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Written by KKL

Published: 19 December 2013

President of Guatemala Otto Fernando Pérez Molina waters his newly planted tree, with KKL-JNF World Chairman Efi Stenzler. Photo: Sasson Tiram, KKL-JNF Photo Archive 

"Planting this tree in Jerusalem not only strengthens the ties of friendship between Guatemala and Israel, but also expresses our hope for a better world."
President of Guatemala, Otto Fernando Pérez Molina planted a tree at the KKL-JNF Grove of Nations in Jerusalem. "It is an honor for us to be here with you and plant a tree in the tradition of Abraham," said the president, who joined the ranks of the many heads of state from all over the world who have planted olive trees in the Grove of Nations in Jerusalem as a sign of friendship with the State of Israel and the Jewish people, and as a symbol of peace between the nations of the world.

http://youtu.be/27RC70Rpx5Y

This was the first official visit to Israel of a President of Guatemala. The tree planting ceremony in the Grove of Nations, which took place on Monday, December 9, 2013, was attended by Guatemalan government ministers—the Foreign Minister, the Defense Minister and the Minister of Agriculture—as well as KKL-JNF executives, among them KKL-JNF Chairman Efi Stenzler. "In the Jewish tradition, planting a tree is the most important symbol of friendship," said Stenzler. "I am sure this tree we have planted here will reinforce the cooperation between our countries."

President of Guatemala Otto Fernando Pérez Molina waters his newly planted tree, with KKL-JNF World Chairman Efi Stenzler. Photo: Sasson Tiram, KKL-JNF Photo Archive
Stenzler said that the new olive tree joins the 240 million trees planted by KKL-JNF all over Israel over the years. He detailed KKL-JNF's work to the audience, which includes not only planting trees but also constructing reservoirs, developing agriculture in arid regions, combating desertification, rehabilitating waterways, developing infrastructure for ecotourism and education for environmental protection.

The ceremony was emceed by Andy Michelson, who made many people smile when he said that planting trees in the land of Israel is so important, according to the Jewish tradition, that it says, if the Messiah arrives when a man is in the midst of planting a tree, he must first finish planting the tree, and only then may he go and greet the Messiah.

Among those present was the President of KKL Guatemala, Susan Michaeli, who said that "Guatemala has been a friend of Israel since the establishment of its statehood, and this visit is important in strengthening the connection."

The Israel Ambassador to Guatemala, Moshe Bachar, and the Guatemala Ambassador to Israel, Alfredo Vasquez, read the Planter's Prayer together, in Hebrew and in Spanish, after which everyone got to work planting the olive tree. The muddy ground following the rain did not deter the Guatemalan President and his ministers, who planted the tree skillfully and did not forget to water it when they were done. "Every tree signifies hope, life, concern for the environment and the continuity of future generations," concluded the President.

The next day, President Pérez Molina was taken on a helicopter tour of the Negev accompanied by KKL-JNF executive officers, and he was very impressed by the achievements of KKL-JNF in the development of southern Israel. The tour included bird's eye views of the various projects that are turning the desert into a green and flourishing region. That evening, KKL-JNF hosted a reception in honor of the President of Guatemala at the Rabin Center in Tel Aviv, where he was the main speaker.

During his visit in Israel, the Guatemalan President met the President of Israel, Shimon Peres. At the official reception, President Peres said, "Welcome to the State of Israel and to the city of Jerusalem. We welcome you as the President of Guatemala, a friend of Israel, a friend of peace." President Peres said that Israel and Guatemala have great potential as collaborators and said, "Your visit is an opportunity for expanding cooperation, in this era when Guatemala is progressing toward a future of innovation and science."

The President of Guatemala's Helicopter Tour

The helicopter tour of the President of Guatemala with KKL-JNF executives included the Dead Sea and Masada, and sites of projects being developed by KKL-JNF all over the Negev, with the assistance of its friends worldwide.

