Established last October by the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael–Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) at Khirbet Mador near the Re’im Recreation Area, the forest is Israel’s largest memorial dedicated to those murdered and fallen in the October 7 attack and the Iron Swords War.
Among the participants in the event was Vered Liebstein from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Vered lost four members of her family in the murderous attack on October 7, including her husband Ofir Liebstein, who served as the Sha'ar HaNegev council head, her son Nitzan, her mother, and her nephew.
Photo by: Edi Israel, KKL-JNF Photo Archive
The Iron Swords Forest extends over 367 dunams (around 90 acres), and during the event more than 1,800 trees were planted by over 1,400 bereaved families who came from across Israel. The uniqueness of this initiative lies in the fact that alongside each tree a personal song chosen by the family is attached via a QR code and can be scanned and listened to on site as a special tribute to the memory of each of the fallen.
Eyal Ostrinsky, KKL-JNF Chairman, said: “The plantings today in the Iron Swords Forest express KKL-JNF's deep commitment to regrow this beautiful region: in infrastructure, environmental development, education, and community. About 1,400 families are coming here to plant the legacy of their loved ones in the soil, an act that symbolizes more than anything the life that was here and will continue to be here. I thank the KKL-JNF staff for their exemplary and sensitive work on behalf of the families."