A KKL Belgium delegation arrived in Israel for a week of touring throughout the country and learning about KKL-JNF projects for the benefit of people and their environment. The 62 members of the delegation, who came from all over Belgium, visited the Galilee and Golan Heights, planted trees in Lavi Forest and dedicated a new promenade in Kiryat Bialik. On May 25, they visited Burma Road, Latrun and Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.
“For those who are visiting Israel for the first time, our goal is to present the country as it really is, not how it is portrayed in Europe,” explained Jacky Benzenou, President of KKL Belgium. “There are a lot of people in the delegation who visited Israel many times in the past, and for them, it’s very important for us to present KKL-JNF’s work.”
On Jerusalem Day, the delegation marked the fiftieth anniversary of the city’s reunification with outings and tours in Israel’s capital city and in the mountains that surround it, including participation in the famous flag march. Wrapped in Israeli flags, the members of the delegation marched from KKL-JNF headquarters to the walls around the Old City of Jerusalem, as part of a celebration of Zionism and love of Israel.
Latrun: In memory of the Armored Corps
Yad Lashiryon, the memorial site for fallen IDF soldiers from the armed corps at Latrun, includes a museum and a collection of tanks from the time the state was founded. The members of the delegation walked between the tanks and received explanations from Guy and Noa, two soldiers. The young soldiers described the harsh battles that took place in Latrun during the War of Independence and how the IDF conquered the hill during the Six Day War.
At the “Wall of Tears”, the members of the delegation wept when they saw the names of the fallen of the armored corps. Since the War of Independence until the present time, a total of 4,994 soldiers have fallen. Sadly, the last two names were added to the wall only a few weeks ago, on Memorial Day for Israel’s Fallen. “These names are inscribed in stone and will never be erased, just as they will never be forgotten in our hearts and our identity as Jews and Israelis,” Noa said. “Commemoration of the fallen soldiers is carried out at this site in a way that is full of life, by experience and by learning history.”
“The visit to the Armored Corps Museum has been a moving and fascinating experience,” said Beri Brethholz from Brussels. “I now have a better understanding of the strength that is demanded from these young soldiers who defend the state of Israel.” Brethholz’s son immigrated to Israel, and it was impossible to miss the glow of pride in his father’s face when he talked about him.
Burma Road: Jeeps to Jerusalem
From there the group for an outing in jeeps on Burma Road, from Latrun to the Masryk nature reserve. Burma Road was an alternate route used during the siege on Jerusalem in 1948 in order to bring food and arms to the embattled city. KKL-JNF developed the road with the help of its friends throughout the world, building recreation sites, observation points and means of bringing the historical story to life, such as explanatory signs, models, maps and silhouettes of armored vehicles.
For the members of the delegation, this was an opportunity for a challenging and exciting tour in the enchanted scenery of the Jerusalem mountains.
“My children live in Israel and I visit them quite often, but when you join a group like this, you have a very different experience,” said Rosette Monsonogo from Brussels. “We saw new places, we met good friends, we became connected to the land and we learned about new KKL-JNF projects.”
Seventeen year-old Laetitia Lefebure from Brussels was the youngest member of the delegation. “I visited Israel only once before, when I was a small girl, so when my mother invited me to join her, I agreed immediately,” she said. “When my friends heard that I was going, they were totally jealous, because they’re all busy with examinations. I didn’t know very much about Israel beforehand, and I was happy to discover a vibrant and zesty country. It was very interesting to get to know the country and its culture. I was especially impressed by the idea of the kibbutz.”
Mount Herzl: Israel’s Rebirth
The last stop on the day’s route was Mount Herzl, the central national site of the state of Israel and the Jewish people. Presidents and prime ministers are buried in the Great Leaders of the Nation section. The presidents and chairpersons of the World Zionist Federation, along with Herzl family members, are buried in the Zionist Leaders section. On the northern side of the mountain is the military cemetery, and the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and Museum is located on the mountain’s western slope. Together, the three sites represent the central events of Israel’s rebirth. At the foot of Mount Herzl is the Jerusalem Forest, including KKL-JNF’s Grove of the Nations, where visiting heads of state plant trees after their visit to Yad Vashem.
The members of the delegation walked among the graves, reflecting on all those whose sacrifices and determination enabled the Jewish people to have a strong and proud country, beginning with Binyamin Zeev Herzl, Israel’s founding father, down to the last soldier who fell defending his or her homeland.
Daniel Ben Loulou, KKL-JNF emissary to Belgium and Luxembourg, summed up the packed and fascinating week: “The members of the delegation discovered a new face of Israel and connected to the land. Now they will be the best possible ambassadors for the state of Israel and for KKL-JNF.”