R'nana's+I-Face+Project

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 * __ I FACES PROJECT __**
 * __Gindis book of records __**

Written By: R'nana Goldenhersh Class Teacher: Melissa Weglein School Name: Neveh Channa Date Submitted: March 4 2008

[|http] [|://] [|www] [|.] [|02net] [|.] [|co] [|.] [|il] [|/] [|site] [|/] [|templates] [|/] [|inPage] [|.] [|asp?catID] [|=] [|5&subID] [|=] [|37&docID] [|=] [|24303] - 20net

=**__ Rationale __**=

Israel consists of many different types of people who contribute to its success. Old and young, native born and new immigrants. In my paper I will try to show how Tamar Gindis, an immigrant, is one of the people who has changed the face of Israel.

I chose Tamar Gindis because I think she is a special person. Tamar Gindis studied business at Harvard University, and worked in the United States as a businesswoman. Tamar Gindis left her career behind to make Aliya. Tamar Gindis came on Aliya to Har Nof, Jerusalem, with her husband and three children.

Right after Tamar made aliya, she heard about the plan to destroy all of the Jerusalem forest to build large housing projects. Tamar immediately started an expensive struggle that brought her to start the organization Shomera Lesviva Tova (Guardian for a Good Environment), with the goal of building a healthier, more ethical and pro-active society and environment. The Shomera also offers educational programs in gardening and protecting the environment for children in regular schools, as well as children with special needs.

I find this all very interesting and I think Tamar Gindis really changes the face of Israel.

http://www.jerusalemshots.com/i/jerusalem/jerusalem_forest2.jpg

=**__ Profile __**=

Tamar Gindis is a unique Jerusalemite and Israeli. If you enjoy the circle of green, the Jerusalem Forest, that surrounds Jerusalem, then you have Tamar Gindis to thank.

Tamar Gindis came to Israel as a young girl of fourteen. She switched high schools several times but found her place in university. Tamar attended Bar Ilan University and majored in math and economics. For Tamar, university was not just studying. University meant activism. During the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Tamar was the vice president of the student council. She started a volunteer program for students who visited wounded soldiers. Tamar and her two sisters went from army base to army base singing as a trio. Tamar recalled wistfully, “Motti Caspi heard us singing at a base and offered us a singing contract. My father found out and absolutely refused to let us become singers!”

While still in Bar Ilan, Tamar represented Israel in international student conferences which were held in Europe and attended by students all around the world.

Tamar left Israel when she was offered the opportunity to study business at Harvard University. Tamar received her degree in Business Administration and worked in banking. During the years that followed, Tamar married and built a family. Tamar wanted to return to Israel for a year. Finally, in 1992, Tamar did! She and her family have been here since as each year extended into the next.

Today, Tamar is the president of a nonprofit organization called “[|Shomera Lesiviva Tova]” (Guardian for a Good Environment). This is her life’s work and dream. This organization grew out of a personal concern. Tamar said, “When we came to Har Nof we wanted to buy a villa on Ibn Denon Street overlooking the forest. An acquaintance told us that soon the forest was to be destroyed. I put an ad in the paper to form a committee to fight this initiative. Interestingly, only Anglos (Anglosaxons, meaning English Speakers) answered!”

The outcome was the formation of the Committee for Quality of Life in Har Nof which was the forerunner of the Shomera. Tamar’s point was to “connect the community to the forest in order to save the forest.”

The Shomera has been in the forefront of many struggles to save and conserve the environment. Examples are: fighting against Highway 16 to be built in the Jerusalem Forest; fighting against the Safdie Plan which would have destroyed the Jerusalem Forest by building new neighborhoods instead of the forest; preventing the building of a gigantic nursing home in Har Nof which would have blocked the view of many residents from Har Nof and Beit Zayit and taxed the infrastructure of Har Nof, and, preventing a cellular phone antennae from being installed in Har Nof.

mad.walla.co.il/w/18-200/196810-18.jpg - Walla

There are so many pressing problems in Israel, like wars, terrorist attacks, and traffic accidents. Why should anyone expend energy on saving the environment? Tamar feels that there are so many benefits to seeing green. “There are many psychological benefits of being in a green environment,” said Tamar. “It leads to creativity and peace of mind. People get very sick because of pollution and we have to protect our children’s health. We have to save our world for our children.”

