Ecological village(s) in the Negev district in Israël.

Introduction.
The population of Israël is increasing rapidly because of a high birth-rate and immigration.
Cities as Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem and their surroundings are getting overcrowded. Traffic jams are also in Israël a big problem. There is pollution, too much poverty and rising unemployment .

New villages and cities must be developed in an ecological way in still uncultivated areas above all in the Negev district.

De Israeli government understands only a sustainable economy gives Israel a promising future. Therefore in scientific research there is much attention for a.o. the use of wind- and solar-energy, recycling of waste water, the development of an electric car.

The time is ripe for ecological villages (yeshuvim) in the Negev where these new sustainable firms mentioned above could establish themselves. This would give an enormous boost to ‘the economy of enough’.

What is an ‘economy of enough’?
Our opinion is the current economical system worldwide is starving. We have seen crises after crises in the last 10 years in the Western economies and we have not seen the end of it yet. ‘Emerging markets’ is countries as Brazil, India and China are still going well, but this is logi-cal. However their economical development goes together with a huge pollution. From nega-tive experiences in other developed countries (“the industrial revolution”) one apparently has learned little.

So it is above all time for well-being in stead of welfare (matter). Particularly the level of prosperity (overconsumation) in the West should diminish to spare our living (the Earth) for ourselves and the generations to come. Herewith we are a better example for fellowmen who even lack the primary necessities of life like healthy food, clean drinking-water, clothing, proper shelter and education.

Sustainability, sound production and provision of services and above all micro-credits belong to well-being not only in Africa and Asia, but also in Europe, America and Israël!

On the ground of the above we believe the development of (more) ecological villages in and outside Israël is a fundamental way of development & cooperation worldwide which can be practiced by the (new) Foundation “Terug naar de aarde” (means “back to the earth”) (i.f.) in Maarssen (NL).

Plan-de-campagne.
The infrastructure (roads, water, electricity a.o) of these villages on available land should be provided by the Israeli authorities. The ecological houses and business accommodations (excluding bunkers) should be individually financed (private money & mortgages) and – if possible – build by the inhabitants/entrepreneurs themselves (as a group) under professional supervision.

As the Israeli government (ILA) has created 7 villages – and has planned 13 more - for Bedouins in the Negev these facilities given to well-educated and professional jewish entre-preneurs should be worth serious consideration. And with one or more ecological yeshuvim
in the Negev Israel would be a precursor concerning setting an example of “the economy of enough” in a desert area. Good for the image of Israel in the world.

(Larger) firms who do not fit (a.o. noise – and traffic nuisance) in the residential part of the village will be established on the business area of the village. There will also be the place of a (small) shopping-centre. In the village – on strategic spots – there will be room for an inte-gral health-centre (combination regular and natural healing), a guesthouse, a synagogue/beit hamidrash and a community sports.

The scale of every village should be on such a level shopkeepers can earn a living by the customers of the village. Every village should have a high rate of self-supply so car traffic
from villagers can be reduced. Hopefully this leads to a situation two or more families share one (electric) car.

In the villages is valid one ‘Golden Rule’: Respect your neighbour and the environment. Our ‘Chagamiem’ (philosophers) wrote many books about this topic. It’s a ‘mitzvah’ (commandment) of ‘HaSjem’ (G-d)! The life in the villages is all about quality (share/spirituality) and not quantity (have/gadegets/status). It is in fact ‘tikun olam’ (to perfect creation) and the inhabitants of the villages should inspire each other and visitors of the villages in this context.

The village(s) are connected to a fast area of 500 ha (2 x 2,5 km) intended for a huge forest. The trees will be donated by everyone who wants to help to a more pure ecological living worldwide. Gradually when the forest grows and grows her positive influence on the surroundings will be noticeable (o.a. humidity of air (climate) and soil). Special boxes (Waterboxx, Groasis) will cover the seedlings in the first years of their life and will provide them with moisture (no irrigation!) in this desert area. In the longer run the forest will have an important function for recreation, timber production and CO2-reduction/O2-supply.

So far some practice and a lot of theory. How far are the originators with their project?

The practice until now.
Ja’akov & Lucia Markus* visited Israël many times for shorter and longer periods. They want to finely settle down in Israel as soon as possible. They have family who live in the Negev district.

In June 2009 Ja’akov was for the first time in Israel for the promotion of the project. He tal-ked with all kind of people (entrepreneurs, government and civilians) about it. Everybody is enthusiastic about the project. It was also heartwarming to hear a young orthodox man in Jerusalem say: “I can see in your eyes the project will be a success!”

In November 2010 Ja’akov was again in Israel for the project for 15 days. There he had a.o.
a meeting with the (American) Everage Foundation who want to develop the Negev in a economical way. Their spokesman(woman) Ingbar Seidmann was positive about the project but her foundation can only give physical (no money) help through promotion of the project wherever they can.

