The President of Israel presented special recognition awards honoring young people’s contribution to education and community. Attending the event were numerous youth from various organizations and youth movements, as well as KKL-JNF representatives led by KKL-JNF World Chairman Daniel Atar.
The event was the highlight of KKL-JNF’s Education and Community Recognition Week, in which thousands of Israeli youth participated in different activities to connect them with nature and important KKL-JNF values, such as love of the land and acceptance of the other. The week included a special day devoted to honoring people with special needs, during which hundreds of special-needs children and youth from the Kav Lechayim association planted trees for Tu Bishvat with the help of volunteers.
In his remarks to his guests, the Israeli President said, "This gathering conveys the new missions that KKL-JNF has taken upon itself. Missions such as imparting love of nature, land and country; of building bridges between the various sectors of Israeli society; of integrating populations with disabilities and special needs; and of encouraging recruitment into the IDF and learning the legacy of Israel's heroes. I wish you and all of us many more years of dynamic Zionism - a Zionism that identifies new missions and strives to promote them, and that is founded on love of the State of Israel and of Israeli society, and is devoted to their advancement."
KKL-JNF World Chairman Daniel Atar told the audience that KKL-JNF has been investing for many years in fields of endeavor related to advancing Israeli society, including investment in informal education, promoting the values of equality, embracing diversity, closing gaps and more. “That is the reason that the Education and Community Division decided, for the first time ever, to hold a week honoring and highlighting these values,” he said. “We concluded this week with an award ceremony for outstanding students on Tu B'Shvat, a true KKL-JNF holiday. I am pleased to see these successful youths taking a proactive role in building a better future for our country."
View photo gallery: The young faces of Israeli activism