In addition to protecting the forest the Shomera has other goals. Education is another main goal. “Residents must be educated to take responsibility for their own trash. By cleaning up garbage, people are taking responsibility for common space,” Tamar said. “Air, land and water are common resources. We effect one another when we are irresponsible with our common resources.”

The Shomera has educational programs in Har Nof, Bet Shemesh, Beitar and Modi'in. There are gardening programs for “regular children” in the schools. In Jerusalem, there are also remedial gardening programs for people with special needs, like people who are blind or have severe mental handicaps. Trained gardeners carry out the therapy. “This type of therapy is very important,” explained Tamar. “It gives a handicapped person a sense of success when they see (or feel) that what they have planted has grown. Planting develops fine motor coordination. It develops the senses through contact with the ground. Nature teaches a person to wait. We call it delayed gratification. Nature also teaches a person to appreciate aesthetics (beauty). We have groups at Hadassah, Akim and Avukat Or. Our group at Hadassah is a social group. The group grew tea and then served it. This gave them a sense of accomplishment and empowerment.”

Anther population which is being educated is the Charedi population. Charedi people like to “learn Torah” and working for the Shomera has taught them to come out of the study hall and become activists. This has also taught the Charedi volunteers tolerance of others. Also, Beit Yaakov teachers are given in-service education on how to teach Charedi school children about the environment.

This year is Shmitta, the Sabbatical year. The Shomera has developed new materials about Judaism and the environment for secular and religious people. This information and more are presented at conventions.

Tamar feels that being a woman has helped her cause. It’s an advantage because she stands out. Also, women show camaraderie with other women. They like to get together and do things. Women feel connected to the earth and enjoy sharing with the next generation. The only drawback is sometimes Charedi rabbis hesitate to see her. This is needed when she needs to get a stamp of approval for projects in a Charedi community.

Would Tamar have considered working in environmental conservation in America? “No,” Tamar said. “I would have been active in Jewish causes. But living here in Israel helps me appreciate that this land is holy and, all the more so, we must protect it!” Tamar also felt that since Israel is a small country it is easier to bring about changes (although Israeli society is resistant to change!).

When asked about how we can educate others about simple things like not littering Tamar said, “Be an example yourself and don’t litter, and, pick up garbage you see. And, present your message in a positive way, like saying this is a holy, special land so don’t dirty it.”

Tamar Gindis can be proud of all her projects! Her philosophy is called “permaculture”. Tamar explained, “permaculture is sustainable agriculture. It’s the philosophy of living in the world and sustaining the environment.”

Tamar Gindis, an American – Israeli, is a role model for all of us. She works endlessly to improve the quality of life in Israel by educating people to appreciate and protect their environment. As the president of the Shomera, Tamar is slowly changing the attitudes and actions of Israeli society.

[|http] [|://] [|www] [|.] [|shomera] [|.] [|org] [|.] [|il] [|/] [|updates] [|/] [|hebnews_02-07_files] [|/] [|image001] [|.] [|jpg] - Shomera .

=**__ Background Research __**=


 * __Conservation__**

Conservation is the preservation of natural resources, such as topsoil, forests, and waterways. Conservation is the protection of clean water, clean air, and fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas.

Natural resources can be divided into two groups, renewable and nonrenewable resources. According to **Microsoft Online Encylopedia**, “A //renewable// resource is one that may be replaced over time by natural processes, such as fish populations or natural vegetation, or is inexhaustible, such as solar energy. The goal of renewable resource conservation is to ensure that such resources are not consumed faster than they are replaced. //Nonrenewable// resources are those in limited supply that cannot be replaced or can be replaced only over extremely long periods of time. Nonrenewable resources include fossil fuels and mineral deposits, such as iron ore and gold ore. Conservation activities for nonrenewable resources focus on maintaining an adequate supply of these resources well into the future.”