There was also a meeting with representatives (Giora and Matan) of the OR Movement in Be’er Sheva. The goal of OR is to put new life (particularly young families) in settlements (kibbutzim/moshavim) in the Negev and the Galil who are doing not so well. So they want a whole group of new people (20) in the abandoned kibbutz of Har Amasa (NW of Arad) where only live 7 families and a few singles. There will be build a new ecological part of Har Amasa. OR gave Ja’akov the advice to forget about a new ecological yeshuv in the Negev – because this is not the policy of the Israeli government right now – but to join the OR group of Har Amasa.

So Ja’akov visited Har Amasa – to scout the place - and he discovered there the biggest forest (Yatir) of Israel. So the forest he had planned – connected to the ecological yeshuvim – is already there. The forest is even much more bigger than 500 ha! So there is a hugh potential for all kinds of tourism that is hardly explored at this moment.
Ja’akov spent three days at the kibbutz and he had individual meetings with almost all the inhabitants. He heard many different opinions about the future of the kibbutz in relation with the plan of OR. Some are pro- and some are against OR en her group who seems to be to “light” to be ‘entrepreneurs’ and pioneers for the development of an ecological yeshuv at Har Amasa. One entrepreneur (David ben Shabat) at Har Amasa has his own plan for this kind of yeshuv there. Unfortunately Ja’akov did not see the plan (in Hebrew) which is worked out with help of experts who were paid for this by the government.

Lawyers and governemental organisations are still fighting about the future of the kibbutz at Har Amasa at this moment. Ja’akov has asked my contact at Har Amasa to keep me posted about the developments.

Ja’akov met personally one of the members of the OR Group of Har Amasa and he spoke another one on the phone. Together with the information of others of the group he did not get the feeling he wants to be part of them. They are not a group of tough pioneers/experienced entrepreneurs who are going to overcome a lot of problems to realise an ecological self sup-porting yeshuv.

So Ja’akov sees the entrepreneur David ben Shabat as the possible initiator of a ecological yeshuv at Har Hamasa or elsewhere in the area. He hopes we can work together toe realize the this yeshuv.

There are a lot of ecological (building) activities in the Negev. Ja’akov visited some spots like Ayelim (student village) and Nir Moshe (low budget building). However he did not find
affiliation there with his (our) thoughts of an ecological yeshuv.

In Jerusalem Ja’akov met Patrick Amar and Moshe Chaim Eade of Aish HaTora (US). Aish has a big brandnew office/yeshiva/museum in Jerusalem with a few on the Wailing Wall (Kotel). Many American male students study for some time at the yeshiva of Aish.

Aish has just started up an new ecological project called ‘Aish Ha Torah’s Eco-Fellowships’. It “seeks to promote global environtmental wellness by educating and informing about the jewish requirements for responsible living. As the question of global sustainability and clean technology dominates the world stage, the often –overlooked jewish perspectives on environmental responsibility have the potential to contribute greatly and the Eco-fellowship seeks to actualize that potential”. Aish wants “to tie in ancient texts with modern day issues” (like the care for our environment). So every year a selected group of 30 US students will come to Israel for a intensive 2-week training program in the field of jewish environmental advocacy. “There will be a focus on the jewish Biblical and traditional requirements for compassionate and sustainable living and how that applies to modern times”. Speaking of practical topics Aish mentions: water treatment facilities, alternative energy (solar and wind), desert agriculture & desertification, waste management and an electric car network. It needs no argument an ecological yeshuv would be the perfect place for such a program.

In spite of frequent e-mail – and telephone contacts with several governmental organisations in the Negev Area before Ja’akov went to Israel no personal meetings with contacts could be arranged on the last Israel-trip. No further comment at this moment…

So who could – at this moment - play an (important) role (practical/as an advisor) by the realisation of the ecological yeshuv in Israel?

• 1) Mr. Asi Shalom (Israeli): archaeologist and ecological building expert in the area who could be of great value concerning the building of houses and business facilities. Asi build his own luxury ecological house in Sde Boker. Asi also knows very well how to deal with the ‘bureaucratia’ of Israël. Asi is the owner of a professional machine that can produce brickes from Negev mud;
• 2) Mr. Shimon ben Dor (Israeli) is an investor and solid entrepreneur in the medical sector and real estate. Pionier of settlements in desert areas. Lives in Kfar Adumim;
• 3) Mr. Elias Messinas (Greek): ecological architect. He was connected to a ecological education centre and kibbutz Kramim with ecological activities. Lives in Jerusalem;
• 4) Anita Tucker (American): experienced entrepreneur and fundraiser. Had a big horticultural firm in Gaza. Is occupied 5 years now with the creation of a new settlement for her community. With sound results! Lives tempory in Ein Tsurim;
• 5) Akiva Wolff (American): environmental expert and teacher at the University of Jerusalem. Lives in Jerusalem;
• 6) Mr. David ben Shabat (Israeli): entrepreneur at Har Amasa. Initiator of an ecological yeshuv
• 7) Mr. Moshe Chaim Eade/Mr. Patrick Amar of the Eco-Fellowships project of Aish International in Jerusalem.

