The inherent nature of the "Galil" (Galilee) region of northern Israel is far different from that of other areas of the country. It is marked by sprawling, treed hills, and dotted with small villages ("kfarim" and "mitzpim") inhabited by Arabs, Druze, and Jews. Residents of these villages, especially the Jewish ones, built private homes purposefully in the Galil to escape the congestion of the cities, the high-rises and the concrete, and to be close to nature, surrounded by green woods and clean air.

Above is a panoramic view of "Giv'at HaOranim," a pine grove of about 70 acres planted by the JNF (Jewish National Fund) or, in Hebrew, KKL (Keren Kayemet LeYisrael), in memory of members of the Jewish community of Leeds, England.

The pine grove is adjacent to a wadi-like open space which also includes a scattering of olive trees, tended by residents of the neighboring town of Tarshiha. The area has served as a natural park located between three communi- ties:

1. Kfar Vradim ("Village of Roses"), a community of single family private homes,
2. the Yeffe-Nof neighborhood of the City of Ma'alot, and
3. Tarshiha, a mixed Christian and Moslem town which is part of the municipality of Ma'alot-Tarshiha.

Each of these neighborhoods has a distinct, very different character.

The grove has been harmoniously used throughout the year by all: classes of schoolchildren are taken on hikes and taught about natural habitats (a rare salamander breeding pool is tucked away in the center of the grove). In the spring, mushrooms are hunted, dogs are walked, and the grove turns red and yellow when the wildflowers bloom. All year long, herds of goats, cows, and sheep may be seen shepherded through the grove, the sound of their bells and bleats echoing.

Since its inception in 1901, JNF/KKL has been acting as the "Caretaker of the Land of Israel," acquiring land, planting trees and overseeing the transformation of the Israeli desert into the land of milk and honey. It administered the grove until 1995 when the Local Council of Ma'alot-Tarshiha adopted a plan to annex this area and create

an urban community of four-to-seven story apartment buildings, a commercial center, and replete with high-traffic access roads.

Needless to say, the plan is an affront to the natural landscape and incongruous with the surroundings. As a result of this plan, the widely-used grove would be destroyed, as would the natural separation between the existing communities which would become geographically contiguous and indistinguishable. Should this plan be realized, it would mean no less than the destruction of the quality of life and ambiance that represent the essence of the Galil-natural green zones between small communities of diverse character.



To oppose this brazen assault on what we call the "Galil life style," residents from all neighborhoods surrounding the grove have banded together to form "Chayim BaGalil (Society for Life in the Galilee)," a public interest organization. This Website is meant to make the public aware of the ever-present urgent need for responsible and environment-aware community planning and to mobilize support for our efforts to fight any attempts to destroy this symbol of the Galil, as well as others.


Chayim BaGalil
P.O.Box 550
Kfar Vradim 25147