Miles Nadal Visits Ayalon Canada Park

"This is really magnificent. I'm sorry my parents aren't here, they would have loved to have seen this." Miles Nadal of Toronto, Canada, had just arrived at Ayalon Canada Park to see how the park had been upgraded, thanks to his very generous donation. At the entrance to the park, where a new sign welcomes visitors to the Miles S. Nadal and Family Environmental Community, Mr. Nadal was met by Avi Dickstein, Executive Director of KKL-JNF's Resources and Development Division, Jessica Lawson of KKL-JNF's Canadian Desk, Gilad Mastai, Director of KKL-JNF's Coastal Plain Region, and Hagai Yablovitch, regional forester who is also responsible for Ayalon Canada Park.   

In response to Mr. Nadal's questions, KKL-JNF officials described the park: "Ayalon Canada Park is about 3,000 dunams large. It may not be Israel's largest park, but it is certainly one of the most centrally located. Besides serving as a recreation site for families from all over the country, it is also an educational center where children learn about ecology and Jewish history in the land of Israel. On weekends, there are literally thousands of people here who enjoy the park's breathtaking scenery, archaeological sites and artificial lake."  

Mr. Nadal was taken on a drive on the park road which was recently upgraded thanks to his donation. The first stop was at an ancient wine press, where he learned how wine was produced 2,000 years ago. From there, the group proceeded to a hill with a commanding view of the entire region, where they met Michal and Yvgeny, two archaeologists who had just begun excavating the site there, which includes a Hasmonean fortress that dates back to the Second Temple era.