s hard to fit in at the beginning and to find work, but we came here with the intention of staying and we have no plans of leaving if things are difficult.”