Since the conclusion of the Shemittah year, Israel365 readers planted nearly 1,000 trees in the Land of Israel.
Last month, Israel365 launched a special “Plant a Tree in Israel” campaign in honor of the Jewish “Arbor Day” holiday, Tu B’Shvat. This operative was in addition to their post-shmittah (sabbatical) year enterprise to plant trees in the Holy Land. During the year of shmittah, it is forbidden to plant or work the land.
Through these campaigns, approximately 300 donors gifted the Land of Israel with nearly 800 trees. “We are touched by the outpouring of love and dedication for Israel that our Israel365 subscribers have shown through supporting our tree planting initiatives,” expressed Rabbi Tuly Weisz, founder of Israel365, to Breaking Israel News. “We are blessed to share our work with so many special people.”
The tree campaign was prominently featured in Israel365 and Jerusalem365 over several months since the conclusion of the Sabbatical year. “With Israel facing nearly daily terror attacks across the country, we wanted to do something which represents life and increases our connection to the Holy Land,” reflected Rabbi Weisz to Breaking Israel News. “We all need strengthening during these challenging times.”
Two particular donations touched Israel365 deeply. A large order of trees was received by a gentleman from Nigeria in memory of his father and in honor of his family.
In another case, one tree was donated by a preschool class from the Jewish Community Center in Columbus, Ohio. Following this class of two and three-year-olds learning about Tu B’Shevat, their teacher, Leslie Rosen was inspired to sponsor a tree in Israel. “Buying trees in Israel is not new to us, But, your certificate really caught our eye. We are proud to support your mission and the land of Israel,” shared Rosen with Breaking Israel News.
Rabbi Weisz continued by explaining that there are numerous verses in the Bible which reference the importance of trees and that also compare man to a tree. “It says in Psalms 1:3, ‘He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.’ Isn’t that what we all hope for the land and people of Israel?” he said.
The State of Israel’s afforestation efforts are recognized, in part, as the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. When Mark Twain visited Israel in 1867, he described the land as “A desolate country whose soil is rich enough, but is given over wholly to weeds…hardly a tree or shrub anywhere.”
Today, more than 240 million trees have been planted in the Holy Land over the past 100 years, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 27:6: “In days to come shall Jacob take root, Israel shall blossom and bud.” Israel’s unprecedented afforestation stands in contradistinction to a recent tree census published in the science journal Nature. Researchers found that an estimated 15 billion trees are cut down annually, causing a drop in the number of trees worldwide by approximately 46 percent since records have been kept.
“Planting trees is a great way for those who want to show solidarity with the Jewish people and join in fulfilling Biblical prophecies relating to the restoration of the Holy Land,” noted Rabbi Weisz to Breaking Israel News. “Participants in this campaign not only revive the Land of Israel but also revive the people of Israel with hope for a beautiful future.”
