JNF Holland Delegation Explores Israel in Depth

 

A window to agriculture in the Arava

The Vidor Center, situated at the Yair Agricultural Research and Development Station at Kibbutz Hatzeva, presents visitors with a visual and interactive introduction to the many challenges of growing food in the desert and how they are met, making the region so successful despite its harsh climate.

Onsite to welcome the group was Tania Pons-Allon, tourism coordinator for the Central Arava Region, who led them around the facility’s experimental hothouses. Many of the tour members were farmers in Holland, and they were fascinated by the innovative agricultural methods that have been adapted in the Arava to overcome the poor soil conditions and lack of rain. They saw strawberries that grew in the air from suspended pallets overhead, and vertically-growing pepper plants. Pons-Allon told the group that the success of Arava farming was due to the fact that local farmers do not give up when faced with obstacles.

“The solutions that we come up with often enabled us not only to succeed but to excel. We learned to recognize the advantages of the region and use them to our benefit, such as the great sunlight and radiation. Where else can farmers produce these amazing summer crops in the winter?” She invited the visitors to pick and taste cherry tomatoes straight from the plants.

Inside the KKL-JNF-supported Central and Northern Arava R&D Center, Dr. Sigi Winters described some of the groundbreaking research on algae production that is underway. “We are privileged to enjoy the most up-to-date working conditions in a quiet atmosphere while at the same time enjoying a close connection to the country’s leading universities”, he explained.

The group then met Tuvia Stryjer, a former Dutch native who immigrated to Israel several years ago. He delighted his audience with explanations on the method that was developed here to combat the Mediterranean fruit fly, which attacks more than 50 different types of fruit in Israel, mostly citrus groves, orchards, and sweet peppers.

“In order to stop the use of unhealthy insecticides, we created an organic method to do the job. We sterilize male flies and disperse them in the affected areas in large numbers. The sterile males mate with the female flies at the expense of fertile males. Since the female Mediterranean fruit fly mates only once in her lifetime, the fly population drops continuously along with the need for chemicals to disinfect them.”

In the past three years, JNF Holland has brought some 12 delegations to Israel. Freddy Rosenberg, the head of JNF Holland, said that the trip is a tangible indication of the upsurge that has taken place in the organization over the last few years. “JNF Holland was always strong financially but membership was dwindling. When I took office six years ago, I began an active revitalization program. It took off slowly, but gathered steam, and last year, we held three gatherings in Holland. Some 1000 people attended. We brought in Mirit Hilman from Moshav Idan - who is also a tourism coordinator for the Central Arava Region - to address them and they loved her. “

Barabara Flesschedrager of JNF Holland said that one third of the members of the visiting group were Jewish but that they all felt supportive of Jews and of Israel. “When we advertised this trip we were not expecting to get so many participants. However, there was such a flow of applications that we were forced to reschedule another visit which we will hold next March. Each one of these tours will strengthen JNF Holland greatly.”

 

AICAT - Arava International Center for Agriculture Training

The next stop in the Arava was at AICAT in the town of Sapir. AICAT, the Arava International Center for Agriculture Training, is a leading scientific and research development institution which annually trains over 1000 students from around the world. The center works closely with the Yair Agricultural Research and Development Station.

Hanni Arnon, the director of AICAT, told the group that the organization was established in order to share knowledge and help developing countries achieve the same kind of success that is being enjoyed in the Arava region.
“We are proud of our achievements and that is why we decided to establish this institution. Since 1994, over 20,000 students from a dozen countries - some of which don’t even have official relations with Israel - have studied here and taken the acquired knowledge back home.” A group of students met and spoke with their Dutch guests about their impressions of their studies at AICAT.

Lunch was held by the reservoir in the local Sapir Park. Before the meal, the group met Dutch JNF supporter Tjitte de Vries to address the group. He said that in 2016, he had dedicated the Family Landau De Vries Park in the Ashan Forest to honor his parents Lyia Landau and Gerrit de Vries. The park forms part of the green belt that surrounds the city of Be’er Sheva.

