Ginnosar 2002, In the Palmach grove on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

I met Yuval Lopen from Ginnosar. He was carving totem poles at the kibbutz. When we visited Yigal Alon’s tomb he told us about the “spring gatherings” where Yigal Alon used to meet with the local Galilean dignitaries, Druze Arab and Circacian. We were happy to renew this blessed tradition. 

 In cooperation and with the support of Nitza Kaplan, manager of the Yigal Alonmuseum and the Nof Ginnosar guest house we contacted Harubi, a Druze sculptor from Pekiin, and things started moving… For a whole week, we carved a 15-meter Ekome tree with peace symbols that were selected by some 40 artists.

Hundreds of guests took part in the event and visited us there. Thus was created an impressive totem pole that stands in the Palmach Grove on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. During the week we slept in tents that were set out in a circle. At dawn I heard the clanging of hammers, I peeked out from my tent and saw that the children had started to carve to the beat of their hearts.

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Symbols from bottom to top:

A pregnant woman’s feet become roots — fertility

Children dancing with an olive branch

Clasped hands — cooperation

Fish — plenty, free flow, subconscious and fertility

A butterfly — metamorphosis, the dance of life, lightness, flightiness

The sun — consciousness, love

A dove — love and safety, family and home

The Tree of Peace