On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of last week, Earth’s Promise was joined by JNF Alternative Spring Break groups in B7. I wasn’t there physically this year, but I was most certainly there in spirit. I also made sure to experience the events vicariously through pictures and videos of the events. The JNF Alternative Spring Breakers are great to have in town. They are idealistic, motivated, and caring, and their enthusiasm tends to be infectious.

Reports from the field indicate that not only did everyone who participated in the events have a blast, but they were also incredibly productive. Benches were built out of old tires, trash, mud, and straw (a process that has gained a lot of traction because of the folks at Kibbutz Lotan’s Center for Creative Ecology). Fire pits were prepared for evening cook outs and social events (just in time for Lag B’Omer). And a brand new, playground sized version of chutes and ladders was painted in the kindergarten area. All that, in addition to the invaluable cultural exchanges that took place all day between the ASBers, the Ethiopian Olim, and the rest of the Earth’s Promise family.

The one question I want to pose in light of all this good will is, at what cost? It is great to have the infusion of energy that the ASBers bring to B7 when they come. However, they are also an outside resource and if the local community is going to develop self reliance than is it the right thing to do to accept third party help?

I don’t know the answer, but I do know I sure like it when the ASBers come to town!