The pollution of the Yarkon River is an example of not conserving a nonrenewable resource. If pollutants are not removed from the Yarkon River people will not be able to use it for recreation, such as swimming and boating. The river will never be able to renew itself.

The fish farms in the Gulf of Eilat/ Aquaba are contributing to “nutrient loading” in the Red Sea and are causing the coral reef to deteriorate. The coral reef is a nonrenewable resource which can not be replaced.

http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/defaultlanding.aspx?id=32841 - Deartment of Conservation

According to **Microsoft Online Encyclopedia**, "The challenge of conservation is to understand the complex connections among natural resources and balance resource use with protection to ensure an adequate supply for future generations.” The Lake Hula project is an example of this. In the 1950s the swamps were drained so that the land could be used for farming. The Israeli government realized that the draining was not good for conserving the natural environment of the Hula Valley. So, a section of the former swamp was reflooded to prevent “soil deterioration and to revive the nearly extinct ecosystem.” (An ecosystem is a situation where there is interaction between an organism and other elements that make up its environment.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulah_Valley- wikipedia

(For more information about the birds at the Hula Valley - http://www.hula-birding.com/ .)

In order to protect natural resources from pollution, individual people, industries, businesses, and governments around the world, must take responsibility. An example of taking is the transformation of Tel Aviv’s Hiriya garbage dump. The Hiriya center recycles waste from households, army camps and hospitals. Electricity is produced form recycled methane gas. Plastic, iron, and metal are collected and sent somewhere else to be recycled. Garden waste is recycled into compost. Part of the garbage dump itself is being turned into a large green park.

(A video with more information of the Tel Aviv’s Hiriya garbage dump - http://blogs.nbcuni.com/greenisuniversal/2007/11/transforming_tel_avivs_garbage.html.)

Conservation of the forest is very important to the world. Forests provide the environment for wildlife and recreation. Forests prevent soil erosion and flooding, and provide clean air and oxygen, and help decrease global warming. Tamar Gindis’s life is dedicated to the conservation of the Jerusalem Forest.

[|www.jerusalemshots.com] – Jerusalem shots

=__ Literary Connection __=

__אבא, אמא וארץ ישראל__ __ מלים: __ יורם טהרלב __ לחן: __ אילנה אביטל יש לי שני הורים שאוהבים לטייל הם עברו ברגל כבר את כל ישראל. כשהייתי בת שנה נסעו [|לגליל] וסחבו אותי איתם בתוך התרמיל. כל שבת יוצאים אנחנו כאיש אחד כובע על הראש ומימיה על הצד. פעם אל [|החולה] לבקר בשמורה פעם ל[|כרמל]לראות איזו מערה. אבא, אמא קצת יותר לעט אבא, אמא תחכו מעט אין לאן לרוץ ואין לאן למהר ארץ ישראל פה לעולם תישאר. כבר ראיתי [|בגלבוע] את הפריחה ומהר תבור ראיתי את הזריחה. כבר עליתי[| למצדה]בשביל הנחש להורי תמיד קראתי בקול חלש. אבא, אמא קצת יותר לעט אבא, אמא תחכו מעט אין לאן לרוץ ואין לאן למהר ארץ ישראל פה לעולם תישאר. __Lyrics:__ Yoram Tarleb __Tune:__ Elana Avital __Translation:__ R’nana Goldenhersh
 * __ Dad, Mom and the __****__ Land __****__ of __****__ Israel __**

I have two parents that love to hike They passed over all of Israel on foot. When I was one year old they traveled to the Galil They carried me inside a satchel.

Every shabbos we leave as one Hats on our heads and canteens on the side. Once to the Hula Valley to visit a nature reserve Once to the Carmel to see some cave. Dad, Mom, a little slower Dad, Mom, wait a little There is no were to run to, there is no reason to hurry up The land of Israel will be here forever. I already saw the Gilboa in bloom And from Mount Tabor I saw the sunrise. I already went up Matzada through the snake path I always called to my parents in a soft voice: Dad, Mom, a little slower Dad, Mom, wait a little There is no were to run to, there is no reason to hurry up The land of Israel will be here forever. This delightful song is about a young child that since she was a baby her parent’s took her on hikes in nature around Israel. They went to the Galil, the Hula Valley, the Carmel and Matzada. That is about all Israel. Even though Israel is so small, you can still see approximately everything like a sunrise a forest, a cave, and the land in bloom. This song is from a child’s perspective. That’s why every step that a grown-up takes seems so much faster than a young child’s step. Also, her parents want to get to every place in Israel and there is so much to see before they get too old. So, she tells them to slow down.

