By Esther Gelber
ATLIT, Israel — To travel with a group of people who all have one shared passion, the love of the Land of Israel, is a special treat, especially on Yom HaShoah, a day that, in Israel, is marked by a country-wide shared two minute moment of silence and reflection. It is difficult to say which is more remarkable: the two-minute silence or the return to normalcy that follows. One thing is for certain, the words “never again” remain with you.
This provokes a challenging question: how do you make sure the promise of “never again” is kept? As Jewish National Fund (JNF-USA) embarks on the beginning of an unprecedented display of support, with over 250 supporters, lay leaders, and staff arriving this week in Israel leading up to Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s 70th Independence Day, this organization truly leads the way to show others how to keep that promise day after day. Today, JNF-USA demonstrates this solution by continuously identifying the needs of the Land and People of Israel, and fulfilling them through their hundreds of projects throughout Israel’s periphery.
For the San Diego contingency, led by Dr. Sol and Lauren Lizerbram, Shari and Frederick Schenk, and Rabbi David and Debbie Kornberg, their first day in Israel set the stage for understanding JNF’s role in making sure we never forget. Seeing firsthand how JNF built and equipped a fire station in the town of Ussafiya, following the tragic Carmel fire of 2010, so that never again will lives be lost in forest fires, fulfills this mission. Trees are replanted to replace those that have been lost. Nature trails are created, through coordination with partner organizations such as LOTEM-Making Nature Accessible, so that Israelis of all physical and cognitive abilities can enjoy the beauty of the land. Historical sites, such as the Atlit Detention Center and the Ayalon Institute, are restored so that history can be honored and preserved. Partnerships are created between Jews that live both inside and outside the Land of Israel, so that all feel invested in the land. As Issy Herzog, the San Diego guide on this journey, said, “This is your home, whether you live here or not, first timers or 66th timers.”
To travel to Atlit on Yom HaShoah was an impressionable experience for the entire group. The words of a survivor of the Holocaust, and following the liberation of Eastern Europe, who was then imprisoned by the British at Atlit upon arriving to Israel, sounded almost like a command: “Never take the land of Israel for granted.” For the participants from San Diego, this day will continue to serve as a lesson and reminder that everything around you in Israel came from the vision and concerted effort of many individuals and groups, like Jewish National Fund, who truly embody the message to never forget.
Here are some thoughts expressed by participants in the mission.
Patty Blackmon (San Diego)- “I wanted to come to Israel with a group where I knew I would see things of Israel that I could never see on my own”
Jason Zenner (Young Professionals Chair): “What’s cool about this mission is that of the 25 people here, the majority are new faces to the organization. Hopefully at Israel at 80, these same people will be here and continue to grow our numbers”
Civia Caroline (Young Professionals Chair): “To have this JNF experience for a full week, culminating with this incredible celebration for what 70 years really means and what still needs to be done is so impactful.”
“I am most excited for the group to visit Ammunition Hill next week. I honored my grandfather there, and I think it’s something that really communicates the story and message of JNF well and touches people on a personal level”
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Gelber is a freelance writer following the San Diego group on its travels through Israel.