German Mission to Israel for its 70th Birthday

 

The delegation marked Israel's 70th year with excursions across the country, under the theme "From Pioneers to Professional Wine-Growers". This is an opportunity to become better acquainted with Israel's historic sites and to strengthen their connection to the country. The 10-day tour includes visits to touristic sites, change generating KKL-JNF projects, as well as six wineries across the country. On the eve of Independence Day, the delegation will visit the main institutions of Jewish settlement prior to the establishment of the State of Israel: In Tel Aviv, the Moetzet Ha'am (the Provisional State Council), which functioned as the first temporary Legislature, and Minhelet Ha'am (the Provisional Government), which served as the temporary Cabinet. The delegation will also visit the Golan, the Old City in Jerusalem, The Banyas River, Zikhron Ya'akov, Caesarea, the plant nursery at Golani Junction and Tzora Forest, where its members will participate in a special planting ceremony.

This year’s mission was planned and led by Tal Kaizman, who works for the offices of JNF-KKL in Frankfurt and Düsseldorf in donor-services. The mission aims to inspire donors to develop ideas for further projects and support for JNF-KKL Germany. Participants will be encouraged to present their ideas to KKL-JNF Emissary to Germany Johannes Guagnin.

Among the delegation's members, we met with the Roths, retirees from Wiesbaden, and friends of JNF-KKL Germany. Thanks to their generous support, a number of projects have been initiated across Israel, among them: the water reservoir in Nahal Oz, which provides irrigation for Negev agriculture, a fire watchtower in Meitar, a picnic area in Jordan Park, the Dado Lookout on Mount Tsfiya west of Metula, which overlooks Mount Hermon, the Hula Valley and southern Lebanon, and last but not least, their new project: Roth Forest, established in the framework of the German States Forest in the Negev's Lahav.

Ingrid and Hans-Dieter Roth first became acquainted with Israel through the twinning project between their home-town, Wiesbaden, and Kfar Saba, and also at a KKL-JNF lecture in their local church.
Hans-Dieter Roth explained: "In 27 visits to Israel, I was moved from personal encounters. I was particularly touched by the story of an elderly man we met around Tel Dan. A Holocaust survivor, he told us how a German officer had saved his life, smuggling him from the concentration camp in a suitcase to Romania, where he hid with a local family until the end of the War. As of 2004, we donate each year for the development of the State. I feel obligated to contribute to the State of Israel, which is home to me."

We also met Margarete Schwarz, who collaborates with the European Union in the field of agriculture. Currently on her fourth visit to Israel, she told us she is surprised at how quickly the young state turned a desolate wasteland into a blossoming, green country.

Dr. H.E. from Düsseldorf, an advocate who collaborates extensively with animal welfare organizations and has donated olive trees for planting in Jerusalem, added: "Despite the political challenges, Israel has become the only democracy in the Middle East, a leader in the field of technology and ecology. For me, a donation to the State of Israel is the best monetary investment ".

This is Thomas Schriever's third visit to Israel. As a German forester, he is impressed by the innovative technological methods for nurturing plants and trees, which he expects will have to be implemented in the future in Europe as well, due to climate changes.

 

The Inauguration Ceremony of the Roth Forest

Last Sunday (15.4) the delegation began its tour at the German States Forest in the Negev, where the Roth Forest's inauguration ceremony was held in honor and gratitude of Ingrid and Hans Dieter Roth's support. The ceremony was hosted by Judith Perl-Strasser of KKL-JNF's European Desk, who recounted the history of the site: "Planting Lahav Forest in the Negev began in the early nineteen fifties. Today, the Forest stretches across an area of 8,648 acres, with half a million trees. At the beginning of the nineties the German States Forest was established as part of Lahav Forest, at the initiative of Johannes Rau, a politician of the German Social Democratic Party, former President of Germany and a true friend of the State of Israel. Today, the German States Forest stretches across an area of 2, 223 acres. The annual rainfall in the region is 200 – 240 millimeters, and this poses a tremendous challenge to the Forest's vegetation. We would like to express our gratitude to the Roths, who are modestly sitting here, long-time supporters of the KKL-JNF. In this period of time in Europe, one needs courage to support the State of Israel".

Keren Lehmann, the German representative of KKL-JNF, dedicated a poem for the event: "In the summer of 2004, in Wiesbaden, after Tzachi Ganor's lecture (KKL-JNF's envoy), you remembered words like "water" and "forest". In 2007, the first dream of the Roth's became a reality – the foundation of the water reservoir in Nahal Oz. Later on, in the hills of Meitar, in 2011, the second dream came to life. In the summer, people fear the fires, so now we have a watchtower they donated. The Jordan Park was the third goal. A recreational site for kayakers and a baptism site for Christians. The Roths donated benches, picnic tables and a colorful garden that blossoms all year round. In Mount Tsfiya, near Metula, the Roth's fourth project was founded – an observation post. It is hard to believe it, but 14 years have passed, and now we are inaugurating the Roth Forest".

About the forest, Hans-Dieter Roth said: "I am very excited from the Forest's inauguration ceremony. From the minute I first heard the talk by KKL-JNF's envoy at a church in Germany, I fell in love with Israel and was touched by KKL-JNF's special projects. Our support of KKL-JNF enriches our spirit and our soul".

Ingrid Roth said: "Dozens of years ago this was a rocky wilderness. We are astonished at Israel's rate of change and advancement. KKL-JNF has an important role in initiating strategic projects. Such as water reservoirs, observations posts and more".

At the end of the moving ceremony, a recognition plaque engraved with the couple’s name was unveiled, and they were awarded with a framed KKL-JNF Certificate of Appreciation in gratitude of their support.

ALEH Negev is a rehabilitative village for children and adults with severe disabilities. The delegation was greeted by Major General Doron Almog from the reserve forces, a co-founder of the Village. The institution is named after his son, Eran, who suffered from Autism and severe brain injury, and in 2007, passed away at 21. "ALEH Negev is part of a national project which comprises four centers across the country, with hundreds of workers and volunteers from across the globe. My son, Eran, never spoke. I learned from him the love of humankind, and it was important for me to create a better world for him, where he could live with love, until his last day. ALEH Negev was founded 30 years ago in Bnei Brak, based on the belief that these children, too, have hope. Today, 148 children live in ALEH Negev's nursing home, and 80 children visit it on a daily basis".

In the course of the visit, the delegation visited the special kindergartens, they observed a sensory class with dogs in the school's special classrooms, and visited the herb garden which was planted thanks to JNF-KKL Germany’s Friends.

The day ended with a joyful visit to Yatir Winery, built at the foothills of the Israelite Tel Arad Fort, adjacent to Yatir Forest, at 600 meters above sea level. The winery was established in 2000, and its wines are considered the best in Israel. The delegation members tasted the finest of its produce and listened to a lecture by the owner Eti Edri and Abed Abu El Ka'aiyan, a forester at Yatir Forest.
Abed Abu El Ka'aiyan said: "Yatir Forest was founded in the nineteen sixties by KKL-JNF, and today stretches across 9884 acres. This is the largest man-planted forest in Israel".

Said Eti Edri: "The Forest is planned in a way that enables farmers to plant vineyards. The vineyard we established draws from a blessing from Biblical times, according to which wine was to be sent to thirsty soldiers, and from KKL-JNF's vision".

After the visit at the unique Yatir vineyard, the delegation concluded its day in good spirits, and in expectation for the following days of their special visit to Israel.