On April 5th KKL-JNF held a colorful and festive planting ceremony at President’s Forest in-Tzora Forest, for singers competing in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Fine sunny weather and the forest’s delightful spring blossoms welcomed around fifty performers from twenty-seven countries throughout Europe, who had come to share the unique experience of planting a tree in Israel.
“I’m excited to be here in Israel, and planting a tree here is an amazing feeling,” declared singer Artsvik, from Armenia.
The Eurovision competitors had come to spend four days in Israel as guests of KKL-JNF and of the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage, and the municipalities of Tel Aviv and Herzliya. During their time in the country they toured Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and also gave a special concert for Eurovision fans.
The official reception was held at the Herzliya Marina immediately upon the delegation’s arrival in Israel. KKL-JNF was represented by Board member Itamar Herman, who told those present: “We are happy to show you the attractive aspects of Israel. Planting a tree expresses both a connection to Israel and the importance of conserving the environment.”
One of the high points of the visit was the planting of a tree at KKL-JNF’s planting center in the President’s-Tzora Forest. For Kasia Moś, Poland’s representative in Eurovision, this was the first time she had ever planted a tree. “As I love nature and the environment very much, and spend a lot of time rambling in the forest, I’m very glad indeed to have this opportunity to plant my first tree,” she said. Speaking of her experiences during her visit she added: “Israel is wonderful, the people are warm, the food is excellent and we feel very welcome here.”
“Planting a tree is a moral statement that has a profound emotional significance,” said Michal Hefetz, Director of KKL-JNF's Plant-a-Tree department. “I’m sure that after they return home, these visitors will feel that they have put down roots here.”
Ron Gerstenfeld, Deputy Director of the Public Affairs, Media Academy and Branding Department at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the importance of this visit by musicians who help to shape public opinion in their home countries. “This is an opportunity to present Israel’s positive aspects, such as its culture, its people and its marvelous scenery,” he said.
KKL-JNF representative Elisha Mizrahi, who presided over the ceremony, told his guests that King David had walked at the site where they now found themselves, and that the sound of his harp had echoed among the surrounding hills. “It has become a tradition for Eurovision contestants to plant a tree here – and today you, too, have the opportunity to plant your own personal tree in the Holy Land,” he said.
The President’s-Tzora Forest extends over an area of around eleven thousand dunam (approx 2,750 acres) in the Judean Foothills, and the forest ridge offers a magnificent view of both the Coastal Plain and the mountains of Judea. KKL-JNF began to plant the forest in the 1950s. Ever since then it has continued to enhance it with the addition of various local tree species and it has provided the site with recreation areas, scenic lookouts and trails through the woodland.
Leah Fadida, Director of Public Relations and Community at KKL-JNF, recited the Planter’s Prayer in Hebrew, Belgian singer Blanche recited it in English, and then the whole company set out to perform the task for which they had assembled – tree planting. They rolled up their sleeves, plunged their hands into the Israeli soil and set their saplings in the ground. Fortunately, they had not forgotten to equip themselves with sunshades to protect them against the scorching sun that beat down on this hot day.
Artem Lukyanenko and Ksenia Zhuk, the singing duo who will represent Belarus at the upcoming Eurovision contest, had done their homework and prepared themselves for the planting ceremony by learning the Passover Haggadah song Dayenu. “We went into YouTube and practiced the song together,” explained Ksenia with a smile. Few experiences could be more universal than that of listening to a duo from Belarus singing a Passover song in Hebrew while planting a tree in Israel together with their fellow performers from all over Europe.
“This is our first time in Israel, and we’ve discovered an amazing country with wonderful people and great weather,” said Artem “We’re happy to be here, we’ve planted trees, and now all that remains for us to do is build a house and move here,” joked Ksenia.
After their excursion, the singers returned to Tel Aviv to prepare for a performance held that same evening for Eurovision fans. When they returned home, these performers carried with them a wealth of memories of their visit to Israel and left behind living, growing trees that will strike deep roots in the soil and become an inseparable part of the forest.
“I’ve really enjoyed myself here in Israel, and I’ve no doubt that I’ll be back here again for a visit,” concluded Brendan Murray of Ireland.