It was a very emotional day for KKL-JNF friend and supporter Jose Luis Mendoza, who was honored for donating 12,000 olive trees that were planted in Kibbutz Megiddo in honor of the twelve tribes of Israel. The celebration began with the unveiling ceremony of the donor recognition plaque, followed by a festive dinner in Jerusalem along with friends, family, KKL-JNF representatives and dignitaries from Israel and Spain.
The 12,000 olive trees, a generous donation made by Mendoza and his wife Maria Dolores Garcia Mascarell three years ago, are now flourishing in the fields of Kibbutz Megiddo. Unlike many other kibbutzim, this kibbutz’s livelihood is still based on agriculture, including field crops and fruit trees.
Mendoza and his wife were greeted at Kibbutz Megiddo by KKL-JNF Deputy Chairman Hernan Felman, KKL-JNF Latin American Desk Director Ariel Goldgewicht, KKL-JNF Latin American Desk staff members Dalit Cohen and Demian Krzymuski, and KKL-JNF foresters Pavle Beno and Nili Pitchon.
Mendoza, president and founder of the Catholic University of San Antonio of Murcia, Spain, was also accompanied by his good friend and KKL-JNF supporter Sammy Cohen, along with Father Silverio Nieto Nunez. Mendoza and his family, who are devout Catholics, donated the 12,000 trees in honor of the students of the university and the twelve tribes of Israel. When they arrived at the kibbutz, the guests were greeted by Kibbutz Director Ronen Lam, Kibbutz Business Director Aya Cohen and Rakefet Bandah.
“We are here in the ‘Valley of Blessing’ in Megiddo, an amazing site with great historical significance. Now, thanks to this generous contribution, we have secured its future,” said Goldgewicht. “It is an honor for us at KKL-JNF to welcome you here today.”
Goldgewicht described the greater perspective to the guests, emphasizing KKL-JNF’s work over the past 115 years, including combating desertification and improving the environment by planting trees, constructing water reservoirs and creating tourism and recreation sites for all of Israel’s residents.
“These projects are an expression of the Jewish people’s responsibility for caring for the environment,” Goldgewicht said, noting that in 2004, KKL-JNF was awarded NGO status by the UN for its contribution to humanity, including planting more than 240 million trees and making Israel into the only country with more trees at the start of the 21st century than it had in the 20th century.
“The planting of these forests is yet another proof of the bond and unity of our peoples. We honor life in the present, but above all we want to leave our children a better world than the one we were given,” Goldgewicht said. “This is why we profoundly appreciate your generous contribution.”
Lam told the visitors that the kibbutz, which has 165 members, grows 70 hectares of various species of olive trees and has a keen interest in strengthening its agricultural sector. “It is a great honor to host you here in our kibbutz, where we continue to live simply, sensitive to our founder’s values while at the same time constantly adapting to industrial and technological progress,” Lam added. “Our agricultural work is one of the ways we maintain our roots in the Holy Land.”
In addition to a dairy, chicken coop, fields and orchards, the kibbutz has also expanded to the field of solar energy and green energy. “Your donation allows us to continue cultivating olive groves to produce olive oil. We hope we can continue to collaborate in the future,” Lam concluded.
Father Silverio noted the significance of the olive tree in both the Jewish and Catholic traditions. Olive oil was used to anoint the biblical kings of Israel and is still used to anoint new priests when they make their final vows. “Olive oil is life,” he said, “and the kibbutz is a symbol of the efforts and sacrifices of people who continue working for the future of Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East. I congratulate KKL-JNF and everyone who works with them for all the work they do in Israel. Coming to this kibbutz, we not only feel as if we are brothers, but we also feel a part of what you are doing. God bless you.”
Sammy Cohen thanked KKL-JNF for its assistance in bringing the project to its fruition, noting that Mendoza’s Spanish initials form the Hebrew word for “dream”.
“Whatever idea Jose Luis has becomes reality,” Cohen said. “You are a true dreamer, Jose Luis - in your home, in your life, in the Catholic Community and in Spain. You have a huge heart – everyone knows that whoever knocks on your door is always greeted with an open heart.”
