Legacy Tour and Halutzit and Yerucham Dedications

On December 5, 2011

In November, 31 participants returned from Israel having taken part in JNF UK’s 15th Legacy Mission. The popular 10-day mission saw participants travel the length and breadth of the country and gain first-hand experience of some of the specific projects JNF UK is undertaking in the Negev region. These projects spanned the key areas of JNF UK’s work in Israel: development and infrastructure, water and trees.

Highlights of the trip included a visit to the new communities of Halutzit in the far south of the Negev where 21st century Zionist pioneers are growing organic potatoes, carrots, peppers and etrogim in the desert sands for export to the UK. Before Sukkot an etrog grown at Halutzit was presented by JNF UK to Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, who visited the community last year.

While in Halutzit, the legacy group, residents and local dignitaries – including JNF’s Chaim Yalin, Head of the Eshkol Regional Council – formally opened the new boys’ residential secondary school. The school is dedicated in memory of two brothers from the UK, Edward and Charles Shamash.

Speeches were given by Raanan Gissin, former Advisor to PM Ariel Sharon; David Shamash; Rabbi Eli Adler, Nave Representative; and Samuel Hayek, JNF UK chairman.

Celebrations continued the next day when the Legacy Mission visited Yerucham to attend the opening of the new community centre. Built in partnership with the Ayalim Association, the centre in Yerucham is the first project to be completed jointly with JNF UK. Students accepted into Ayalim go to live, study and work in development areas where they volunteer 500 hours of service to the local community.

In Yerucham, a development town in the Negev with high illiteracy and unemployment rates, the new community centre will play an important role. The Centre was opened by David Goodman, CEO of JNF UK; Samuel Hayek, Chairman of JNF UK; Dr Uzi Landau, Minister of National Infrastructure; Prof Shimon Shitrit, Former MK; and Dany Gliksberg, Deputy Director of Ayalim Association (one of the Ayalim Founders).

The centre will be used by unemployed groups and senior citizens during the mornings. In the afternoon the students will offer tutoring assistance with homework to schoolchildren and in the evening, with few other local facilities, the students and the town’s young people will enjoy using the centre as a clubroom.

Many of the Ayalim students feel this is their generation’s opportunity to express their Zionism and as this original project was so successful, JNF UK intend to build a similar centre with Ayalim in Ofakim, another development town in the Negev.

During their trip the Legacy Mission participants also had the opportunity to plant a tree in the Carmel Forest where fierce fires in December 2010 destroyed thousands of trees.

The Legacy Tour’s trip also included a number of visits to other key tourist attractions inIsrael. These included: the Herzl Museum in Jerusalem, Caesaria, the IDF Museum in Yaffo, the Yatir Winery, Masada and Kibbutz Sde Boker as well as visits to other JNF projects.

The mission also heard updates from His Excellency Matthew Gould, the British Ambassador to Israel. This is the second year the Ambassador has met with participants. Speaking to the Mission delegation, the Ambassador said: “The work that the JNF does in Israel is extremely important, good and valuable work”.

Bernard Shneck one of the participants from Manchester enthused: “I have had an amazing time on this mission. The beauty of a trip like this is that you get to see the real Israel. Not only did we saw the usual tourist attractions, we also saw some of the amazing work JNF UK is doing to support the people of Israel, particularly in the Negev. Projects such as Halutzit and the development of the Massu’ot Yitzhak reservoir are truly inspirational. I made a great group of new friends and can’t wait to come back on next year’s trip.”

David Goodman, who led his first Legacy Mission said: “The annual JNF UK Legacy Mission continues to be an inspiring and thought-provoking journey for all of us. The participants see at first hand the amazing work that JNF UK is able to support inIsrael as a result of legacies left to the charity, as well as highlighting the many projects that still require further support.”