A five-year “greening” plan by Birthright Israel is aimed at improving the living conditions of families from Kibbutz Be’eri, who were devastated by the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Residents temporarily relocated to Kibbutz Hatzerim a few months ago and will stay there until the kibbutz is rebuilt. They currently live on parcels of dry, arid land with no greenery, plants or trees.
The Birthright initiative, with the help of volunteers, will bring much-needed greenery to their community and transform the area into a vibrant environment.
In collaboration with the Venatata nonprofit, Birthright will create 300 gardens—one for each Be’eri family and the surrounding areas. They will feature 1,500 trees, 41,000 herb plants, thousands of flowers and more. The initiative, to run through April 4, will involve 2,700 Birthright participants coming in 100 separate groups to volunteer.
“This beautiful project, which has already begun, has significantly improved the mood of the people of Be’eri, and there are many emotions involved,” said Eilam Maor, a 42-year-old married father of two girls, whose family is one of the Kibbutz Be’eri families currently living in Hatzerim.
“It seems that beyond the love and admiration shared between the people of Be’eri and the Birthright Israel volunteers, both sides also feel a great sense of contribution. This initiative gives us a lot of hope and faith for our future, as well as for the future of the Jewish Diaspora and the people of Israel,” he added.
The initiative is part of a broader, multifaceted greening program that Birthright Israel began in 2023, thanks to a transformational gift from Stephen and Claudine Bronfman, Ellen Bronfman Hauptman and Andrew Hauptman in honor of Charles Bronfman, the co-founding chair of Birthright Israel.
It will be funded for five years and carried out on four key levels:
Environmental Education Integration: Birthright Israel will integrate environmental content into all of its programs, offering participants an opportunity to explore sustainability issues and learn from experts in the field. This ensures that everyone involved understands the connection between Jewish values and environmentalism.
Reducing Environmental Impact: A major goal of Birthright Israel’s green initiative is to inspire new standards of environmental awareness in educational tourism in Israel. The organization aims to reduce its impact through direct actions, including working with providers to lower their environmental footprint and utilizing carbon offsets.
Community Impact: The program will extend its influence to other areas in Israel, fostering environmental sustainability nationwide.
Organizational Sustainability: Birthright will explore how best to make the organization itself more sustainable, including initiatives like using electric buses and offering plant-based meal options during its trips.
“This greening initiative is not just about transforming the landscape of Kibbutz Hatzerim,” said Gidi Mark, CEO of Birthright Israel. “It’s about connecting young Jews who come to volunteer in Israel with the Be’eri community as well as creating a lasting environmental legacy and inspiring the next generation of Jewish leaders to engage with sustainability. This project exemplifies how we can connect Jewish values of arvut hadadit (‘giving back’) and a commitment to the environment, and we’re proud to see this vision come to life.”
The Birthright Israel volunteer program is in partnership with Mosaic United, the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, and Jewish philanthropists and communities worldwide.
