Visit to The Carmel Area Keren Hayesod Staff Wednesday, 8.12.2010

1. Visit to The Carmel Area Keren Hayesod Staff Wednesday, 8.12.2010

2. The Youth Village Yemin Orde. This used to be the home of a foster family. The fire consumed everything. What is left are memories and hopes for a better future.

3. The trees burned down. The house falls apart. The piping melted. The awful smell of fire fills up the air.

6. The fire was carried by heavy winds jumping from one place to the other. The house in the background remained untouched while the one in the forefront is totally ruined.

8. The roots of trees are still glowing with fire.

10. One of the public buildings in Yemin Orde totally destroyed.

12. This is what is left from the library in Yemin Orde.

17. Another family home which burned down within few moments.

20. Israeli chutzpa? The day after: the roofs are being fixed for next week’s return to school.

21. If you listen carefully you hear the cry of the forest.

22. The trees are dying while standing tall.

23. Kibbutz Beit Oren. The worst impacted settlement of the area with over 40 homes who burned down.

26. Ronni Sofer, a press photographer, joined us to the visit. He was the first one to arrive at the scene on Thursday morning. In an act of bravery he succeeded to rescue 3 cadets from the burning bus, while driving like crazy through a 40 meters high fire corridor along 250 meters.

28. This is a spontaneous matzevah at the spot where 40 cadets lost their lives in the flames.

31. Ronni discribes minute by minute the tragic story.

32. ZAKA ambulance stood by the wayside. On a closer look it happened to be a gift from Keren Hayesod Greece.

34. The evergreen mountain has changed colors. However, a lot of green landscape has been left for us to enjoy.

38. A visit to the Municipality of the Druze Village Ossafia. Speaking: Mayor Wadjia Kayuf.

39. At the end of the visit to Ossafia, Keren Hayesod Director General Greg Masel saying word of thanks to the leadership of Ossafia.

40. Farewell from an impressive man. Wise, modest. His roots on the Carmel Mountain date hundred years back.

44. The Subaru van which served Ronni Sofer in rescuing 3 lives from the fire.

46. On a personal note: • A whole country went up in flame because of one young and reckless boy • decided to throw a little piece of firewood. • Let us invest in education, towards preservation of nature, • care for ecology, respect for the landscape. • Then comes the turn of the necessary equipment for fire fighting - • and with them the understanding that we cannot base our lives on • mathematical probabilities for the occurrence of disasters. • For years now we will follow the reconstruction of the park, so many beautiful pieces of which have burned down. • Most certainly nature will do its part too. • Keren Hayesod will stand by the needy and the victims of the disaster. • Bring back to normalcy life in Yemin Orde • Support the pressing needs of the fire fighting units • Support other needs of the Carmel settlements • Will provide direct support to the families of the victims • Sincerely yours, • Yankele