The first grove in Israel dedicated to Prisoners of Zion was inaugurated in a ceremony on July 8 in Nof HaGalil at the Churchill Forest.
Former Prisoner of Zion Rabbi Yosef Mendelevitch, who first proposed the idea to establish the grove, attended and shared his personal experiences of imprisonment and persecution in the Soviet Union for his Zionist activities. He was joined by Knesset member Ofir Sofer, minister of aliyah and integration; Ifat Ovadia-Luski, chairwoman of Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF); and Ronen Plot, the mayor of Nof HaGalil.
Plot emphasized the importance of the grove for future generations, saying “students from the city and the region will visit, learn and be exposed to the stories of these heroes who fought not only with weapons, but with faith and determination for their right to live as free Jews in the Land of Israel.”
Initiated and established by KKL-JNF with the support of the Nof HaGalil Municipality, the new grove commemorates the efforts of more than 500 men and women who were persecuted, tried and imprisoned in various countries for their Zionist activities and their struggle to immigrate to Israel.
Most Prisoners of Zion originated from the former Soviet Union, yet the term encompasses Jews from other dictatorial regimes, such as Iraq, Yemen, Morocco and Ethiopia. Many of these individuals have since passed away with their stories yet to receive formal national recognition.
The grove is meant to be a place of remembrance and gratitude, of learning and of the intergenerational connection to remember the quiet heroism of spiritual warriors.
Sofer said the “Prisoners of Zion are the pioneers of our time. They risked their lives to return home after thousands of years in exile. It is our duty to honor their actions and proudly tell their stories.”
