Young Aussies Encounter Growth in the Israeli Desert

The Australian JNFuture delegation spent three days (19-21 May) touring Israel’s desert regions with KKL-JNF and JNF Australia, seeing the impact of their projects on the ground.

Members of a young leadership delegation from Australia have been touring Israel to strengthen their connection to the country and observe projects in which KKL-JNF and JNF Australia are jointly involved. “We are experiencing a wonderful combination of meeting people, learning about Israel’s uniqueness and having lots of fun,” said 20-year-old Tammy Shneier of Sydney.

KKL-JNF educational emissary to Australia Yigal Nisell described the purpose of the delegation: “We are trying to build the next generation of the State of Israel and the Jewish People and create an active and involved group of young leaders who will contribute to Israel and the Jewish community,” he said.

The delegates had already spent a week touring the length and breadth of Israel as part of an international young leadership delegation. Three additional days devoted solely to the Australian representatives laid special emphasis on the Negev, the Arava and the significant contribution made by KKL-JNF and JNF Australia to the development of these areas.

“It’s important to us that the group learn about Israel from the point of view of activism and building the county, through encounters with the local people, communities and projects supported by KKL-JNF and JNF Australia,” emphasized Esti Goldwasser, Director of KKL-JNF’s Australia Desk. “The delegates are getting the opportunity to see for themselves how important this involvement is for local residents. When they go back to Australia I’m sure they will feel a strong connection to the Jewish community and continue to be active on behalf of the Israeli state.”

 

 

Learning from the Israeli spirit

The tour began with a visit to the Australian Landing Pad entrepreneurial center established in Tel Aviv in conjunction with the Australian Trade and Investment Commission. The center has its headquarters in a renovated building in the south of the city, surrounded by little workshops that reflect the spirit of innovation and enterprise that pervades the area.

Sixty-five Australian companies have taken part in this program over the past three years. Representatives come to Israel for three months during which they meet entrepreneurs, investors and corporate representatives.

The center’s director, Omri Wislizki, explained that Australian startups send their representatives over to learn from Israel’s success. “If you want to learn how to found a global company, Israel is the best place to be,” he said. “We teach them to dream big and present their ideas convincingly within the space of thirty seconds.”

 

A forest in the midst of the desert

The atmosphere changed as the delegates travelled south to the Negev. This is an arid region, but in a place like Israel even the desert can be rendered green and fertile. The Yatir Winery is situated in Yatir Forest, whose oxygen-rich microclimate has proved particularly suitable for the cultivation of wine grapes, and it produces around 150,000 bottles of wine each year.

“We enjoy welcoming guests from all over the world, because when you make wine in the middle of a desert, naturally you want to tell everyone about it,” explained Export Director Etti Edri with pride. The wine is sold at selected stores in Israel and abroad – mainly in the USA, Europe and China.

The delegates also explored Yatir Forest, which, with an area of some 40,000 dunam (approx. 10,000 acres) and a population of over four million trees, is Israel’s largest planted woodland.
“KKL-JNF’s expertise enables this forest to survive in harsh conditions of heat and aridity,” said KKL-JNF forester Abed al-Qiyan as he described the forest’s importance to the Negev, the methods by which it is maintained and the hard work involved in preventing fires.

Scientists at the research station in the heart of Yatir Forest are examining the reciprocal relations between woodland and climate. “We investigate how the forest survives, its influence on the climate and what we can learn from all this about global issues,” explained Yakir Preisler, a doctoral student at the Weizmann Institute. Among other things, the research station monitors rainfall and humidity, tree growth, activity mechanisms and gas emissions, and air composition.

The delegates now made their way to the Arava, the region that, more than anywhere else in Israel, symbolizes the pioneer spirit, agriculture and Zionism in the modern era. As they travelled down the Peace Road, the visitors were impressed by the open spaces and magnificent views along the border between Israel and Jordan.

In the evening, they met representatives of the The Bein HaShitin Assocation for Promoting Education in the Arava, a group of "Avoda |Ivrit", that invites young Israelis, who have completed their army or national service, to work in agriculture and study in a group environment.. They held discussion groups with young farmers and concluded their day with a shared open-air poyke meal (food cooked in a cast iron pot over a fire).

“The only way really to understand Israel and support it wholeheartedly is to come and visit it,” said Tali Katz (33) of Sydney. “You need to see the country, touch it, smell it and experience it. Many Australians love Israel, but visiting it strengthens our desire to get more involved.”

 

 

Twenty-two-year-old Tim Schey of Sydney said after the Arava excursion: “The most significant experience of this trip as far as I’m concerned is going to places a regular tourist wouldn’t visit and seeing a variety of projects for myself at first hand. I’ve always loved Israel, I’m involved in community activities in Australia, and it’s important to me to maintain this connection.”

On their second day, the delegates got the opportunity to meet Arava residents and see for themselves some of the projects underway in the region, many of which JNF Australia supports.

Early in the morning, they set out together with researcher Dr. Oded Keinan to observe the delightful Arava songbirds known as Arabian babblers (Argya squamiceps). The morning activity was followed by a visit to the Vidor Center, an interactive visitor’s center which presents a window into Arava agriculture, where they viewed a variety of multimedia displays that portrayed the challenges and achievements of local settlement and farming. The center was established with the support of JNF Australia in appreciation of the Vidor family and KKL-JNF.

