Jewish National Fund

PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL MISSION

October 24 – 28, 2010

Mission Chair: Ken Segel JNF Professional: Rick Krosnick

SUNDAY OCTOBER 24 • ARRIVAL /

Welcome to ! Early this evening, we will meet in the lobby as a group. After a short introduction, we’ll depart the hotel and head to Ammunition Hill, site of the famous and fierce battle of the Six‐Day War in 1967. Upon arrival, we’ll enjoy a special cocktail reception followed by a festive welcome dinner. Joining us for dinner, will be invited guests Nir Barkat, Mayor of Jerusalem, Effie Stenzler, World Chairman of KKL, Colonel (res.) Shimon “Katcha” Ammunition Hill Cahaner, former IDF Colonel who fought in the Six Day War, and men and women of the IDF.

Overnight, David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem

MONDAY OCTOBER 25 • JERUSALEM

After a delicious Israeli breakfast, we will depart the hotel for a local elementary school in the region. We’ll meet with Lavi Zamir, Managing Director of Green

Rainwater Harvesting System Horizons, Israel’s elite youth leadership organization. During a tour of the school, Lavi will discuss the school’s efforts to educate students about Israel’s water crisis through interactive, hands‐on learning. We will see the school’s Rainwater Harvesting Program, a JNF project where runoff water is collected on school rooftops, held in tanks, and used for flushing toilets, cleaning, and irrigation.

Afterward, we will continue to Gush Etzion. En route, we’ll stop at Park Adulam, a 12,500 acre JNF‐KKL park located in the Lower Judean foothills. Known for its beautiful scenery, plethora of vineyards, and its biodiversity, Park Adulam is a “biospheric” park that balances the needs of the environment with Park Adulam ruins the needs of the people who use it. In addition to being a natural wonderland, the park serves as an educational focal point for the region where students can

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participate in archeological digs that have revealed remains from the Second Temple period.

Afterward, we’ll proceed to Gush Etzion and visit the museum commemorating the fall of Gush Etzion prior to the establishment of the State of Israel.

Knesset This evening, we will enjoy dinner at the with several members of Knesset and other dignitaries.

Overnight, David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem

TUESDAY OCTOBER 26 • David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem After breakfast and check‐out, we will depart the hotel and head south towards the Negev. We’ll head to Be’er Sheva, the capital of the Negev, to receive an update on recent developments of the River Walk project. We will stroll through the Old City of Be’er Sheva and visit new Negev Information Center built with financial support from JNF. In addition we will see the new plans for the amphitheater, the 200 acre Lake Park and the Pipes Bridge.

We will proceed to the nearby Israel Air Force Museum for a tour. During Pipes Bridge in Be’er Sheva lunch at the museum, we will meet with Yaakov Turner, Chairman of the Museum and former long‐time Mayor of Be’er Sheva, who will discuss the relocation of the IDF to the Negev and its potential impact on Blueprint Negev.

This afternoon, we will take a driving tour through the future site of Carmit, the largest of the new communities that aims to have over 10,000 residents, many of which will be North American olim. During the drive, see where the future entranceway, synagogue, community center, educational parks and playgrounds will be. During our visit, we will have the unique opportunity to plant a tree Israel Air Force Museum and contribute to JNF’s ongoing afforestation efforts in the Negev and throughout Israel.

Later this afternoon, we’ll visit the Bedouin community of Hura for a presentation on the new Project Attir. This project seeks to develop and demonstrate a model sustainable, self‐sufficient community based on enterprise that is sensitive to Bedouin culture and traditions. The project combines Bedouin aspirations, values, experiences, and interest in agriculture with cutting‐edge approaches to energy production, waste and water treatment, Planting a Tree

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employment, and land use. Here, we’ll enjoy a traditional Bedouin feast with community leaders.

Following dinner we will drive to Tel Aviv and check into the hotel for the remainder of the night.

Overnight, David Intercontinental Hotel, Tel Aviv Project Wadi Attir

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 27 • NEGEV

After a delicious Israeli breakfast, we will drive to Sderot, a town plagued by frequent rocket attacks that hold life at a standstill for its many residents. After a city tour, we’ll visit the new Sderot Reservoir for a visit. A water expert from KKL will explain how the reservoir will provide 2 million cubic meters of water Sderot Indoor Recreation Center to the region.