Yatir Forest

KKL Guatemala President Susan Michaeli and KKL-JNF Board Member Hernan Felman. Photo: Yoav Devir
The largest planted forest in the Middle East, Yatir Forest serves as an example for maximal adjustment to arid climate conditions and is a focus for international research on environmental protection and carbon sequestration by trees. These research studies have shown that desert trees absorb as much carbon as trees in the rain forests!

As the organization responsible for Israel's forests, KKL-JNF contributes towards the reduction of global warming by having planted more than 240 million trees in an area of 920,000 dunams, and in maintaining 800,000 dunams of natural woodlands and pasture.

Planting trees is the most significant contribution towards reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and preventing global warming. Thanks to the work of KKL-JNF, Israel is one of the only countries in the world that has more trees today than it had a hundred years ago.

KKL-JNF Reservoirs
Water is an acute issue in Israel, where water is scarce. As the population grows, more and more water is allocated for domestic use, so the quantities of water available for agriculture have been diminishing. KKL-JNF sees great importance in the intensive development of agriculture in Israel to enable the empowerment of populations that make a living from agriculture, especially in rural areas, and also as a safeguard for Israel's open spaces and landscapes. Development of reservoirs for agriculture is therefore a priority for KKL-JNF among its diverse activities.

KKL-JNF has constructed more than 240 reservoirs for storing floodwater and treated wastewater. Some of the reservoirs with treated wastewater fill up several times a year. Thus, a capacity of 260 cubic meters can produce up to 160 million cubic meters of water a year. In 2010, water provided by the reservoirs constructed by KKL-JNF provided half of the water used for agriculture in Israel!

Ambassadors Forest and Desert Afforestation

Efi Stenzler presents the Gautemalan President with a KKL-JNF Planting Certificate. Photo: Sasson Tiram, KKL-JNF Photo Archive
KKL-JNF invests great resources in halting the expansion of the desert, and in rehabilitating areas that have undergone desertification, by developing methods for desert afforestation based on agricultural methods such as the ancient terrace system and the more modern liman system.

The year 2006 was declared the year of desertification by the UN, and it was therefore decided to inaugurate the Ambassadors Forest in the environs of Beersheva. The Ambassadors Forest was planted in the green belt that KKL-JNF is developing around the Beer Sheva metropolis. The forest, which covers 700 dunams, was planted in sandstone, where water resources are utilized by special methods that enable trees such as acacia, carob, fig and other desert species to thrive.

Beersheva River Park
In the heart of Beersheva, the Negev's capital city, flows the Beersheva River, which was polluted for many years and became a hazardous waste dump. A joint rehabilitation project undertaken by KKL-JNF, the Shikma Besor Drainage Authority, the Beersheba Municipality and the Israel Ministry for Environmental Protection, has turned it into an ecological park covering an area of 5,200 dunams and measuring 8 kilometers in length.

The Beersheva River Park includes lawns, groves, footpaths, cycling trails, historic sites, designed bridges, sports facilities, a botanical garden featuring desert flora, picnic areas all along the promenade and assorted wildlife. A manmade lake is planned for the center of the park, to be supplied by treated wastewater.

Gaza Border Communities – Life Saving Trees

The Grove of Nations. Photo: Yoav Devir
The people living in communities bordering on Gaza are constantly exposed to Palestinian artillery and missile attacks, while accessing their farms, within the boundaries of their own communities, and while driving along the roads, such as the anti-tank missile fired at a school bus on a road near the Gaza border, which killed a 16-year-old boy.

In order to remedy the situation, KKL-JNF and the IDF embarked on a tree planting project in 2011. The trees, which border vulnerable communities, serve a triple benefit to residents of the south: these rows of trees will not only block the vision of terrorist firing into Israel, but will also provide pleasant scenery and shade.
The planting program focuses on using fast-growing, water-saving species, adapted to the desert conditions in the area.

Jerusalem
The helicopter tour concluded in Jerusalem with a view of the Old City.

