Magical Botanical Tour on Kibbutz Ketura

Written and photographed by Nahum Eisenstadt

The highlight of our third CAARI touring day in the Eilat area was our time with Dr. Elaine Solowey on Kibbutz Ketura. She was one of the founders of this Kibbutz in the early 1970’s and her experitse in medicinal plants and trees and her experience sprouting extinct tree species with very old seeds was so impressive. Here we can see the oldest sprouted seed in the world named Methusalah a Judean date palm sprouted from seeds found at Masada between 1963-5 that date back to the first century C.E.

The Canadian American Active Retirees in Israel, CAARI, offers active seniors a unique opportunity to experience Israel. The program is designed to explore the biblical landscapes, follow the footsteps of the early pioneers, and envision the future of our Homeland. The CAARI Program includes community service, tours, a speakers forum and the camaraderie of the CAARI Family. The Program is designed for to feel, touch, hear and see Israel from the mountains to the desert, from sea to sea, and from ancient to modern.

Links: Jewish National Fund USA : https://www.jnf.org/