Plant a Tree in Israel

A Tradition of Remembrance

Planting a tree in Israel in someone's memory is one of the most enduring Jewish ways to honour a life. The tree takes root in the land. It grows for decades, sometimes generations. A simple certificate tells the family that a living memorial has been created in their loved one's name.

It is a quiet, lasting gift, appropriate for any Jewish family regardless of their level of observance.

Why a Tree

In Jewish tradition, a tree is a symbol of life. The Torah compares a person to a tree of the field. On Tu B'Shvat, the New Year of the Trees, families plant in honour of those who came before.

To plant a tree after a loss is to say that this life mattered, and that something will keep growing because of it.

How to Plant a Memorial Tree

For many years, Friends of JNF Canada was the main path for Canadian families to plant a memorial tree in Israel and receive a charitable tax receipt.

Friends of JNF Canada has been undergoing organizational restructuring. The steps for purchasing a memorial tree certificate may shift while that work is underway. We don't want to send you to a page that may not be working as expected.

If you'd like to plant a tree as a memorial right now, two gentle options:

• Contact Friends of JNF Canada directly to ask about current memorial-tree options and timing.
• Speak with the family's funeral home. They often know the living-memorial gifts most appropriate for the family at this moment, and can suggest alternatives if a tree-planting certificate isn't available.

If you have questions or want suggestions, you can reach us at contact@neshama.ca.