Meet Your Hosts Meet Eran Sawady, who will host your planting ceremony at the Golani Planting Center.
“I have been with KKL-JNF for 36 years; I was previously the project manager in KKL-JNF’s Israel department, and before that, the manager of the Scandinavian and German Desks. In my free time I study Hebrew and German literature and engage in woodwork and carpentry. I live in Jerusalem with my wife Tzippi, and our 3 children.”
What do you love most about your job?
I love fostering the connection between human emotion and the vitality of trees. I am proud to be among those propagating a tree-planting culture among Israelis and people around the world, who in turn bring that culture to their own communities. In fact, I like to think that I invented the phrase “tree-planting culture”!
Also, tree-planting is a great “equalizer”; it is a physical act in which everyone – no matter who they are or where they come from – must remove their jackets and get down on the ground.”
Describe the ‘Plant a Tree’ process.
I start by getting to know the participants: their background, their expectations, and reasons for planting – is it to commemorate a loved one? To celebrate a milestone? Based on this, I tailor the ceremony to their needs. I generally begin the ceremony by introducing myself and tell them briefly about KKL-JNF. I talk about the significance of the site in which the planting is to take place, focusing a lot on the personal element. Before proceeding with the actual planting, we recite the Planter’s Prayer, which is recited in the planter’s language of choice; I have presided over the recital of the Planter’s Prayer in English, French, Spanish, German, Hungarian, Polish, and Arabic.
What is your most memorable ‘Plant a Tree’ moment?
“Wow…there are so many of them. I can give you both happy and sad moments.
“A particularly sad instance was a planting ceremony I conducted with a young Israeli mother who was terminally ill; she longed to plant a tree in the hills of Jerusalem before she died. Despite feeling weak, she planted the tree as her mother looked on, holding her daughter’s two young children in her arms. Sadly, she passed away 2 weeks later.
“A happy instance was a planting ceremony with a large Jewish group from Denmark, descendants of Jews rescued by non-Jewish “righteous among the nations” during the Holocaust. They came, together with the descendants of their rescuers, to plant trees in the Jerusalem Hills. It was a joyous, emotional moment for all.”
What’s special about the Ben Shemen Planting Center?
“Firstly, it is situated in a very convenient location, enroute to Jerusalem and to Ben Gurion Airport. Secondly, the name “Ben Shemen” carries great significance, as it is a biblical term referring to very fertile land. “Shemen” also means oil; it refers to the olive trees first planted here by KKL-JNF. The site is also very visibly connected to Jewish history and culture; the limestone you see here is exactly what was used to build ancient Jerusalem, and the forest itself is situated near Modi’in, which relates to the Hanukkah story of the Maccabees.”
Who enjoys the trees planted here?
“Who enjoys them? Everyone! The person planting it, the visitors who revel in its beauty and shade, the land itself, and the environment. A tree cools down its immediate surroundings by a couple of degrees.”
What trees do you plant?
“Coniferous and broadleaved species suited to the local environment, including Oak, Terebinth, Cypress, Almond, and Pine.”
Embark on a one-of-a-kind planting experience with Eran Sawady.
