The idea that every single person can do something good, be it large or small, to improve the lives of others, and positively change the world, is what lies behind Good Deeds Day and KKL-JNF stands firmly behind that notion.
Tuesday, March 12: The
Ben Shemen Forest in central Israel was a hive of activity as thousands of people combed the tree-covered landscape to collect garbage. They came from all walks of society including groups from various industries including hi-tech and banking, pensioners’ clubs and the health sector. There were those that came with their families and others that arrived on their own. Many were wearing the white “
Good Deeds Day” T-shirt, and all came with the shared goal of making Ben Shemen Forest clean again.
Onsite to meet the volunteers as they gathered at the Mitzpe Modiin
Lookout Tower were several KKL-JNF guides who were operating an information table. They greeted the groups and presented them with gloves and garbage bags for gathering the rubbish, together with a short explanation of how to go about the task. The guides then led the volunteers to the sites that were in need of cleaning.
KKL-JNF guide
Vicky Yitzhaki said that she always begins her explanation with a brief history of the Ben Shemen Forest, and explains why it is so intimately connected to the organization she represents. Speaking to a group of volunteers from Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), she said that the Ben Shemen Forest was the first large forest that was planted by KKL-JNF in Israel, until the planting of the Yatir Forest in the South.
“It covers an area of some 30,000 dunams with cypress, pine and oak trees, and is open to visitors all year round, at no charge. Every day, this forest is pleasantly busy with people who come to enjoy the open air, bicycle enthusiasts and bird watchers, but on weekends and holidays, the forest is packed to capacity. Unfortunately, the visitors leave behind a lot of refuse that our garbage-crew deals with, but they cannot be everywhere all the time. That’s where you come in to the story...”
IAI employee
Yuval Nadir who enthusiastically set about collecting garbage said that he feels lucky to be outdoors on such a beautiful day.
“It’s a win-win-win situation. We enjoy the activity, the forest benefits from our actions and we enjoy the clean forest. We fulfill our commitments to nature and our obligations as citizens of the state.”
KKL-JNF’s
Nurit Dreyfus, who is the manager of the Ben Shemen Forest and
Ayalon Park, spent the day racing around in her van meeting people and groups who had registered and could not find their way around the forest, and making sure that everything was being carried out as planned. She said that every year, more and more people want to take part in Good Deeds Day.
“This
forest is very popular because it so close to many residential areas, such as the city of Modiin. People who live around here feel that it is their forest, and they want to take care of it. Today they will clean spots that are difficult to reach on a daily basis. Every year on this day the forest receives a new breath of life as tons of waste, which is both an ecological hazard and dangerous for wild animals, is removed.”
IAI employee
Dalia Levy said that the experience of cleaning the forest taught her an important lesson.
“Next time I am here with my family I will make absolutely certain that neither we nor any of the people around us leave any rubbish behind. They will hear loudly and clearly all about this problem.”
Tel Aviv Residents
Adi Skittel and
Lena Simyanov who read about “Good Deeds Day” on the KKL-JNF website were just finished cleaning the area of the Thai Pagoda together with IAI Computer programmer
Yitzhak Tzarfaty, when 2 tour busses full of women pensioners from Beit Shean arrived at the site. That entire tour was led by KKL-JNF guide Noam Tamir, who said that participants generally have no idea what it takes to keep a forest clean. “It is taken for granted that the site will meet their expectations because that is how it always is.”
Soon after the group of pensioners from Bet Shean left the Thai Pagoda, a group of Marine Biology students on a post-doctoral course at the Weizman Institute arrived to take a break from cleaning the forest. They were accompanied by their very friendly teacher Prof. Assaf Vardi, who declared that his student Noa Barak-Gavish was the leader of the group. Speaking for her colleagues, Noa said that as a marine biology student the issue of ecology and nature preservation is near and dear to her.
“I am distressed at the amount of contamination that I see in nature and that includes the sea. As soon as we heard about this activity we all changed our timetables in order to take part.”
A large group from Bank Leumi arrived and another from the Clalit HMO. Leading the Clalit group was family doctor Dr. Roberto Einbinder, who said that he scheduled appointments from only from 4:00-7:00 PM that day in order to be here.
“Look at what I collected in half an hour. There is plenty of junk here. One just has to move the upper plant layer to see it. I am finding no end of plastic plates and cups and clothes and other things that just do not decompose in nature. Once left they are here to stay unless physically removed.”
Seventeen participants arrived from The English Business Networking group ABC (Always Be Connected), which is based in Modiin. While carrying a large bag of waste to the garbage bin, ABC member Karen Black said she had a lot of fun this day.
“This was good therapy. At first you think there is not much to do but when you begin you start to see the dirt. I think our country needs a good spring-cleaning in more ways than one.”
Another ABC member Yaakov Star said: “There are not enough garbage cans in the forest”. That statement set off a cacophony of responses: “There are no garbage cans at all in places they are needed”, “There should be more ‘do not litter’ warning signs”, “There should be billboards showing the large fines that will be imposed for littering”.
Karen Black was later seen telling KKL-JNF’s Ofer Yuma where she thinks the garbage cans should be placed. She thanked the KKL-JNF crew for arranging Cleanup Day.
Gan Raveh residents Eti Mendelbaum and Galit Ben Shoshan who arrived with their respective sons Amit Ben Shoshan and Dotan Mendelbaum said that they came to take part in the event as part of the boys’ Bar Mitzvah year activities. Eti said that the two boys have been friends since they were born and that they grew up together.
“I believe that that the Bar Mitzvah year should be educational as well as ceremonial. Taking part in “Good Deeds Day” fits in well.”
Modiin Resident Alex Sabanok, who was cleaning alongside the Mitzpe Modiin access road, said that he comes to the forest on every opportunity he has. “This is my forest and it’s my duty to keep it clean. I clean my home for Passover as I am required to do by Jewish Law and cleaning the forest is part of the Passover spirit.”
Good Deeds Day 2018 was carried out in KKL-JNF sites throughout the country to mark the onset of spring and the approaching Passover holiday with thousands upon thousands of participants all pitching in to keep the forests clean.