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UID:143@jewishlifect.org
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230122T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230122T113000
DTSTAMP:20230101T150902Z
URL:https://jewishlifect.org/events/speaker-series-the-arava-intl-center-f
 or-agricultural-training-aicat-and-making-the-impossible-possible/
SUMMARY:SPEAKER SERIES: "The Arava Int'l Center for Agricultural Training (
 AICAT) and Making the Impossible Possible"
DESCRIPTION:On Israel’s southeastern frontier\, in inhospitable land\, pi
 oneers in the 1950’s started communities. This is arid\ndesert with limi
 ted water and is not connected to the national water grid. Now comprising 
 only 0.5% of its\npopulation\, they raise more than 50% of Israel’s fres
 h vegetables for export. AICAT are the world leaders in\nadvanced desert a
 griculture.\n\nThe Arava agricultural miracle has been made possible thank
 s to crucial and extensive research carried out at\nthe Arava R&amp\;amp\;
 D Center. “High-tech in Israel began with agriculture. Even with little 
 land and less water\, Israel\nbecame an agricultural leader.”\n\nAICAT\,
  The Arava International Center for Agricultural Training\, provides a uni
 que “hands on” agriculture\nstudies program led by the Arava farmers a
 nd researchers\, aimed to provide agricultural knowledge and skills\nfor s
 tudents from developing countries on food safety and security. They host o
 ver 1\,000 students annually\,\nfrom over 16 countries in Asia and Africa\
 , with more than 25\,000 graduates to date. Students stay for about\n10 mo
 nths and live\, study and work with Israeli families.\n\n&nbsp\;\n\nJewish
  National fund USA supports AICAT and funds other local projects and infra
 structures including a\nmedical center\, kindergartens\, sports and aquati
 c centers and reservoirs. JNF USA work to build a nation\,\nfounded by The
 odor Herzl in 1901\, continues with its effort in a “New Zionism.” The
 ir work in the ARAVA is\npart of a broader vision\, “Blueprint Negev”\
 , to assist in bringing residents to the under-populated regions of\nIsrae
 l.\n\nSamantha Levi\, a vibrant new Israeli from Colombia and convert to J
 udaism\, tells her story\, her love of this\nland and of the challenging l
 ife she has chosen to lead. Samantha works in the Central Arava Regional\n
 Council’s Resource Development Department\, in charge of promoting all d
 evelopment projects in the Arava\,\nas well as coordinating the connection
 s to the Jewish communities in the diaspora. She holds a BA in Finance\nan
 d International Relations and an MBA from the London School of Business an
 d Finance\, and she is fluent in\nEnglish\, Spanish and Hebrew. She receiv
 ed a recognition from the Colombian Government for her dedicated\ninvolvem
 ent in the development of advanced desert agriculture and its impact to th
 e world food safety and\nsecurity. There will be a seven- minute story of 
 the Jewish National Fund before we start this presentation.\n\nJoin us for
  what is sure to be another fascinating Speaker morning!\n\nWith gratitude
  to Gloria and Martin Greenstein and the Rene Bloch Foundation for their g
 enerous support.\n\n[gravityform id="3" title="true" description="true"]
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