Planting Palms at Tamar

By Chris Josephson

(Reprint from Blossoming Rose Periodical, PO Box X Cedar Springs, Mi 49319)

Did you know that Jericho is not the only city in the Bible called, “The City of Palms?  Judges 1:16, “And the children of the Kenite, Moses’ father-in-law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lies in the south of Arad, and they went and dwelt among the people.”

Israeli authorities have identified this “city of palm trees” as the place where Biblical Tamar Park is now located and where we have a Bible Light project of planting date palm trees. And this is the same place as described in Judges 1:16. I have learned also that the Israeli authorities want this place to, once again, become more like “a city of palm trees”.

Proposed Logo for Tel Tamar - Palm Tree over Solomonic Gates.

When you go to Israel, you need to know that you cannot snap your fingers and get everything done you want in a day or two! I returned to Tamar in February fully expecting to see a grove of our date palms already planted at the entrance of the Park. Guess what?  It takes time, after ordering the water pipes, to have them delivered and put in place. The people at the park work in between the tour groups arriving to get the materials and trees so that there is work to do when the groups arrive.

There is a Moshav (cooperative farm) close to Tamar that is selling palm trees to the park at cost and we must wait our turn. (This is especially true since we want the best!)  You learn to flow with the punches – and sometimes punch back a little!

In the meantime the JNF (Jewish National Fund) has delivered many smaller palm trees. These will be planted on the west side of the Park and the Bible Light trees will be planted at the entrance and out to the main road. Please plan to come soon and see our trees with me.

What a beautiful and challenging project lies before us. Will you have a part? Complete this form and mail it to us: Bible Light Int’l., PO Box 370, Ottawa, KS 66067 or submit your order online by clicking HERE.