Dear Language Enthusiast,
Welcome to the Hebrew Monthly, the
Internet newsletter from Transparent Language. In this
issue, we focus on one of today’s most important
issues: the environment. As we move into the new
millennium, the impact of modern society on the
environment is a key concern in Israel, as in
countries around the world. Examining how Israelis
view and address this critical issue offers
fascinating insights into the culture, and its
connection to Israel’s unique environment. I think
you’ll find this month’s article thought provoking, as
well as effective in building your language skills.
Sincerely,
Transparent Language
www.transparent.com
In English:
Israel packs many different landscapes into a small
space. In this country smaller than the state of
Massachusetts, you will find granite mountains,
limestone hills and mountains, desert, seacoast, coral
reefs, valleys and even the lowest point on earth--
the Dead Sea, 1300 feet below sea level. This variety,
as well as conflicts between the desires for
development and preservation, create a delicate
balancing act.
Each region's unique climate contributes to a wealth
of wildlife, as does Israel's location on the
migration path of birds from Europe to Africa. An
incredible number and variety of birds pass through
every spring and fall. The avian migration also
contributes to a plethora of plantlife. Migrating
birds have carried wildflower seeds to Israel from
Africa and Europe.
These wildflowers proved to be one of Israel's first
environmental challenges. In the early years of
statehood, children and grownups picked wildflowers
for their homes, endangering the wildflowers. To
prevent their disappearance, the Wildlife Protection
Law was enacted in 1955. The law was implemented
mainly by educating schoolchildren, who in turn became
"The Wildlife Police." Their great conviction
influenced their parents and friends to stop picking
them.
When the pioneers came to Israel at the turn of the
century, they found bare hills and mountains and
valleys filled with swamps. After years of hard work,
disregarding the danger of contracting malaria, they
managed to dry out the swamps by opening up the
waterways of the rivers and by importing Australian
eucalyptus trees, known to have large root systems.
The experiment succeeded. The eucalyptus trees
acclimated quickly and became instrumental in drying
out the swamps.
Israelis also sought to forest the bare mountains and
hills as quickly as possible. The Jewish National Fund
started to plant pine trees because they grow quickly.
Unfortunately, the trees were not suited to the
climate and started to die after a few decades. The
campaign partially succeeded, since the goal was to
have green cover as quickly as possible. Meanwhile,
the JNF began plant slow-growing native trees, such as
olives and figs.
Balanced against the need for green spaces was a
desire popularized in song: "we will clothe you in a
dress of cement and concrete" (Anakhnu: A. Levinson).
Israel needed to develop quickly in order to absorb a
flood of immigrants. The late 1960s found the majority
of the population crowded within a very small portion
of the country, especially near the seacoast and near
Jerusalem. The pace of urbanization created a great
need for housing. Finally, people started to realize
that the country risked losing its natural landscape.
The government established the Society for
Preservation of Nature and designated many areas as
national parks.
Despite these successes, Israel faces continued
challenges, particularly preserving air and water
quality. Since its establishment in 1948, Israel has
grown rapidly in population, become more urban and
industrial and expanded agricultural output many times
over. This has led to an enormous increase in the
consumption of oil, coal and water. Each of these
resources is precious in Israel, which does not share
the mineral and oil deposits of its neighbors, and
where water remains scarce despite conservation and
desalinization projects.
In the last few years, the government has established
a Ministry of Environment whose duty is to enhance the
quality of air and water and to preserve the landscape
and nature reserves. But as Israelis have already
discovered, quick fixes will not necessarily help them
attain their long-term goals.
HebrewNow! Tips
For a fun and effective way to build your vocabulary,
make a list of CheckWords as you read a Title, then
play Vocabulous! or Crosswords with that CheckWord
List.
You can set Vocabulous! or Crosswords to select words
of a specific part of speech. On the Select a Game
screen, click Part of Speech and choose the type of
word you want.