We’ll continue to the JNF Indoor Recreation Center, the largest indoor playground in Israel. This fortified facility provides Sderot’s youth with a safe, secure place to have fun and simply be children. During the visit meet with several Sderot residents to understand how the indoor playground has enriched their daily lives.

This afternoon, we’ll visit Aleh Negev Rehabilitative Village, a state‐of‐the‐art Sderot Indoor Recreation Center residential rehabilitation center for children and adults with mental and physical disabilities. Located next to the city of , Aleh Negev provides vocational training, occupational therapy and medical facilities and brings hundreds of jobs to an area with high unemployment.

We will have the unique opportunity to meet with Major General (res.) Doron Almog, founder of Aleh Negev and former Commander of the IDF Southern Command. He will lead us on a tour of the center and show us where JNF is

Aleh Negev Plans landscaping Aleh Negev’s grounds, preparing infrastructure for new therapy buildings and housing, and raising funds to support vital enhancements including a hydrotherapy pool. During the tour, he will also share memories and stories of his late son Eran, who inspired him to become Chairman of Aleh Negev.

Following lunch, Major General (res.) Doron Almog will join us for a visit to the community of Kerem Shalom, located on the border of Gaza. He will show us where Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was abducted by militants in a 2006 Aleh Negev Rehabilitative Village

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cross‐border raid and has been held hostage since. We’ll learn about his capture, rescue attempts, and the diplomatic efforts to free him from capture.

Afterward, we’ll see some of the JNF projects built to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Kerem Shalom who live next to the border of Gaza before driving along the to the Halutza Sands where several communities have been established for the Gush Katif evacuees. We will meet with Halutza Kerem Shalom resident Moshe Berniker, who will explain how JNF has helped him, as well as many others, rebuild their lives. We’ll enjoy dinner with community members and leaders before returning to Tel Aviv for the evening.

Overnight, David Intercontinental Hotel, Tel Aviv

David Intercontinental Hotel THURSDAY OCTOBER 28 • TEL AVIV / HEFER VALLEY

This morning we will have time to sleep in, pack, check out and explore Tel Aviv on our own. Take advantage of this time to take care of last minute shopping in some of Tel Aviv’s best shopping areas. Start at Nahalat Benyamin, the famous pedestrian street filled with musicians, handmade jewelry and artifacts. Continue to Tel Aviv’s own Soho on Shenkin Street, the lively and colorful street especially known for its unique shops, café life and youthful ambiance before ending at the open‐air Carmel Market. Carmel Market Or, spend the morning exploring some of Tel Aviv’s neighborhoods. Walk down Rothschild Boulevard to see some excellent examples of Bauhaus architecture, which was all but destroyed in the bombing of Germany during WWII. Continue to Old Jaffa, an 8000 year old port city, and walk along the restored artist's quarter and stop at the ancient ruins. Proceed to Rabin Square, the place of former Prime Minister ’s assassination, before the final stop in Neve Tzedek, the first neighborhood of Tel Aviv, built in 1909.

Bauhaus architecture in Tel Aviv After lunch on our own, we’ll reconvene as a group early this afternoon. We’ll drive through the Hefer Valley and stop at the town of Bat Hefer for a glimpse of the Palestinian Authority city, Tul Karem. We will learn how Tul Karem partnered with the Hefer Valley Regional Council in a joint environmental project to collect and treat Tul Karem’s wastewater in JNF’s Yad Hanna Water Treatment Center. The project prevents pollution of Nahal Alexander, which was rehabilitated by JNF and is one of Israel’s largest and most attractive waterways. The project required local leaders from both sides to work together. Jaffa

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The results were amazing and in recognition the 2003 Thiess International River Prize was awarded to JNF for the Alexander River Restoration Project.

This evening, we’ll head to Herzliya for our closing dinner at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC). A special guest speaker will discuss strategic water issues for Israel and the region. Between the natural aridity of the region, consecutive years of drought and a demand that far exceeds the supply provided

Alexander River in the annual recharge of Lake Kinneret (Israel’s main source of fresh water), Israel faces the constant threat of a dramatic water crisis. The guest speaker will also discuss JNF‐KKL’s work to preserve and develop water resources and find solutions to the current water crisis. We’ll learn about the 200 reservoirs across Israel built by JNF, which have added 250 million cubic meters of treated water and flood water to Israel's national water economy.

Following dinner, bus transfers will be provided to the airport, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Overnight, En Route

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