The Hebrew months of Nissan and Iyar (April/May) hold profound significance for the Jewish people worldwide, marked by a series of meaningful and poignant observances: Passover, Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah), Memorial Day (Yom HaZikaron), Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzmaut), and Jerusalem Day.
These days serve as reminders of our enduring history, heritage, and connection to the Land of Israel.
Even as we all continue to grapple with the tragedy of October 7, 2023, and cope with the challenges of war, our strength and unity as a people endures.
Planting trees is a meaningful tribute that not only lasts for generations
but also helps secure a green future for Israel
Our Ben Shemen Planting Center is situated in the Ben Shemen Forest, conveniently located between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
The trees you plant here are an important contribution to KKL-JNF’s rehabilitation activities for the forest, which has sustained major wildfire damage in recent years.
After you plant your tree, make a day of it by exploring all the forest has to offer. Embark on a forest walk or bike ride along the forest’s many trails; indulge in a picnic at one of our child-friendly recreation sites; or take in panoramic views of the coastal plain from the Mitzpe Modi’in lookout.
For history buffs, there are the Hasmonean Tombs, the mysterious pool and caves in Monk’s Valley, and the remains of ancient Jewish agricultural settlements at Tel Gizmo and Tel Hadid.
If art is your thing, you can walk along the Electricity Trail or enjoy a sensory experience at the Sound and Voices Recreation Area.
Guests with special needs are also covered; many of the recreation areas in the vicinity are wheelchair-accessible, and, of course, there is the Recreation Area for the Blind, which includes a circular path safe for those with visual and motor impairments, information in braille and audio form, and plenty of vegetation selected for their smell and texture.
Ben Shemen Forest was begun by KKL-JNF on land it purchased in 1907, making it the first massive afforestation effort in the history of the State of Israel. Extending over an area of over 5,000 acres (2,200 ha.), it is also the largest forest in central Israel, and a major green lung for the densely-populated Gush Dan area.
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Our Golani Planting Center is situated east of the Golani Junction in the lower Galilee, right next to Lavi Forest.
By planting here, you play an active role in KKL-JNF renewal efforts for the Lavi Forest; among them fostering local biodiversity and adding to its beauty.
On planting day, take the time to explore the forest itself. You can enjoy a picnic at our accessible recreation area, and then embark on a pleasant nature walk among trees and wildflowers. You can also even pitch a tent at one designated camping grounds.
Layers of history are contained within this forest, which is named for the Jewish community of Lavi that once flourished here in the mishnaic and talmudic periods. Here too, you can see the remains of a Mameluk-period inn (Khan Lubiya) and the remains of the latter-day Arab village of the same name, including its still-standing cemetery.
Other points of interest in the vicinity are the Horns of Hattin, a twin-peaked extinct volcano at whose foot the Muslim Abuyyids defeated the Crusaders in the decisive battle of 1187; the Tomb of Nabi Shu’ayb, which Druze tradition holds to be the burial site of Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses; and, of course, the city of Tiberias.
Lavi Forest, which KKL-JNF began planting in the 1950s, extends of an area of about 750 acres (300 ha.) in the Galilee region between Haifa and Tiberias. Located to the east of a key interchange, it is the perfect base for exploring Galielean nature and history, including key heritage sites of the three Abrahamic faiths.
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“Planting a tree in Israel is an act that binds together spirit, emotion, and action. I am proud to be among those propagating what I call a ‘tree-planting culture’ in Israel and in communities around the world. In fact, I like to think that I invented the term!”
“My role is akin to pastoral care in nature; we embark on an emotional process of connecting with the earth and giving to it something deep from within ourselves. I tell participants about the trees they’re about to plant, and they plant with intent and devotion.”