I feel that Israelis are really attached to their nature. When an Israeli has a day off a lot of them will go on a hike. For instance the two soldiers took a hike on their day off and then two Arabs shot and killed them. Even, with your youth group, you don’t go to a museum: you would go on a trip in the nature and even stay overnight in nature. Also with school, the main trip is somewhere in nature. There is even a major that you can take in high school about all the geographic places and hikes in Israel. In addition, on a free day, you can go with a couple of friends to a spring in the forest.

In my opinion, her parents hurried up so much because Israel keeps on giving up different places and everyone wants to see all of Israel. In Israel, someone fought or died for every stunning place. That’s way we feel such a connection to our land and see the importance of hiking in Israel.

By saving the forest, Tamar Gindis assures others that they can take a lot of hikes in the Jerusalem forest. Tamar is motivated by the importance of the environment and her connection to Israel.

=**__ Creative Connection __**=  This collage is made up of different faces of people who live in Israel that I cut out of the newspaper. All these people are the faces of Israel that change Israel in little ways, all the time. These people can be any of us. We make Israel so special, just like Tamar Gindis. For example, I chose four articles that I took from the newspapers about four random people that represent Israel. Shahar Pe’er highest ranked Israeli tennis singles player ever. She wins lots of games for Israel and by that she is chancing the face of Israel and making us fames throughout all of Europe. Betty Dubiner is “a woman of valor and idealist till the end” said Greer Fay Cashman. She made aliya from Canada in 1950 with her husband and worked nonstop to help Israelis. When she helped Iraqi new immigrants find new warm houses during the 1950’s. They raised a lot of money for Israel organizations. She also donated her artifact collection of articles about the Yishuv and Zionism to Ariel College. This woman has clearly changed the face of Israel. Not only that, she has helped handicapped people. Scott Selzer made aliya in 1992, juggles for a hobby and makes people happy. Brining happiness into people’s lives changes the face of Israel. Rabbi Micha Odenheimer, an immigrant from New York, is definitely changing the face of Israel. He has organized a social activism program for Israeli young adults who go on trips to Nepal. There, the volunteers help the poor and powerless people from Nepal and the volunteers get a little bit of Judaism. After their tour of duty in Nepal, they continue their volunteerism in Israel. In my opinion, anyone of these people have influenced a change in Israel for the better. However, there are also many outstanding people like you and I, who are making Israel a better place, who are not always publicly recognized for their contribution to Israel.

=**__ Reflection __**=

In the beginning I thought I knew everything about my home – Israel; however, when I started writing about my home, the closest place to me, I realized I didn’t. The assignment was much harder then I thought because I always had to make sure that my writing came out in a way that Israel really seems to me, and, in a way that others would understand it and relate to it. I learned that Israel is such a precious place to me and I started to appreciate Israel more.

I had great expectations of being connected to the school in Atlanta. When it became a learning process where I had to write what the teachers wanted, instead of talking to the kids in slang language and expressing my personal feelings, I found it hard to be able to relate to the kids in Atlanta.

At first I told myself that I’m doing this project strictly for English class and not really for myself. Then when I picked Tamar Gindis, my neighbor, who I thought would help me represent Israel’s faces, I got really into it. It was during my time spent with Tamar Gindis that I realized how important Israel is to me. Not only that, I realized that if something interests me, I can write a lot about that topic.

During the project I learned not only about Israel and Tamar Gindis. I learned about the whole world and what affects it environmentally. For instance, I learned more about the importance of having forests and taking care of them.

My favorite part was writing the literary connection because I think that songs really represent Israel, I noticed when researching for my song that much of Israel’s history had been translated and recorded as songs. I felt that during this part of I - Faces project I could really express my feelings about my country.

