Tu BiShvat falls this year on January 25th and tree-planting festivities in the run-up to the holiday have been launched with a variety of events held by KKL-JNF throughout the country. Members of the general public are invited to take part in the celebrations by planting trees, attending planting ceremonies, visiting KKL-JNF nurseries, preparing saplings, visiting forests and getting out into nature as it comes into bloom. Around one and a half million saplings are expected to be planted during these festivities of the month of Shevat, with an emphasis on urban locations.
In the wake of the Shmita (fallow) year, during which no planting took place in Israel, KKL-JNF has launched planting events all over the country that will continue throughout January and into early February. Over the past few days, three hundred thousand saplings have been loaded on to dozens of trucks at KKL-JNF nurseries in northern, southern and central Israel, and these are now on their way to the main planting sites. Planting events will be held in conjunction with the local authorities, educational institutions and youth movements.
Plant trees with us for Tu Bishvat!Members of the general public are invited to take part in a variety of activities all over the country.
Information about these activities can be found on the KKL-JNF website and the Forest Hotline (Kav LaYaar) at 1-800-350-550. |
So far, the first round of planting was held in
Tzora Forest near Beit Shemesh in the Judean Foothills, with the participation of first-graders from the Hartov School. The fire that broke out in the forest last summer destroyed over 2,000 dunam (approx 500 acres) of natural woodland, and it was here that these schoolchildren planted trees for the first time in their lives. Among them were five youngsters who had been born on Tu BiShvat: Carmel, Ilai, Ariel, Osher and Noam.
KKL-JNF World Chairman
Danny Atar reminded his listeners: “On Tu BiShvat we celebrate the enduring link between Man and Nature. Apart from symbolizing our connection to the land, every new tree we plant makes a significant contribution to the environment in which we all live.”
The following are some of the main Tu BiShvat ceremonies that will attract thousands of participants:
Central Israel:Two ceremonies will take place in Tzora Forest, the first with the participation of
Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem and former Chief Rabbi of Israel, and the second with the participation of the Minister of Agriculture, MK
Uri Ariel.
Southern Israel:In Mishmar HaNegev Forest, dozens of ceremonies will be held throughout the day for a variety of groups.
Northern Israel:
An official state ceremony will take place in Naharayim, which sits on the border between Israel and Jordan, together with a memorial walk to commemorate the seven schoolgirls murdered in the 1997 terrorist attack that took place at the site; the main ceremony on the Meron-Kadita Scenic Route will be attended by schoolchildren, new immigrants, pensioners and soldiers. A special Tu BiShvat seder will be held in the friendship tent in Zarzir in a spirit of coexistence.