Mendoza gave his thanks to God for the opportunity to be a part of the project, noting that “without God, life has no meaning. Olive trees have special significance for me,” he said, “since I come from a long line of olive farmers. Every morning I drink some olive oil together with my breakfast.”
He disclosed that prior to discovering his family’s Jewish roots, he had a negative opinion of Jews. However, after having learned more about Judaism and connecting with the Catholic Church’s Neocatechumenal Way movement, he came to love the Jewish people as his elder brothers, as Pope John Paul II called them.
“I love the Jewish people very deeply,” Mendoza said. “They have left a huge legacy in Spain, and there is a sense of love that unites us. We have planted these 12,000 trees in honor of the twelve tribes of Israel here in the Valley of Blessing, the Valley of Peace, in honor and love of the chosen people. God wants this bond and we feel very connected to you. This is a manifestation of God’s love, and you, too, are one of the greatest manifestations of His love.”
He noted the importance of caring for the environment and nature, a task entrusted by God to humanity. “This work you are doing is very impressive,” he concluded. Mendoza unveiled a commemorative plaque in honor of his donation and was presented with a framed aerial photo of the 12,000 trees that he helped plant.
Festive Dinner in Jerusalem
In the evening, KKL-JNF held a festive dinner for Mendoza in Jerusalem. Present at the dinner were Jorge Fernandez Diaz, Spanish Minister of the Interior; Victor Harel, former ambassador of Israel to Spain; KKL-JNF Board Member Hernan Felman; KKL-JNF Deputy Director Alex Hefetz, and Chief Sephardic Rabbi Shlomo Amar and his wife Rabanit Mazal Amar.
The musical program of the festive evening included a performance by two students of the Neocatechumenal monastery Domos Galilaeae, who performed a very moving rendition of the “Shema Yisrael/ Hear O Israel” prayer in both Hebrew and Spanish. A video on KKL-JNF’s work for people and their environment was also screened.
Sammy Cohen noted the recent celebration of Pentecost and Shavuot, where Ruth the Moabite says to her Jewish mother-in-law “Where you go I will go, your people will be my people.”
“Jose Luis is always saying ‘your people are my people,’” Cohen said, “and that we are all one. After seeing KKL-JNF’s marvelous accomplishment of planting 12,000 trees, we feel that there is now a special blessing from God for the Jewish people and all humanity. There are wheat, grapes and figs in the land of Israel, but above all is the blessing of olives.”
Rabbi Amar addressed the group, noting the presence of many great friends who have demonstrated their loyalty over the years. “It is very moving to see a sort of humility and simplicity that we aren’t exposed to very much,” Rabbi Amar said. “Even though we might not meet very often, it feels like we have never parted from other, because the mutual love and feeling remain powerful. We appreciate this connection, which exists not because of shared interests but rather due to mutual affection. May God bless you and grant you long lives, together with goodness for you, your children and your loved ones. May you continue on your God-fearing path, and may you always have the opportunity to continue performing good deeds.”
Rabbi Amar concluded with a verse from the Torah: “How nice and how pleasant it is when brothers sit together.”
Fernandez Diaz thanked KKL-JNF for organizing the festive event. “How wonderful it is to see the Spanish flag alongside the flag of KKL-JNF and the flag of Israel,” he said. “I feel very honored to be here.”
Hernan Felman thanked Mendoza and his wife for being partners of KKL-JNF. “Projects like yours and other projects being carried out by other Catholic groups emphasize the unbreakable bond between the Jewish people, Jerusalem and the land of Israel, he said. “Jose Luis, you make dreams become a reality. I am certain that this will not be the last project we will be working on together. The olive trees you planted will help strengthen the friendship between our nations. When you go back home to tell everyone about your experience here, I have no doubt that you will be our best ambassadors.”
The evening concluded with the presentation of gifts to Mendoza and his wife -a tree of life plaque and an olive-wood box with replicas of two ancient coins. KKL-JNF certificates of appreciation were also presented to Jorge Fernandez Diaz, Father Silverio Nieto Nunez and Sammy Cohen. The guests also received a book on Jewish lifecycle events along with tins of olive oil from Kibbutz Megiddo, as a gesture of thanks for planting the 12,000 olive trees.
Read this article in Spanish