This year's tree planting ceremony in Tiberias was marked by the connection between Jewish Agency Youth Futures and the community, in remembrance of the 3 soldiers abducted in Lebanon in 2001.

The Adi Avitan Observatory was named after one of the soldiers and erected in their memory. It overlooks the Kinneret, Dov Mountain (from where the soldiers where abducted) and Adi's home. The Observatory was built from stones distinctive to each soldier's hometown.

The planting ceremony was incredibly touching - the children read beautiful poems, Ruthie - the Noar Oved and Lomed Trustee Coordinator - sang and played the guitar, and Orly Osadon - the Program Coordinator - greeted Zipora and Yaacov Avitan (Adi's parents) into the Youth Futures family.

The children presented Zipora and Yaacov with the poems and songs bound together and hugged them and each other.

The ceremony was concluded by everyone planting a tree, donated by "Mevo Hama", and everyone felt that the day marked the forging of a wonderful bond with the Avitan family and their community.

Orly Osadon: "After working patiently for an entire year to bond and create cooperative relationships with our community in Tiberias, I can say that today symbolized the sense of pride the Youth Futures children and team feel as Tiberians. We all felt that working for the Youth Futures program was worth it and a real privilege, if only for the purpose of organizing this ceremony for the children and Mr. and Ms. Avitan."