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That is the message Israel's Nature and Parks
Authority is spreading on social media to try to help people
overcome the sense of detachment that coronavirus
social-distancing rules can bring.
"In this unpleasant corona period we recommend to people around
the world to go out to nature, take a deep breath, hug a tree,
express your love and get love," Orit Steinfeld, the authority's
marketing director, said in Apollonia National Park.
At the park, about 15 km (nine miles) north of Tel Aviv,
tree-huggers such as Barbara Grant heeded the advice during a
tour arranged by the Authority.
"The most basic human need is for connection, for touching, for
hugging," she said, lamenting that, as a health precaution, she
can't hug her grandchildren.
Also out in the park, Moshe Hazan said he wanted to widen his
embrace beyond his partner, Pat Arthur, who accompanied him to
the forest.
"We are not hugging too many people these days - not our
children, not our grandchildren - and hugging a tree is quite a
nice thing to do," Hazan said.
After flattening a coronavirus infection curve in May, Israel
has experienced a spike in new cases over the past several
weeks.
Protective masks are mandatory outdoors and Israelis are advised
to avoid close physical contact with elderly relatives, with
visits at nursing homes held only in the open air.
Israel's tree-hugging campaign follows a similar endeavour
launched in April by Iceland's forestry service.
(Reporting by Eli Berlzon; Writing by Jeffrey Heller)
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