I think my I- Faces project, helped me learn about my country and realized different sides of Israel. This project showed me that every single one of us is a part of Israel’s face and that I should work hard to contribute in order to change the face of Israel.

= = =**__ Acknowledgements __**=

I want to say thank you to a few people who helped me with my project. My mother, Lisa Goldenhersh My father, Murray Goldenhersh My English teacher, Melissa Weglein Reuven Werber and Ayelet Rothstien ~Thank you~

=__ Bibliography __=

"Conservation." Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia. 2007, 19 Jan 2008, 

"Ecology." //Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia//. 17 Jan 2008, 22:12 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 19 Jan 2008 .

“Eilat's Fish Farms.” Israel Ministry of the Environmental Protection. 25/06/2006. 23 Jan 2008 .

"Hulah Valley." //Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia//. 8 Jan 2008, 08:31 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 23 Jan 2008 .

Gindis, Tamar, president of “Shomera Lesiviva Tova”. __Interview__. Jerusalem, 16 December 2007.

Goldman, Paul. “Transforming Tel Aviv's Garbage Dump”, NBC News. 11:37 AM on November 08, 2007: “green is universal”, November 25, 2007, 23 Jan 2008 <[|http://blogs.nbcuni.com/greenisuniversal/2007/11/transforming_tel_avivs_garbage.html>.]

Yam Yehoshua. “Greens Blast Decision to Permit Sailing Again on Yarkon River”, Ha’aretz news. 08/22/03: “The United Jerusalem Foundation”, 23 Jan 2008 .

__Shironet__, 2003, 2.1.08, < http://www.shiron.net/homepage.aspx?homep=1>.

=__ Appendix __=

Brainstorming for my interview
Tammar Gindis:

My neighbor

In to nature

Russian husband

Pet owner

Shomera

3 kids

moved to Israel

a girl my age

live in a huge house

went to havered

smart

my mothers friend

friendly

good natured

she gives her daughter oatmeal

buildings

har - nof

pro Israel

president of shomra

**Interview questions**

 * 1) How old where you when you made Aliya with your family?
 * 2) What did you do (school, National service) during the years you were here as a youth?
 * 3) Why did you go back to the U.S.?
 * 4) What did you study and where?
 * 5) How did you meet your husband?
 * 6) Why did you decide to make Aliya, this time as an adult?
 * 7) Where and when did the idea for the Shomera Lesiviva Tova (Guardian For a Good Environment) come about?
 * 8) With all due respect, in Israel so many people die in wars, terrorist attacks and car accidents. Why is the environment so important?
 * 9) What are the goals of the Shomera?
 * 10) I remember going to a gardening chug (activity) on my block, which my mom arranged through the Shomera. Do you still have those chugim and in what neighborhoods?
 * 11) When I was in elementary school my class went once a week to the “Shomera” site in the Jerusalem forest. Is the site still open and what goes on there?
 * 12) What other programs does the Shomera have?
 * 13) What population do you try to reach?
 * 14) My mom read an article in the Jerusalem Post about the Shomera and handicapped people. Could you describe that program and why does gardening help the handicapped?
 * 15) What special challenge is raised by the charedi community? How is the Shomera meeting that challenge?
 * 16) I live in Har Nof so I’m especially interested in the “Tiyelet-Promenade” project. Could you please describe it.
 * 17) Recently, you were at the head of a big battle against building a large housing project in Har Nof. Why were you against the project? What would have been the ecological ramifications and the ramifications for Har Nof, as a neighborhood?
 * 18) Have you been involved in other environmental struggles? Please elaborate.
 * 19) Does being a woman help or hinder your effectiveness as president of the Shomera? How does being a woman influence your attitude towards the environment?
 * 20) I hate to see people litter, on the street or in nature. What should I do when I see people littering and what message should I give them?
 * 21) Does living in Israel help or hinder reaching your goals as an individual?
 * 22) Do you spend any time “learning” Torah? How does that influence your life?
 * 23) How do you fell being an Israeli Resident?
 * 24) How has Israel affected your children?