Frequently Asked Questions

We completely understand! There are moments that are so terrible or joyous, it can be difficult to find the words to express how you feel. We have put together some examples for you to draw inspiration from. Feel free to utilize these as a starting point, or copy and paste!

Death -

- We have these certificates framed and hanging in our home. They bring us comfort and peace. We hope they will do the same for you.

- As your family celebrates [person's name] life & mourns his/her passing, you are all very much in my thoughts. He/she was a good person & you are a credit to them. May their memory be a blessing.

- A Circle of Three trees planted represent the sacredness of life, faith, compassion, and love - all of which will carry you through this time of loss.

- [Person's name] was such a loving and giving spirit. This Circle of Five trees planted will be a living testament to him/her and will continue to give to the next generation, celebrating his/her life.

- Two trees will be planted in honor of your mom and dad. May their memory grow and thrive together. We hope this brings a smile to your face. Wish we could be with you.

- Psalm 52:8 But I am like a flourishing olive tree anointed in the house of God. I trust in the unending love of God; his passion toward me is forever and ever. Fitting for [person's name].

- Tradition holds that we create life when life has been taken. Our thoughts are with you in this period of mourning.

- When a mother dies, we lose a piece of who we are. We lose the person whose story provides the beginning of our own. Prayers for you in this time of great sadness.

Anniversary -

- We now have a pair of trees in the Holy Land that will grow together as our marriage does as well. I love you will all that I am.

Birth -

- Congratulations on the birth of your son/daughter! Here's to many wonderful, enjoyable, and memorable times ahead!

- You are loved beyond measure. In the days, years and decades that follow, return to this truth when the world feels inhospitable. Welcome to the world, sweet, beautiful [baby name].

- Congratulations on the birth of your sweet baby boy/girl. You deserve every bit of happiness that he/she is going to bring into your lives. Cherish each and every moment of it.

Marriage - 

- A Garden of Ten Trees has been planted in Israel in commemoration & celebration of your loving marriage. May these trees symbolize the roots you are planting as a family, and the limbs of your family tree which will blossom and grow for eternity.

- It makes me smile to see two people who love each other so deeply, come together and make that world a better place. Congratulations, my friends.

Pet death - 

- When we recently lost our family dog, I planted five trees for him. I like to think __ & __ are living on in the same grove in Israel & in our hearts.

- My deepest sympathies to you and your family. Your dog/cat was always so kind and sweet. He/she truly brought joy to everyone he/she met.

- There are no words sufficient to provide solace in losing your best friend. Please know that you are in our prayers.

Bat/Bar Mitzvah -

- Dearest __, Mazel tov on the occasion of your Bat/Bar Mitzvah. May all your dreams come true. Enjoy your part at Shul and have a great party. May you flourish in our Jewish community.

When you place an order to plant a tree in Israel, your tree will be planted through our partnership with the JNF.

While you are going through the online ordering process, you will be customizing the certificate you choose with the special, personalized wording to honor your friend.

Certificates are never auto-printed; we review each order carefully for obvious spelling errors, proper capitalization, and more.  We then compose your inscription so that it reads beautifully.  We take great care to inscribe your tree planting certificate so that it reflects your heartfelt gift of tree planting.  

There is an additional option of adding a handwritten note card to your order, if you would like to write a longer message to your friend.

The certificate of tree planting will be mailed to the name and address that you enter for the Shipping Address.  

Orders are processed, and certificates of tree planting are mailed within 1 - 2
business days of your order.

We offer a choice of shipping options for
your certificate of tree planting, depending on how fast you want the
certificate delivered to the recipient. First Class U.S. Mail is a fixed
shipping fee of $2.00. If you would like to choose Priority or Express, the
price of shipping will be calculated at checkout based on the recipient's
location.

Delivery within the United States:

Option 1) FIRST CLASS U.S. MAIL – $2.00 -
NO TRACKING NUMBER or DELIVERY CONFIRMATION. According to USPS, while there are
no guaranteed delivery times for First Class Mail, letters or packages
typically take 1-5 business days to arrive at their destination.

Option 2) PRIORITY MAIL USPS – INCLUDES
TRACKING NUMBER and DELIVERY CONFIRMATION. USPS Priority Mail service includes
tracking and provides delivery in 1-3 business days.

Option 3) EXPRESS MAIL USPS – INCLUDES
TRACKING NUMBER and DELIVERY CONFIRMATION. USPS Express Mail service includes
tracking and provides next-day to 2–day delivery service by 6 PM.

