KKL-JNFKKL-JNF ININ THETHE HOLYHOLY LANDLAND 2 THE ORIGINS OF KEREN KAYEMETH LEISRAEL-JEWISH NATIONAL FUND The establishment in 1901 of Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, the Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), by decision of the Fifth Zionist Congress, heralded a new era in the history of the Jewish people: the return to the land of their ancestors, the vision cherished throughout 2,000 years of exile, began to become a reality. KKL-JNF, synonymous with planned and natural forests in Israel, is recognized today as a top environmental leader. Its achievements in the area of water management, river rehabilitation, development of parks and natural landscapes, soil conservation, applied agriculture, and combating desertification have made KKL-JNF the preeminent green organization in Israel, as well as the largest. Over the years we have developed thousands of revolutionary projects. We have planted over 240 million trees, making Israel the only country in the world to have entered the 21st century with more trees than it had at the beginning of the 20th century; we have developed more than a thousand recreation areas as well as hundreds of kilometers of hiking and cycling trails; and we have made most of our sites accessible for people with physical disabilities. All KKL-JNF forests and parks are open to the public and are free of charge, allowing both the Israeli public and tourists from abroad to enjoy their leisure time in nature. As such, our activities enable us to build bridges between all sectors of society thereby strengthening the bonds among the different religions, communities, and ethnicities. In addition to its environmental work in Israel, which includes water treatment and recycling and the rehabilitation of forests, open spaces and their ecosystems, KKL-JNF takes pride in sharing its expertise in water management, forestry, and combating desertification with other countries. We are part of the unbroken chain of generations who pursued the dream of creating a better world for all, without regard to race, religion, or ethnicity; and we are resolutely determined to continue along this path. 3 KKL-JNF AND CHRISTIANITY The landscapes of the Holy Land have captivated the hearts and minds of believers and have strengthened their faith since ancient times. The holy sites commemorate the events described in the Old and New Testaments and breathe a new and positive spirit into the human soul – the spirit of fellowship, hope, and peace. Since its founding, KKL-JNF has been working to nurture and preserve the landscapes of the Promised Land, ensuring that they continue to inspire people of all faiths and from all walks of life. As part of its efforts, KKL-JNF has enabled not only Jews but also thousands of Christians to plant trees in the Land of the Bible, in honor and in memory of their loved ones. Tree-planting is just one of many activities that attract Christian tourists who visit Israel. The Gospel Trail, a project of great significance for Christian pilgrims, was recently developed and established in the Galilee by KKL-JNF. According to the Israel Ministry of Tourism, more than two-thirds of the 3.45 million tourists who arrived in 2012 were Christian (double the figures of the previous year), and nearly forty percent defined themselves as religious pilgrims. This modest booklet describes a sample of our activities that are aimed at preserving the spirit of this Biblical Land. These projects were established with the help of our partners and donors of all faiths. Their prayers and their love for humanity are our hope for peace and tranquility in the Holy Land and worldwide. KKL-JNF's past and future connection with the Vatican 4 In 1997, formal papal secretary Monsignor Lorie Copavilla planted a tree at a new forest in Nazareth, honoring Pope John XXIII. The dedication was attended by some forty Italian pilgrims from Pope John XXIII's birthplace of Bergamo, near Milan. Citing Jewish and Christian sources, Copavilla said: "Our religions are like two trees sharing the same biblical roots." Pope John Paul II visited Israel in March 2000 to commemorate the second millennium of the birth of Jesus Christ and to fulfill his desire to tour the sites mentioned in the Gospels. As he remarked while in Nazareth: "Our Jubilee Pilgrimage has been a journey in spirit, which began in the footsteps of Abraham, our father in faith." On the third day of his visit, the Holy Father celebrated a public mass at Korazim, near the Mount of Beatitudes, overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Immediately following mass, His Holiness expressed "a special thanks to our Muslim friends, to the members of the Jewish faith, and to the Druse community" and blessed an olive sapling that was presented to him by KKL-JNF representatives. Planting trees is an act of