Larry and Tova Vickar, longtime friends of JNF Canada, arrived in Israel on March 3, for a tour of projects implemented with their support - a scenic lookout at the Emek Hefer reservoir and a Learning and Life Skills Center and auditorium at the Megiddo Regional High School. During their visit, they undertook the new challenge of fundraising for a computer lab at the school. At the opening ceremony for the new center, the Vickars said that it was a beautiful gift for their 45th wedding anniversary, which they had celebrated the day before.
The Vickar Scenic Lookout overlooks the Emek Hefer reservoir and has a shaded wooden deck with benches. There is a broad path leading up to the observation point lined with landscaped flora. The larger cities in central Israel are only a few kilometers away, but from that pretty site in the heart of a rural area, the clamor of the city could not seem farther away.
“It’s great that so many birds can benefit so much from this place,” said Larry Vickar, as he gazed at the panoramic landscape from the scenic lookout. “This project is a dream come true. I’ve always wanted to do something like this,” said Tova Vickar.
The Emek Hefer reservoir exemplifies a combination of agriculture, nature and local tourism, thanks to the green fields all around, the Alexander River, which KKL-JNF is involved in rehabilitating, the aquatic fowl that live in the area and the numerous nature lovers that come there to enjoy the walking and cycling, and to watch the pelicans in the fall and in the spring.
For the pelicans that migrate from Europe to Africa and back, the reservoir is an excellent place for resting and eating before resuming their long journey. The pelicans at the reservoir are fed, which keeps them away from the fish ponds. For birdwatchers it is a wonderful opportunity to see the amazing view of thousands of pelicans flying in the sky or swimming in the reservoir. There are not so many birds at the reservoir at this time of year, but the experts say they will be returning shortly.
The Emek Hefer reservoir, which was constructed by KKL-JNF, stores rainwater and floodwater from the Alexander River - that flows below the scenic lookout. It has a capacity of one million cubic meters, and the water in it is used to irrigate citrus orchards in the area, avocado groves, tomatoes, cucumbers and flowers. It is not hard to imagine how important the reservoir is. It is enough to just look around and see the cultivated groves and green fields.
Ze'ev Kedem, KKL-JNF Fundraising Division Director, accompanied the Vickars on their tour and briefed them about the region. As they were looking toward the nearby city of Tulkarm, Kedem said, “From here, one can see just how small our country is.” He noted that KKL-JNF has constructed reservoirs all over Israel, and these have helped Israel become a world leader in the utilization of reclaimed water.
The next stop on their itinerary was the Megiddo Regional High School. As a child, Tova Vickar attended the Harei Efrayim School, which eventually became the Megiddo High School. Because of her affection for the place, the school is now benefiting from a new Arts Center with a state-of-the-art auditorium, and a Learning and Life Skills Center for students with special needs.
Some of Tova’s childhood friends came to meet her at the school, and she said that “it was very heartwarming to meet old friends greeting me with smiles and hugs.”
Around 850 students from the thirteen localities in the Megiddo Regional Council are enrolled at the school. Itzhak Holevsky, the Mayor of the Regional Council, welcomed the Vickars and said, “Providing special needs students with opportunities is a priority in our school system.”
Construction of the Arts Center has been completed, and it is already thriving with diverse programs and events. The Learning Centers are under construction at present in buildings that were once used as children’s houses. The Learning Center has eight small classrooms that facilitate sixteen students in each. The students who need academic support, modified programs, personal attention or individual assistance will be getting it in comfortable and pleasant surroundings. In the Life Skills Center, there are five small classrooms, where empowerment workshops for reinforcing self-confidence will be provided.
Liron Zakai, the school principal, accompanied the Vickars on their tour of the school and gave them updates about the projects: “The auditorium has been in use since the beginning of the school year, and it is enabling us to hold high-quality lectures, meetings and performances. The Life Skills Center has been completed, and we will be able to start using it within a few weeks. Construction is done, the classrooms are furnished, and there are only a few small adjustments left to finish. Work on the Learning Center is in full swing, and we estimate that it will be completed by the end of the school year. These projects are opening a range of new possibilities for us besides regular classrooms.”
The next challenge the Vickars are undertaking, with support from relatives and friends, is to raise funds for an advanced computer lab. When they toured the school, they visited the building intended for this project.
The new Life Skills Center was inaugurated at a warm ceremony attended by Larry and Tova Vickar, who unveiled the plaque and cut the ribbon. The Vickars, who had celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary the previous day, said that this was certainly a beautiful gift for the occasion.
“It’s making me very happy to see how this project is turning into everything we hoped it would and even more so,” said Larry Vickar. Tova added, “I’m glad we’re able to support Israel and are giving back to Israel a little of what it has given to us.”