Further we want to state:
The Dutch Jewish Broadcast Company is very interested in our project “when the first spade goes into the ground” said the director Alfred Edelstein during a personal meeting with him.

There has been contact with the Embassy of Israël in The Hague (NL) for possible interesting contacts for the realisation of ecological villages in Israël. The staff of the Embassy was very helpful. She provided us with information of possible interested governemental organisations in the Negev. Intensive e-mail and phone contact has been going on with these organisations. However (again) this didn’t led to fruitfull personal meetings in Israel.

By virtue of our experiences it is certain little can be achieved by working on the project in Holland. Several visits on shortterm to Israël and longterm stays will be necessary to make a serious start-up of one or more ecological villages. However our business (financial advice office) in Holland also must go on to create some income for living.

At this moment there is the need of the creation of a serious core group of:

1) Pioneers who actually want to settle down in a village as an entrepreneur. They (10?) must have some money to invest in their own business and some money to survive the start period (until 2 years) of their business.
2) People who want to invest a serious amount of money in the village on ‘soft conditions’ and people who want to give (small) gifts for the realisation of the village and the forest.

Hopefully David ben Shabat and his family can be the first Israeli pioneers for the project in Israel. Maybe other inhabitants of the “old” Har Hamasa kibbutz want to join in.

Ja’akov met an older Austrian couple Peter (jewish) and Monika in Jerusalem who want to make Aliya soon and they would love to live in an ecological village. They have a house to sell in Austria and within a few years to will have sufficient (pension)income to live in Israel.

Ja’akov and Lucia Markus are the first two pioneers form Holland for the project. Two jewish families (entrepreneurs) in Holland are interested to join us. They want to make Aliya and they would bring in a lot of practical experience (o.a. tourisme business and selling and repairing bicycles).

For more pioneers in Holland and Israel networking and promotion in relevant media in Holland and Israël should be done.

Conclusion.
On his first trip to Israel in June 2009 Ja’akov spoke only theoretical about the creation of an ecological yeshuv with different people. Most people where enthusiastic about the idea.

After the second trip in November 2010 there is a potential place and a detailed plan for the yeshuv and the immense forest is already there at Har Amasa. Five families (four entrepre-neurs) are seriously interested to join in. So we need 6 more entrepreneurs to make a serious start. We have found an ecological builder, an ecological architect and 2 business advisors.
A connection with the ‘Eco-Fellowships project’ of Aish International would be good for a.o. the promotion of the ecological yeshuv(im).

Now the question is if the regional responsible and competent governmental organisations will give David ben Shabat permission to realize his plan for a ecological yeshuv at Har Amasa. Within half a year we hope to hear from him there is a ‘green light’ for this plan.

It is a dream that can become reality if these people are able to work together in solidarity. To create and to be an inspiring Jewish spiritual community where quality of life is the nucleus and where quantity (overconsumation) is considered as injustice to those who must try to survive under miserable circumstances elsewhere in our world community.

We understand very well it will take a lot of patience, effort and love to reach our goal together. Ja’akov’s last (tough) trip to Israel made this very clear.

However we can no doubt change the world together ‘be’ezrat Hashem’(with the help of
G-d)!

Maarssen, December 2010/Tewet 5771 Ja’akov & Lucia Markus
De Savornin Lohmanstraat 20
3601 BZ Maarssen
Holland
Tel.: 0346-570750
Fax: 0346-283585
E-mail: info@ markustotaaladvies.nl
Special bankaccount for support of the project: nr. 3804.24.347 of Markus Totaal Advies in Maarssen (NL)

Promotors.
• Ja’akov (57) is a horticultural engineer by education. Was a member of the critical young generation of the seventies in NL. A driven pioneer and wants to make the world a better place to live. A supporter of small scale projects. Had different jobs in trade and industry. Works as an advisor since 1995. Entrepreneur since 2001 (all-round mortgage – and financial advice office in Maarsen). Baker of delicious sourdough bread. Great intrest in ecological building.
• Lucia (56) has a pedagogical education and is an expert on education. Started a retraining 10 years ago to become a integral therapist in the area of natural healing. Expert on biological food. Driven worker. Dreams of a small scale ecological wellness clinic where doctors and therapists work close together.