The governor of the Argentine province of Tucumán, Juan Luis Manzur, accompanied by a delegation of 47 regional political, academic, scientific and business leaders spent the last day of their seven day official visit to Israel with KKL-JNF, planting saplings and visiting the Argentine-Israel Friendship Forest.
“As our last act here we have planted a tree, leaving our mark in Israel,” said Tucumán Governor Juan Luis Manzur. “It is a gesture of homage, love and closeness.”
They were accompanied on their Nov. 13 visit by KKL-JNF Vice Chairman Hernan Felman; KKL-JNF Latin American Department Director Ariel Goldgewicht; Nili Pitchon, Personal Assistant to the Vice Chairman; and Dalit Cohen and Eldad Gafni of KKL-JNF’s Latin American Department.
Goldgewicht welcomed the group to the Tzora planting center in the Judean Plain, where KKL-JNF is rehabilitating a forest destroyed in a fire in 2015. KKL-JNF is now planting broad-leaf trees such as the Terebinth - the species also planted by the Argentinian delegation - as a way to prevent fires from spreading so rapidly when they break out, he explained.
“I am here in great happiness and joy,” said Manzur. “These trees we planted represent the friendship, the affections and love of our peoples. They represent a piece of the government and people of Tucumán here in Israel. I hope we can work together for the benefit of Israel and Tucumán. These trees represent what we are searching for: peace.”
The governor led the group in the Planters Prayer before they planted the saplings.
“Each one of you who have planted a tree here has left a piece of yourself here,” said Felman. “Each one of you will carry that small act of connection with Israel in your heart.”
The governor commented on the number of meetings and visits that had taken place with their Israeli political, scientific and academic counterparts, including Yesh Atid political party leader Yair Lapid and Chief Rabbi David Lau. There are some projects that are being coordinated, he said, and expressed hope for future cooperation with Israel and with KKL-JNF.
Manzur said he was also thankful for being able to see the holy sites, and as a Maronite Christian, he was especially grateful to be able to visit a Maronite church in Haifa.
The Tucumán delegation then continued on to the nearby Israel-Argentina Friendship Forest. Felman noted the symbolism of this place, which has two memorials to the victims of the bombings of the Israeli Embassy in Argentina and of the bombing of the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires. Not far away is also the KKL-JNF Memoria Forest dedicated to the memory of thousands of Jewish “disappeared” who were killed by the Argentina military junta in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Another memorial is planned in the area for the murdered Argentine Prosecutor Alberto Nisman, who was killed in January 2015 four days after he had formerly accused then-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of covering up the role Iranian officials played in the AMIA bombing which left 85 people dead.
“This place not only represents but also expands the friendship between our nations. We know we are here with a friend and his delegation”, said Felman. In reference to the readiness of KKL-JNF to share its accumulated expertise in afforestation, water management and agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions with other countries in need, he said:
“We at KKL-JNF are very proud of what we do not only for Israel, but also what we do for people around the globe. If there is anything we can help Tucumán with, we are real friends, and we are just waiting for you to ask. And Tucumán also has expertise to offer us and we would be happy to accept visits from your experts.”
Goldgewicht pointed out the small saplings growing in the nooks and crannies between rocks and in hidden spots in the ground as an example of the forest regenerating itself after a little bit of human help.
“We just gave nature a little bit of a push and then nature took over and the forest has started to regenerate itself,” he said.
Governor Juan Luis Manzur was honored with an inscription commemorating his visit and friendship in the KKL-JNF Golden Book and was presented with a framed certificate marking the occasion.
In turn, the governor presented Felman with a traditional Tucumán poncho, which he folded and placed on Felman’s shoulder in the customary manner. Felman also received a book published by the Tucumán Jewish community, telling their story.
Coqui Sosa, nephew of the legendary Argentine folksinger Mercedes Sosa, was a member of the delegation and sang traditional songs in both Hebrew and in Spanish.
Manzur said that he was touched by the number of invitations he received to peoples’ homes while in Israel, noting that this was the first visit of a governor of Tucumán to Israel, and that it had been undertaken in honor of Israel’s 70th year of independence.
“We feel very proud to be here with KKL-JNF because we have heard about your work in all parts of the world. I take with me hope for a better future for this nation and for my people in Tucumán. I hope we can work more, try more, create more opportunities for the future,” he concluded.