great symbolic value: trees not only provide human beings with their shade, wood, and fruits; they also protect the environment, contribute to the renewal of nature, and ensure its conservation for future generations. Toward this end, KKL-JNF invites the most distinguished personalities who visit our country to plant a tree in any of its forests. The olive sapling blessed by His Holiness was later planted at Amnun beach in the northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee by Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, a senior representative of the Pope's entourage from the Vatican and President of the Vatican's 2000 Grand Jubilee Committee, together with Piero Abbina, then president of KKL-JNF Italy. KKL-JNF is constantly promoting new projects to ensure the conservation of Biblical Israel. The meeting that took place in the Vatican between KKL-JNF Chairman Efi Stenzler and His Holiness Benedict XVI in January 2009 was another step in the Catholic- Jewish dialogue first consecrated in vivid form by the Catholic- Jewish Reconciliation Forest. 5 Pope Benedict XVI visited Israel in May 2009. Two important ceremonies took place at sites especially restored by KKL-JNF in anticipation of the Pope's visit: the President's Residence in Jerusalem and an amphitheater in the Nazareth forest. The gardens of the President's Residence are a symbol of the Land of Israel. For over a century, KKL-JNF has planted and nurtured forests and natural vegetation, restored ancient sites, worked to protect the environment and strengthened the bond between the People of Israel and their heritage. The gardens of the presidential residence are a miniature version of the Land of Israel, and KKL-JNF therefore was glad to accept responsibility for updating the gardens. During the planning process, particular emphasis was placed on water conservation – choosing water- thrifty plants as well as a new irrigation system. On the second day of his visit to the Land of Israel, Pope Benedict XVI planted an olive tree, which he named "The Tree of Peace." The sapling was chosen with great care from the KKL-JNF Eshtaol plant nursery in the hills of Jerusalem and was transferred to the garden of the President's Residence. During the ceremony, KKL-JNF World Chairman, Efi Stenzler, greeted Pope Benedict XVI, praised his peace efforts, and presented him with two gifts: a bottle of olive oil pressed from a KKL-JNF forest and a very rare antique Menorah (Jewish ritual candelabrum) estimated to be 1,500 years old. In his farewell address, the Holy Father referred to the event: "Mr. President, you and I planted an olive tree at your residence on the day I arrived in Israel. The olive tree is an image used by Saint Paul to describe the very close relations between Christians and Jews […]. We are nourished from the same spiritual roots. We meet as brothers […] who are now firmly committed to building bridges of lasting friendship.” Later, the Holy Father celebrated a Mass of Remembrance at an amphitheater developed by KKL-JNF in the Nazareth forest. KKL- JNF teams worked around the clock to prepare the site for the outdoor mass held by the Pope at Mount Precipice. This site, 3 6 surrounded by beautiful scenery, offers a magnificent view of the Jezreel Valley and the surrounding hills and is wonderfully appropriate for what undoubtedly was an experience of true faith and devotion for many people. KKL-JNF expanded the area of the amphitheater located on the slope of the mountain, upgraded roads in the area, and renovated other projects situated on the mountain. The works further included the electrical and communications infrastructure, sanitation, and parking lots nearby. The government of Israel and KKL-JNF offered the Holy See a 400-year-old olive tree from the hills of Nazareth. The tree planting ceremony took place on Wednesday, October 26, 2011, in the gardens of the Vatican. At the mass, Secretary-General of the Governatorate of Vatican City State, Giuseppe Sciacca, said: "This olive tree, which has been bestowed by the government of Israel through Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund, is a symbol of peace and brotherhood, and it demonstrates the good relations between the Vatican and Israel.” 7 In 2013, KKL-JNF honored Pope Francis I by planting an olive tree that was 76 years old – the same age as the Pope. The tree was planted on Mount Precipice, near Nazareth. A breathtaking KKL- JNF scenic outlook was developed at the site, which overlooks the Basilica of the Annunciation, a central point of pilgrimage for Popes visiting the Holy Land. In June 2013, KKL-JNF dedicated a memorial forest near the city of Tiberias to honor the memory of the late Cardinal Carlo María Martini (1927-2012), on the occasion of a Jewish-Christian pilgrimage from Italy to Israel to pay tribute to the cardinal’s legacy.