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Written by Jonathan Danilowitz

Published: 09 December 2013

The event was the launch of El Al’s newest wine menus for the airline’s First and Business classes. Most of the guests were members of El Al’s Frequent Flyer Club, or passengers who usually fly in Business or First Class. But among the invitees was a not insignificant number of “us” – those who choose to fly in Economy Class for whatever reason.  They too are recognized, properly serviced and fully appreciated.

Friday morning at the “Hamam” in old Jaffa. El Al pulled out all the stops for their honored guests; the wine flowed like water, the snacks were plentiful (and delicious!) and the atmosphere welcoming and laid back. Everyone felt “At home away from home”.

El Al President & CEO Elyezer Shkedy briefly welcomed the guests with a short overview of El Al’s recent achievements and awards from independent tourism experts. (Did you know that this summer Travel & Leisure Magazine’s readers placed El Al in the top 20 airlines in the world, position #18?) He then introduced wine expert Yair Haidu who recently joined the El Al culinary team to make sure that next time you fly, the on-board service will be even better. In addressing the audience, Haidu reminded us that: “Wine is like no other beverage. It means something special (and unique) to everyone. Wine is the prince of drinks so it is not surprising that El Al over recent years has paid even more attention to improving the flight experience – and that includes the wines on offer.”

The launch of the new wine menus included a wine-tasting of dozens of wines selected from about 300 that various Israeli wineries – large and small – offered to El Al. Haidu added: “Whereas before, airlines had to choose only between huge wineries that could supply the needed quantities year round, El Al has now “broken out of the box” with a decision to have wine menus change with the seasons, in addition to offering a “Wine of the Month” with special discoveries and selections. Now frequent flyers (and others) can taste and enjoy new wines each time they fly. On El Al, the boring days of “red or white?” are a thing of the past.

Happy landings and “l’chaim”.

Photos  Sivan Farag

Yair Haidu  with El Al President & CEO Elyezer Shkedy

& Photo of the wine presentation ceremony.

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Written by Aviva Shwartz

Published: 11 December 2013

Peace activist and Honorary Consul of Croatia Shmuel Schlesinger initiated a gathering of friends calling to stop the killing of innocent Syrian people and to empathize with the innocent victims in the civil war in Syria.

Schlesinger donated his home in Savion for the occasion whose participants included diplomats, representatives of several religions in Israel, a Rabbi, Christians, religious leaders from the Druze and Arab community, lecturers, academics and executives.

The conference was held on Friday morning, November 29, in protest against the killing of innocent victims throughout the world, and in particular against the genocide and killing of innocent people in neighboring Syria.

Honorary Consul Samuel Schlesinger explained the idea that drove his initiative: "As a Holocaust survivor whose family was destroyed by the Nazis,   I can't afford to sit still when I hear that innocent women, children and the elderly are being killed in bombings and gassings. I have a private as well as a public interest in helping to sow the seeds towards world peace.  I was personally hurt when the world was silent while innocent people were killed in the Holocaust. Now, I cannot be at peace with myself, if I will not shout out when across our fence, our neighbors are killing and murdering innocent people". "I know this will not actually stop the fighting and killing" says Schlesinger, "but through protest I hope to plant the first seed and steps toward real peace with our neighbors in Syria."

Besides being an activist for peace, Schlesinger is active in the diplomatic and public sectors, and is the owner and chairman of the "Schlesinger Group" which controls "Ashdod Bonded", with warehouses and freight terminals at air and sea ports and – "IQ LOGISTIC", a company specializing in logistical management. Schlesinger sees great importance and attributes supreme value to peoples of different religions, engaging in public diplomacy, and in promoting peace between nations and between people.

Among the guests were the Ambassador of Croatia Pjer Simunovic; MK Ayoub Kara, deputy speaker and Minister for Development of the Negev and the Galilee; the Mayor of Majdal Shams, Dolan Abu Salah; Leader of the Druze religion, Amin Kbalan in Beit Jaan; and Rabbi Yosef Kaplan, a Chabad Rabbi and religious Jewish educator. Among the academics present were Dr. Mordechai (Moti) Kedar, an expert in Middle East Studies and Islam, and Marc Gal,  a bereaved father from the Druze community and others and other executives and intellectuals who came to show their solidarity with this topic.

