As part of a unique series of joint meetings between KKL-JNF and the Marching Together to a Shared Future movement, the two organizations held a festive Tu Bishvat planting ceremony in the Gilboa, under the theme of coexistence and mutual respect for each other and for the land.
This year, Tu Bishvat, the holiday for trees, fell on Saturday, February 11. Among the many events that KKL-JNF organized throughout the country in honor of this holiday of nature was a special event at the Gilboa cliffs in the Gidona region, celebrating coexistence.
The planting site is located in an area that belongs to the Southern Jordan Streams and Drainage Authority, which took part in the joint activity. The Harod stream, which is being developed by KKL-JNF as part of its commitment to rehabilitate streams and plant trees along their banks, passes through this area. At the site there is a beautiful, accessible path one kilometer long. Alongside the path is a parcel of land designated for the Marching Together NGO, which will develop and maintain it, as part of their contribution to protecting the environment.
The Marching Together to a Shared Future movement is an NGO whose goal is to promote coexistence between Jews and Arabs in the state of Israel. Collaboration with KKL-JNF is the result of a desire to connect the community to the environment, to each other, and to the environment everyone lives in.
Eti Azulai, KKL-JNF Northern Region Public Relations Coordinator, explained: “This is an organization of good people, who understand that since they are living together, under the same umbrella, it is far better to live together as best as possible. KKL-JNF acts for the welfare of all Israel’s citizens, emphasizing open spaces, the environment and sustainability for future generations, and this is why cooperation is self-evident. Younesh Yaakov and Salah Grifath, who founded the NGO, said that they want to live together, and whoever else wants to can join them. People came, because they care about their immediate environment and in general.”
Cooperation between KKL-JNF and the NGO began with a series of nine meetings, five in the classroom and four in the field. The festive tree planting ceremony on the banks of the stream was the first event in the field, connecting people to the environment. A week before the event, the group listened to a lecture on the importance of open spaces. This coming Friday there will be another tree planting ceremony at the village of Zarzir, and in March, the group will visit Hula Lake Park, a paradise for birds and people.
The tree planting ceremony on the banks of the stream was moderated by Younesh Yaakov, one of the founding visionaries of the movement. “Tu Bishvat is the holiday of trees and nature, a natural connection between people, land and the environment. The trees that we will be planting as a joint community of Arabs and Jews will in the future create a recreation site and shade for us all. The color green is the color of hope, it is the color of the practical optimists, which is who we are. From here, at the foot of the Gilboa, we will march together to a shared future.”
Gil Atzmon, KKL-JNF Lower Galilee and Valleys Director, welcomed the wonderful initiative: “It’s impossible to exaggerate or overstate things. It is moving to see everyone who gathered here at this beautiful spot. It’s very clear to me that something long-term is starting here, something that brings hearts closer through wonderful work. We are standing next to a tributary of the Harod Stream. Streams connect between people. This is precisely the case with this small stream, which will become a river of peace between all of us who are here today.”
Atzmon thanked all the participants and especially legendary forester Meir Kaufmann, a man of vision and a man dedicated to hard labor, who still works and doesn’t rest for a moment.
When the speeches were over, there was an unveiling ceremony for the sign at the site, on which it is written: “Marching Together to a shared future, adopting and protecting the color green.” Yifat, a new resident of the valley, moved the guests with her rendition of the “Song of the Plants.”
Oded Yavin, Southern Jordan Streams and Drainage Authority CEO, emphasized the project’s uniqueness: “Last week, in cooperation with the Gilboa Regional Council and the Formal and Informal Education Department, close to 750 schoolchildren from all the schools in the region came to this segment of the stream. At two charming events, the children planted, together with us, the plants for the project itself. As far as we are concerned, what is so special about this process is the connection between people and having the community take part in doing and building, rather than just coming when the work is already done.”
Salah Grifath, one of the founders of Marching Together, described how excited and happy he was about the activity: “How pleasant and how good it is to live together, it’s really heartwarming. The idea of planting is very meaningful, by doing so we connect between people and the land. I want to thank the Southern Jordan Streams and Drainage Authority and KKL-JNF for everything they’ve done, for their help, for keeping their word and doing everything they promised without delay. Happy holiday, and I hope we plant another section every single year, for a better future.”
Itzik Shaked, one of the members of the NGO, was invited to read the Planters’ Prayer. Younish explained with a smile that he was chosen because Tu Bishvat is the holiday of the trees, and his name, shaked, means almond tree in Hebrew.
All the participants went joyfully to plant the trees. The tender saplings were planted as an expression of the love of humanity and the love of the environment, and they will surely grow and prosper.