In Living Color

"Why would you come to Israel to plant trees?" David Caron asked the group. His answer was that it allows us to have a hand in making and building Israel.

Thanks to the organization Neot Kedumim, students were able to leave their mark by planting a small tree. The organization's mission is to transform desert land back to forest by planting trees that were found in biblical times -- olive trees, oaks and date palms.

"Perhaps you'll come back to Israel one day and have a picnic under the tree you planted," said our guide as we set off to plant our saplings.

It is a small gesture that we were able to give to Israel after learning more about the man who toiled till his death for a state for the Jews, Theodore Hertl. At the museum in his honor, we learned about his life, the pamphlet he wrote that inspired thousands and created a movement that led others to fight for the creation of Israel.

As the presentation drew to a close, the narrator said that Israel is "a full color realization of a black and white dream." The trees we planted today are part of this colorful country, our hand in its creation.