KKL-JNF honor outgoing Chairwoman of the U.S. Congressional House Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, with a special tree planting ceremony on October 21 to commemorate Cuban patriot, poet, and freedom fighter José Martí.
“I am so moved to be here,” said
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen as she arrived at the
Eshtaol Forest just outside of Jerusalem, together with her husband
Dexter Lehtinen and members of her legislative delegation. “Castro knew how important José Martí was to Cubans and had falsely made him into a [communist] revolutionary hero. José Martí advocated for freedom and independence.”
A hero from the Cuban independence war from Spain, Martí died in battle with the Spanish on May 19, 1895.
Ros-Lehtinen was greeted by KKL-JNF Chief of Protocol
Andy Michelson, who welcomed her to the site.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen plants a tree in Eshtaol Forest,
together with her husband Dexter. Photo: KKL-JNF
“We are honored to have you here,” he said. “KKL-JNF is 117 years old and has spent those years investing in the land of Israel - in forests, parks, gardens, walking trails and bicycle paths, water reservoirs and hiking areas for all the residents of Israel with no regards to race or religion. Everything is open for everyone free of charge.”
Michelson said that in Jewish tradition, the planting of a tree is seen as a sign of hope for the next generation and has become a part of Jewish life-cycle events.
Ros-Lehtinen was born in Havana, Cuba and fled with her family to the U.S. in the wake of the communist revolution there led by Fidel Castro. Her father had been a leader in the anti-Castro Christian Democratic Movement.
In 1989 she was elected to congress to represent her Miami-area 27th congressional district as the first Cuban American and Latina elected to Congress. She was also the first woman to chair the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. She is currently, until her retirement, the most senior U.S. Representative from Florida.
Ros-Lehtinen noted that the importance of the ceremony taking place on the Hebrew date of the assassination of Former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
“For us who love freedom’ we know you have to suffer for it,” she said. “We know how Israel so wants peace but understand you have to fight for peace to keep peace. Here in Israel, born from the ashes of the Holocaust where millions of people died, you have established a state and we know you have to fight every day to survive. We in the US Congress understand your struggle every day for your existence, the fight for your survival. We will always be by your side. The US will continue to stand with Israel because you stand for our values of freedom and democracy. ”
“We sleep better at night because Israel exists,” she added.
Together with her husband, Ros-Lehtinen led her delegation in the Planters’ Prayer before getting her hands in the soil and planting a carob sapling. After she finished planting the tree, she stood with her husband for a silent prayer for the Cuban people.
Michelson then presented her with a framed KKL-JNF Certificate of Appreciation.
“Planting a tree is hope for the future and that is what Israel represents to me,” she said.