On Tuesday, March 22, 2017, famous American actor and graffiti artist Corin Nemec planted a carob tree at KKL-JNF's VIP Tree Planting Center in the Jerusalem Mountains.
"The world media is not always so kind to Israel, but I have had a passion for the country ever since I first came here in 1992-93, during the first Gulf War," said Corin Nemec, a famous actor and graffiti artist from the United States, was planting a carob tree at KKL-JNF's VIP tree planting site in the Jerusalem Mountains, just beneath the Kennedy Memorial. He was on a week-long visit to Israel as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with his sister Anastacia Nemec, a producer.
Corin and Anastacia were greeted at the site by KKL-JNF Chief of Protocol Andy Michelson, who told them that KKL-JNF has been planting trees for the past 115 years. "We're experts on growing trees with very little water," Andy said, "and our expertise has proved very useful in Africa. We can be very low-tech when necessary, which is why our knowledge is so valuable for developing countries."
"This is my second visit to Israel," Corin said. "When I first came here in 1992-93, we were doing a PR tour for Parker Louis, the show I was starring in at the time. Ever since then, I've been wanting to come back. I have a passion for Israel. In my late teens, I took an interest in Jewish mysticism. When we were in Masada during my first visit here, I had a very powerful experience. I felt as if I was connected on a deeper level. It was a very profound moment, a feeling of belonging, a sense of spiritual elevation.
"Planting a tree today was very special for me. I found it very interesting that it was a carob tree. I was concerned that some hungry animal might eat it after I go back too America, but Andy explained to me that KKL-JNF puts biodegradable sleeves around the trees that protect them and enhance their growing process. Ecologically speaking, the world needs more trees, but we cut them down and destroy ecosystems. I think forestry departments should put energy into planting trees like KKL-JNF does, not just into caring for them."
Corin Nemec is an American actor, producer, and screenwriter. He is known for playing the title character in the TV series Parker Lewis Can't Lose, for which he is most famous in Israel. He also played Jonas Quinn on Stargate SG-1, and Harold Lauder in the ABC mini-series The Stand. Today he is an internationally acclaimed graffiti artist, and during his current visit in Israel, he participated in projects with leading Israeli artists. At the Peres Center for Peace in Tel Aviv, he painted a graffiti mural on the subject of peace, together with a multinational group of children.
As Corin said, "When you're with children, you realize they really want peace."