Plant a tree, and win a trip to Israel

Photo: Eric Elkins

Plant a tree in Israel and win a chance to go there -- for free. 

Fancy a free to trip to Israel? 

In celebration of Tu BiShvat -- the Jewish New Year for trees, which will be celebrated on February 4 -- the Jewish National Fund is offering a chance to win a trip to Israel by planting a tree.

    
JNF has partnered with EL AL Airlines and the Carlton Hotel Tel Aviv for an exciting online raffle. When you plant a tree through jnf.org between January 26, 2015 at 12 a.m. ET and February 4, 2015 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET, you will be entered to win two free round-trip tickets to Israel, courtesy of EL AL Airlines, and a free two-night stay at the luxury Carlton Tel Aviv, breakfast included. Ten runners-up will win a free JNF E-Z Tree account, which allows you to purchase trees at a discount. 

    
"I was so grateful for this wonderful experience," said last year's winner, Susan Mair of Sarasota, Fla. "Israel always brings out deep feelings in my heart, and I am amazed at the ingenuity of the Israelis to overcome all obstacles." 

Caravan for Democracy: Affecting change -- in hearts and minds

As you may have read on our blog, the JNF-sponsored Caravan for Democracy trip enables college students of all faiths to see, taste, and explore Israel firsthand. Here, a couple more participants of the recent 10-day mission recount their feelings upon seeing the Gaza border town of Sderot and encountering the magic of the Old City of Jerusalem for the first time. These students are an inspiration!

Witnessing 'defiant perseverance' 
By Sara David, Flagler College

We heard how civilians drive with their radios off and seat belts unbuckled to make every second count, and how parents must choose which of their children to grab during the 15 seconds they have to find shelter in case of an attack. Hearing these accounts poignantly humanized the strikes and casualties I had previously only known as numbers and statistics. 

Fortunately [the day we visited Sderot], there were no missile strikes and we did not hear any alarms. Instead, we heard the sound of construction as new commercial and residential buildings went up all around us in the distance. Despite the constant threat of an attack, the residents of Sderot are working to further develop and populate the area in defiant perseverance and Zionist spirit.

Photo: Will Baxley

In Sderot, Caravan for Democracy participants view drawings by kindergarten students that reflect rockets and the desire for peace so they can play with their Palestinian neighbors.

Making nature accessible to all: Hear LOTEM on Voice of Israel radio!

Israel has the only ecological farm in the world that's fully accessible to the disabled, and it belongs to JNF partner LOTEM: Making Nature Accessible.

Alisa Bodner of LOTEM tells Voice of Israel's Judy Lash Balint how her organization is enabling tens of thousands of Israelis and visitors with special needs to enjoy the wonders of Israeli nature. Click HERE to listen!

A LOTEM group makes olive oil using an accessible olive press.  

Building self-confidence on Israel's nature trails, one step at a time

Ben Freedman. who's in the eleventh grade, is now a Green Horizons guide leading younger children on 

Israeli nature excursions. 

By Itai Freeman 

I'm a father to two teenage boys who are very active in Green Horizons, which teaches kids about Israel's history, geography, and culture through outdoor field trips -- Ron, who's in the the eighth grade, and Ben, who's in the eleventh grade. My wife Inbar and I have seen some remarkable changes in our boys, particularly Ben, and we attribute them to Green Horizons.

Ben participated in the training for young guides during the summer, a crazy time here in the western Negev due to the last Gaza war. It was truly amazing to see the Green Horizons team work together and not give up on the young guides training course, despite the fact that the organization's senior staff members were recruited for reserve duty in Gaza. Through these very challenging days, the course was successfully completed and kids and parents alike were very excited.

Jewish veterans worldwide find a place of honor in Jerusalem

Paul Jeser is among the Jewish veterans honored at the Wall of Honor at Ammunition Hill.  Most soldiers with names on
the wall come from the U.S., but some hail from from Poland, Bulgaria, Canada, and Israel.  

Paul Jeser served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1972, spending the last six months in Vietnam. "I am very proud of my time in the military, and even more so with the responsibilities I had in Vietnam -- working with the major drug detoxification center near Saigon. I was awarded the Bronze Star (awarded to soldiers who were in combat), although my wife believes that it wasn't the enemy shooting at my helicopter, but 'friendly fire.'" Having served as JNF's national campaign director and director of regional operations from 1990 to 1997, it was natural that Jeser hoped to be able to place a plaque on Jewish National Fund's Wall of Honor at Ammunition Hill, the site of one of bloodiest battles of the Six Day War and today a historical preservation, memorial, and tribute site. 

The Wall of Honor pays tribute to the heroism and courage of Jewish soldiers worldwide who, throughout history, have fought in defense of their countries in numbers far beyond their proportions to the general population. Donors can dedicate plaques for themselves or for loved ones through JNF, with proceeds going to develop and renovate the museum and battlegrounds and create a computerized datacenter, a library, an archive, an exhibition hall, and a center for assemblies and conferences.

Caravan for Democracy: 'So much meaning in almost every aspect of Israeli life'

Photo: Will Baxley 

Caravan for Democracy guide Leor turns Chase Baker, a junior at the University
of North Florida,  into a human map of Israel.

Thirty-two college students of all faiths who have never visited Israel before are currently there participating in the 10-day Caravan for Democracy. The educational experience for young leaders includes touring; meeting political, cultural, and community leaders; and exploring components of Israel's diverse society. Here are early reflections from Melanie Young, a senior in urban studies and urban education at the University of Pennsylvania and recipient of a 2014 Women of Color at Penn award. 

By Melanie Young

Last night we arrived in Israel and were welcomed to the country by two Israelis, Leor and Iftah. Leor means "my light" and Iftah means "will open." I am learning very quickly that one can find so much meaning in almost every aspect of Israeli life. The names, the plants, the places all tell a story. The stories -- small, large, simple, and complex --- contribute to Israel's historical depth.