“The idea to create a family park in Israel probably started on my 16th birthday when my father presented me with a KKL-JNF tree certificate in my name”, he quipped.

During the meal, some members of the delegation took a moment to talk about why they felt an affinity with Israel.

Ed Kornalijnslijper said that his father was Jewish and had spent the war years in hiding. During that time, his mother, who was not Jewish, would sneak visits to see her husband in hiding.

“In 1945 during one of those visits, I was conceived. My father was still hiding from the Germans when I was born. After the war, my father hired someone to teach me Jewish content but that was a long time ago and all was lost. Now as I grow older my connection to Israel and my Jewish heritage is growing stronger.”

Emil Neumann, who was on the trip with his wife Nanna, said that during Friday night Sabbath dinner at his hotel, he had undergone a profound emotional experience that brought tears to his eyes. “I heard these songs and all of a sudden I remembered my father and my Bar-Mitzvah which have long been forgotten.” Nanna said that she had been amazed when all of a sudden, Emil started to hum songs that he apparently knew as a child.

Dutch Journalist Joanne Nihom, who came to cover the group’s visit to Israel, suddenly found out that she had a connection to somebody on the tour.
“This morning in the hotel during breakfast I heard Piet Klugkist, one of the participants, talking about how his uncle Jan managed to ferry a family of Jews to England in time just before the German invasion in May 1940. I realized that he was talking about my grandparents and their two children - my mother and my uncle.”

After lunch, the group visited the artists’ quarter in the newest Arava village Tzukim, where they met the residents and asked them about life in the desert. The Tzukim community’s economy is based on tourism and is continually expanding. The visitors were impressed by the comfortable living standards and the quality of art on display. Many were particularly impressed with the steel sculptures of local resident Andre Gunter, who also happened to be of Dutch descent.

 

Planting Trees in Kibbutz HaTzeva

The next stop was at Kibbutz Hatzeva, where the group took part in a tree-planting ceremony. En route to the site, Mirit Hilman explained that they would be planting Acacia trees, which are indigenous to the Arava.

“The number of acacias in the Arava is dwindling and KKL-JNF has initiated a program to save the species. Acacia seeds are being gathered and sprouted in KKL-JNF nurseries. To date over 5000 acacia saplings have been planted in Arava communities and around farmer’s fields. Later, when they grow strong, they will be replanted in nature.” She also mentioned that KKL-JNF has planted over 1500 palm-tree saplings at the entrances of various communities in the Arava.

Prior to the plantings, JNF Holland’s Barabara Flesschedrager recited the Planter’s Prayer.

Freddy, Barabara, and Mirit planted the first sapling on behalf of JNF Holland.

Some of the participants found the experience of planting a tree in Israel particularly moving. Sylvia Dreese, who planted three trees in memory of three of her family members, had tears in her eyes before she even started the planting.

While planting their tree, couple Jitschak and Ellen Alzas spoke about the grove dedicated in Yatir Forest 10 years ago to mark Jitschak’s parents’ 60th wedding anniversary. Jitschak, who is the gabbai (warden) of his local synagogue in a village just south of Amsterdam, said that he was worried by the escalating anti-Semitism in Europe.
“Last Saturday night, after the attack in the synagogue in Pittsburgh, I received a telephone call from a leading member of our congregation who said ‘the writing is on the wall. We cannot gather anymore in an unprotected shul’.”

Jacoba Spijker Kort, who planted a tree with her husband Abraham, said that she relishes every minute that she is spending in Israel.
“I can’t believe that I’m here. Every morning I pinch myself to make sure this is not a dream. We have been donating to JNF for years and I am now thrilled to see how well these funds are being used. I was also recently delighted to discover that I may have Jewish roots that date back to the 17th century.”

Mission participant Jurn Vermeulen did not plant a tree. Instead, he took the time to gather some of Israel’s holy soil in a plastic bag that he had brought with him. “I will be taking this home with me to be spread over my grave after I pass on.”

The day culminated on the expansive lawns of Kibbutz Hatzeva, where the delegation members met with local residents and their children.