Natan Sharansky (center) meets with members of Christenen Voor Israel (Christians for Israel - Holland).  Also photographed are Keren Hayesod staff Tali Feinberg, employee of the 'Friends of Israel' Region (far left) and Dani Viterbo, Director of the Development and Planning Division (far right). 

December 1, 2009 / 14 Kislev 5770

Dutch members of the international organization, Christenen Voor Israel (Christians for Israel - Holland), met with Natan Sharansky on Wednesday, November 25, 2009, as part of their "tulip tour" trip across the country where they distributed tulip bulbs to be planted throughout the country.   

"We are very lucky to have such friends," Sharansky, the Jewish Agency's Chairman of the Executive, told the members.

The Christenen Voor Israel (Christians for Israel - Holland) are longtime, generous supporters of the Jewish Agency.  In addition to their financial support, they have distributed 150,000 tulip bulbs throughout Israel, including to the Jewish Agency's Kiriyat Yearim Youth Village, the Mevaseret Zion Absorption Center, and The Ethiopian National Project (ENP).   Additional tulips will be distributed to other Jewish agency projects around Israel.   

Beyond beautifying Israel, the group shares the tulips as a gesture of friendship between the two countries. Each bulb contains the name and contact information of its Dutch donor and the Israeli recipients are encouraged to get in touch. 

Founded 30 years ago with chapters throughout the world, the group advocates on behalf of Israel. Over the past 13 years they have helped bring 100,000 Jewish immigrants to Israel, mostly from the former Soviet Union, Argentina and Ethiopia, according to the group's secretary of the board, Henriette J.A. Heuvelman-Beelaerts van Blokland.

"We love and pray for the chosen people who live in the Promised Land," said Heuvelman-Beelaerts van Blokland who has visited Israel 40 times.