As the event took place during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, Rabbi Yosef Kaplan, opened the event and invited Ambassador Simunovic, all religious leaders and academics to gather together to light the second candle, symbolizing cooperation between nations and religions. This created an atmosphere of goodwill and mutual respect among all those in attendance.

After lighting the Hanukkah candles, MK Ayoub Kara praised the Israeli contribution to the Syrian people that has been given quietly and discreetly. MK Kara noted that this aid is especially helpful to those seriously injured and having no one to turn to in their own country.  He described how the contributions and Israeli humanitarian aid is being highly regarded in the world. He further says that his colleagues from other countries praise and even envy the fact that that the state of Israel sends humanitarian aid unconditionally despite the problems and difficult hostile surroundings.

Majdal Shams Mayor Dolan Abu Salah (second term as mayor) also spoke about the humanitarian aid that we as human beings must give to the Syrian people who are victims of war.  When Mr. Abu Salah was asked what is the extent of his emotional involvement with the Syrian people, he commented: "I dedicate time, effort and deep thought to this issue, especially when I see my children playing around the house and imagine what they (God forbid) might have to go through if they were in Syria now.

Another speaker at the event was Marc Gal, a communications expert who proposed a global plan for regional peace. According to Gal, a stable peace in the Middle East will take place only of we take into account the traditions of the local population groups in the region.

Dr. Mordechai (Moti) Kedar, Director of the Center for Middle East Policy – at Bar-Ilan University, presented a broad picture of the historical sequence that led to the current situation in Syria. Dr. Kedar studies the core issues of the Israeli - Arab conflict and is a researcher of Arabic literature and a lecturer at Bar Ilan University. He is known as being an expert on Islamic groups, political discourse in Arab countries, the Arab media and the internal Syrian arena. Dr. Kedar is the author of the book, "Syrian Media Under Hafez al-Assad". He has also published articles and opinion pieces on Islamic terrorism, Iran, the Palestinians and the issue of Palestinian refugees.  Dr. Kedar surprised the guests – particularly the Muslim religious Druze and Arabs, with his extensive knowledge of Muslim religion and the distinction between all its sects and factions, using terms from the Arab world only elders of the community know.

According to Dr. Kedar there is no actual concept of "Israeli nationality" but there is a "State of Israel", therefore, there is no actual entity called the "Syrian nation" but there is a "Syrian state", in which there are cults and sectors of the Arab Muslim and Christian populations who fanatically preserve their traditions and religion and are not willing to accept the religious coercion being dictated to them by the dominant party and the Alawite community headed by Assad.  What is going on now is basically a process of dissolution similar to what happened in the former Yugoslavia, where Yugoslavia was broken up into small countries and ethnic groups. The same process resulting in small states occurred in the former Soviet Union. Dr. Kedar predicts that this is what will eventually happen in Syria.  Peace will come in Syria when everyone will recognize the right of every faction to establish its own autonomy and form their own state.

Dr. Kedar summed up with the English expression: "High Fences Make Good Neighbors" giving his own interpretation: "Give each group respect, while making sure they are separated by clear borders, and they will live together in peace and mutual respect".

If at the beginning of the morning, we wondered how so many individuals from such different backgrounds gathered under the same roof could come together - at the end of the meeting, we discovered that unusual relationships and friendships had been formed.

Mr. Schlesinger sees a personal mission in bringing world peace by promoting dialogue between parties. Since he is a practical man, he begins to implement the change in his own home by inviting people to his home in Savion. Guests might include individuals from the wide political and religious map where they discuss different topics, enjoy music in a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere. Schlesinger says his goal is to reach an understanding between the sides out of a sense of goodwill and love for humanity.

And we think, If only the same atmosphere of openness, understanding, love and mutual desire for peace, like that we have experienced here today between such varied groups of people, we could find between countries – then the world would be a much better place to live in.

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Written by KKL

Published: 02 December 2013