The memory of trees

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This picture above was just e-mailed to my inbox. The Jewish National Fund/Keren Kayemet invites us all to donate a tree to be planted at the Kennedy Memorial.


The memorial, circled in this photo taken from my village, is in the Aminadav Forest.
I have hiked up to it several times. It is a quiet place of solitude.
It was built in 1966 in memory of President John F. Kennedy.
Please see the close-up picture of Yad Kennedy in my post of last November.
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One tree is $18, probably because 18 is the numerical equivalent of the Hebrew letters chet and yod, which together spell "chai," meaning LIFE.
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I promise to go up and visit your tree if you plant one.
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Yahrzeit of John F. Kennedy

President John F. Kennedy was killed on this day, 45 years ago. Thanks to blogger Webradio in France for posting JFK's photo today and reminding me.
Our Yad Kennedy was built in 1966 with funds donated by Jewish communities in the United States. It is 60 feet /18 meters high and has the shape of a tree stump, symbolizing a life cut short. The mountaintop memorial is made up of 51 columns, each bearing the emblem of a state of the Union, plus the District of Columbia.
At 830 meters above sea level, it is one of the highest places around Jerusalem. The panoramic view in all directions is breathtaking. It is very quiet.
Also breath-taking, literally, is the climb up the mountain. What you see in the center of the photo is my village, my starting point for the hike.

I always seem to reach the Kennedy Memorial after it has closed. But I think that inside is a bust of the President and an eternal flame.

When the shocking news of his assassination came, I was just a freshman in university in Chicago. He had been a big inspiration to us college kids. May his memory be a blessing.

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