Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 29 January 2003 — Page 18

NAT 10 January 29. 2003

Israel: As I See It The New Year of the Trees

By SAMSON KRUPN1CK In times of crisis and difficulties to which Israelis are accustomed, a relief of any kind is welcomed with good spirits.

It is the coming month of Adar when our Sages advised: "With the coming of the month of Adar, we should increase happy occasions and be more joyous." This leap year gives us two Adar months, doubling the happiness with Purim in the center and Passover to follow. The great zaddik Rabbi Nachman of Breslau urged Jews to observe a great mitzvah, that of being joyous at all times (mitzimh giuloluli Ici/ot bainichali hiiiiul). The sage Nahum Ish Gamzu taught a similar philosophy stating: "Kol d'avid Rachmana LTav avid." (All that the Almighty does is ever for the best.") We are not yet at Adar, but we had a very happy and significant .holiday, Tu B'Shvat, the 15th day of Shevat, the New Year of the Trees. It came out on the Shabbat, so both on Friday and Sunday were the many occasions for planting trees and enjoying the special fruits of the season - dates, figs, raisins, nuts, carobs, and pomegranates. The Jewish National Fund is celebrating 100 years of fruitful achievements, particularly by the turning of neglected land in almost all of Israel to fertile land and by planting millions of trees throughout the entire country. The Jewish National Fund opened its many gardens and plains and invited all Israelis, and especially tourist missions, to plant trees. We were among the first to enjoy this experience of joining our efforts with our land and creating a close contact in the act of tree planting. All who participated in these activities found great pleasure in this direct contact with our land. There were many functions throughout the country emphasizing the importance of this festive period and the

enjoyment of the bountiful fruits of the land "flowing with milk and honey." In the synagogues on Shabbat the special fruits were served at Kiddush and to the Seudah Shlishit. Rabbis

delivered appropriate sermons about the great significance of our direct relations with our land and emphasized that it is a gift of the Almighty to His People and not transferable to others undbf any circumstances. It was particularly timely at this time of the war against terror in our land and of the possible attack of Saddam Hussein, as happened a decade ago. The clear objective of the Palestine Authority and its arch terrorist Chairman Yasser Arafat is our destruction . Regrettably, the State Department has made many statements about the elimination of the "settlements" and our ceasing our "occupation" in total disregard of the continued terror of the Palestinians and of their stated objective. Defense Secretary Ronald Rumsfeld has stated clearly on numerous occasions that Israel is not an "occupier." "It was attacked by the Arabs and they lost. The land belongs to Israel!" Even the UN 242 resolution on withdrawal provides Israel with concern for its security and protection. It should be crystal clear by now that appeasement of the Palestinians at our expense as urged by the State Department (and even partially by President George W. Bush, who is

shielding terrorist Yasser Arafat) would endanger our very existence. Under no circumstances should we permit these actions. On a more joyous note, we had our 30th annual dinner of

the Western olim at the Renaissance Hotel on Sunday in honor of Tu B'Shvat with the slogan: "The land of Israel for the People of Israel and the Torah of Israel!" Op a vofun--■■ teer basis the largest scholarship fund in Israel has distributed over 26,000 scholarships in some 144 yeshivot, schools, and ulpanot for girls. The founders of the fund, Bernard Hochstein and your columnist, were presented with awards as were "Aishet Chayil" Aliza Dadya of Bei Shean and Mr. Aaron Makowitz, chairman of the Fund for Religious Education. Knesset Member Zevulun Orlev, chairman of the Knesset Education Committee, and Rabbi Barry Eisenberg presented the awards. The Center for Religious Education in Israel, headed by Elimelech Lendner, and Hapoel Hamizrachi, headed by Eliezer Avtabi, have been partners and associates with the Western olim for many successful years. These scholarships have contributed to Torah education in Israel for these past 30 years, and the objective is to increase the fund and to continue to help the support of more deserving students. Samson Krupnick may be readied at 22 Pinsker, Jerusalem 92228, Israel. E-mail: kr it p@barak-online .net.

The Jewish National Fund opened its mam/ gardens and plains and invited all Israelis, and especially tourist missions, to plant trees. We were among the first to enjoy this experience of joining our efforts with our land and creating a close contact in the act of tree plan ting. All who participated in these activities found great pleasure in this direct contact with our land.

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