During their tour of the Central Arava Research and Development Station, the delegates learned how R&D enables farming under harsh climate conditions. In a meeting with an Arava International Center for Agriculture Training (AICAT) student, they learnt of students from abroad who had come to learn about sustainable agriculture from Arava farmers. At the Environmental Science Education Center, which was founded with the support of JNF Australia, they observed how local students enjoyed the enriching experience of scientific experimentation.

“It’s inspiring to meet the people who are bringing life to the desert as David Ben-Gurion envisioned,” said David Rosenberg (34) of Sydney. “And it’s impressive to see how the local people act together as a community.”

The desert is a place of challenges and new experiences, and the delegates enjoyed plenty of both when they abseiled down from Mitzpeh Ramon. As they descended the cliff, suspended by ropes, a magnificent vista of the Ramon Crater unfolded itself at their feet.

“For me this wasn’t just a group excursion, but also a personal journey on which I learned a lot about Israel’s history and explored my Jewish identity,” said Liorah Ayalon. “I’ve made new friends and we’ve created a community here that will continue to work together.”

 

Years-long cooperation

The delegates participated in a farewell ceremony for outgoing President of JNF Australia Peter Smaller, who is completing 6 years in office. The event was held at the ANZAC Memorial Center in Beersheba. Honored guests included the Australian ambassador to Israel and the Mayor of Beersheba. “JNF is a marvelous organization that has done many wonderful things and will continue to do many more,” said Peter Smaller.

The ANZAC Memorial Center was established with the support of JNF Australia, to perpetuate the memory of soldiers from Australia and New Zealand who took part in the conquest of Beersheba for the British during the First World War. The site includes an exhibition of photographs, films, documents, personal belongings and soldiers’ letters.

The great-grandfather of Taylor Lucas (23), of Sydney, fought in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) during the First World War. “It’s fascinating to hear the story of the ANZACs and how they helped to occupy Beersheba,” she said. “I should like more children in Australia and Israel to know of their legacy. It’s very important to have a memorial site like this here in Israel.”

KKL-JNF Director of Tourism Shlomo Ben-Haim arrived to meet the delegates and told them, “When you get back home you’ll be able to tell people about the important contribution JNF has made to Israel’s development to ensure that every Jew who wants to live here can do so.”

The day concluded with a meeting with members of JNFuture USA. When all is said and done, these Australian delegates are part of an international community of young leaders and of the worldwide KKL-JNF extended family.

 

 

The responsibility of the young generation

In Sde Boker, on the final day of their visit, the delegates went to pay their respects at the tomb of Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, who led the campaign to develop the Negev. Tali Greenstein laid a wreath on behalf of the delegation, saying, “Together we must to continue to make Ben-Gurion’s dream and vision reality.” Afterwards the delegates set out on a bike ride through the magnificent desert landscape.

Sheizaf is a new secular-and-religious community in the Negev that was established in conjunction with KKL-JNF and JNF Australia. The founding group comprises fifteen families who are currently living in prefabricated homes at a temporary camp. Work on the infrastructure for thirteen additional homes has already begun, with the help of JNF Australia. KKL-JNF Israel is supporting by preparing the ground, constructing access routes and developing the entrance to the community.

“The Negev is the future of the state, and we must develop it wisely,” said Ramat HaNegev Regional Council Chairman Eran Doron. “Without the cooperation of JNF Australia and KKL-JNF we should not be able to expand Sheizaf.”

Sheizaf resident Meital Raz told the visitors, “Each one of us has come here for a different reason, but we all share the same dream of living together in the Negev.” Adi Meir, another resident, said the things she likes best about living there are the warm community it offers, and the way the children can wander freely. “Everything we want to have here we must create for ourselves,” she added.

The delegates now made their way to the Ashalim Solar Power Station, another example of Israeli innovation. Yair Eisen, the company’s accountant, described the process of deriving electricity from renewable energy, and told his guests: “Here, we generate enough electricity to supply 100,000 homes. This is not just an economic project: it is first and foremost the implementation of a decision to produce renewable energy in as great a quantity as possible.”

“The most significant thing for me was to see the range of activities in which JNF is involved, far beyond the Blue Box and tree-planting,” said 22-year-old Claudia Jankelow of Sydney. “I’m sure that when we get back home we’ll keep in touch with one another and continue to work together.”

The delegates concluded their journey by planting trees in the Tzora Forest among the Jerusalem Hills. Planting Center Director Eran Zabadi instructed the delegates in the correct procedure, and they planted the saplings with their own hands, leaving in the soil living evidence of their profound connection to Israel.

“This journey has helped me to understand the special relationship between KKL-JNF, JNF, Israel and Australia, said Teneille of Sydney. “It’s our generation’s responsibility to maintain this relationship for the sake of the future.”

In conclusion, the delegates each mentioned in turn one thing they would take home with them from the fascinating journey they had experienced:
“I’ve never seen Israel in this light,”
“I’ve made a lot of new friends,”
“I’ve never been so proud to be Jewish,”
“I’ve realized that everything is possible,”
“I’ve learned to dream big,”
“I’ve discovered that the JNF is not just trees,”
“Contributing to the JNF is an investment in the future of Israel and the Jewish People,” “I’m excited to be going home to continue to work for the benefit of Israel”.
These were just a few of the examples of warm feedback.