Selling Cakes by the Riverside

For over 60 years the Jordan River has suffered from neglect and severe pollution. Recently several organizations have combined efforts to improve the situation by the restoration of river banks, building a new wastewater treatment plant and releasing clean water from Lake Kinneret, with more projects in the planning stages.

The organizations behind these initiatives - The Kinneret Drainage Authority, EcoPeace Middle East (formerly Friends of the Earth) and the Jordan Valley Regional Council – held an event to raise awareness in the community of environmental issues in the area. There were walking tours during which experts explained the issues and the biodiversity of the area, and environmental education activities for children and adults, with local musicians adding to the pleasant atmosphere.
ESRA Tiberias - Jordan Valley Branch provided a cake stall to support the initiative. Not knowing how much business they would have, two committee members, Peta Singer and Ruchama Hillel, baked heaps of cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies and headed out to the beautiful site at Um Juni overlooking the Jordan River.

Happily, all the cakes and cookies, selling for 1 shekel each, were eagerly devoured by visitors to the ESRA stand, and a moderate profit was donated to branch funds. And of course the good works of ESRA were publicized and potential new members were able to make contact with the Branch.