For Single Orders of $85 & over, we are
happy to offer FREE USPS PRIORITY MAIL to one address within the U.S. This
includes tracking number and delivery confirmation.

Delivery outside the United States:

Option
1) PRIORITY MAIL INTERNATIONAL. Priority Mail International letters or packages
typically takes 6 to 10 business days to arrive at their destination in outside
of the U.S. and includes tracking.

Option 2) PRIORITY MAIL EXPRESS
INTERNATIONAL. USPS Priority Mail Express International typically takes 3 to 5
business days to arrive at their destination in outside of the U.S. and
includes tracking.

All certificates are inscribed ONLY with the wording that you enter on your order. 

Please rest assured that the copyright watermark that you see on the certificate samples is NOT printed on your certificate of tree planting.

Trees for the Holy Land is based in the United States.  Orders are processed, and certificates of tree planting are mailed from Florida and Virginia.

If you selected the Shipping Option of either Priority Mail USPS or Express Mail USPS, you have received a tracking number for your order shipment.  If you cannot find it, please Contact Us, and we will be happy to provide the tracking number again.

If you selected the Shipping Option of First Class Mail USPS, First Class mail does not have a tracking number or delivery confirmation.

We understand and sympathize that you haven’t received a thank you note. While grieving and in mourning, people may not yet be up to sending a prompt thank you note.

Much of the natural vegetation in the Holy Land had disappeared, or had been destroyed by the time reforestation efforts began over 100 years ago. The Bible is the original source of information regarding which species are native to The Holy Land; these trees include olive, oak, pine, cypress, tamarisk, palm, acacia, and carob.  These are the species of trees we are planting to replenish and nurture the land.

Tree saplings are between 1 to 2 years old, with a trunk diameter between 1 to 3 inches, and a height of approximately 24 inches.

Current reforestation efforts in Israel are in three places: the mountainous slopes in the Galilee, in the Negev desert, and in urban areas for beautification and recreational parks. We cannot direct a specific type of tree to be planted, or choose the specific location.  Your trees are planted where they are most needed, in the environment that is most conducive for their growth.

Trees are not marked when planted. The price per tree does not permit for the creation, placement, and upkeep of permanent markers on each tree, along with the directories and forest personnel which would be necessary to provide assistance in locating one tree among a forest of thousands of trees.

You will, however, feel enriched and uplifted when you view the forests that you have created together with thousands of fellow planters. While in Israel, ask your spiritual leader, tour guide, or tourism official to arrange for you to plant a tree with your own hands in the holy soil (see next question).

How wonderful you will be in Israel! It is a great blessing to plant a tree, and to help a forest grow.
Plant some roots of your own in Israel, and help keep the Holy Land green for generations to come!

Below are several Plant Your Own Tree Centers at various locations in Israel, but you must communicate directly with them to schedule your visit.

LOCATIONS TO PLANT A TREE WITH YOUR OWN HANDS:

Harvey Hertz JNF Ceremonial Tree Planting Center10 minutes from Ben-Gurion Airport, 20 minutes from Jerusalem.  The only biblical land reserve in the world.  Generally, open Sunday through Thursday, 9am to 4pm.   Registration in advance is required through their website (click on the Harvey Hertz link in blue above). Or, call 08.977.0782 (while in Israel) ~ or  011.972.8.977.0782 (from the U.S.)

They strongly suggest registering 7 days in advance.

KKL/JNF Forests in Israel:  
1) Judean Foothills Tree Planting Center in the Tzora Forest (approximately 18 miles west of Jerusalem).
2) Galilee Tree Planting Center at Golani Junction in the north.  
Registration for each of these forests is required in advance through the website (click on the KKL/JNF Forests link in blue above)
to coordinate and arrange your visit.

Trees for the Holy Land trees are planted by the Jewish National Fund, on land owned by the State of Israel.

Trees planted by Trees for the Holy Land not only beautify the land, they produce many environmental benefits:

AIR - All trees intake carbon dioxide (using up the harmful gas we are overproducing) and create the oxygen necessary for human and animal life. Weather patterns are also affected, as trees encourage increased rainfall. Trees also stabilize temperature in the forests and increase air humidity.

SOIL - The roots of trees anchor the soil, thus preventing valuable, rich topsoil from being washed away by rain or blown away by wind.  The falling leaves and needles of trees decompose and provide rich elements for the soil. Planting trees actually accomplishes desert reclamation. Land deteriorating into desert is not a problem confined to the Holy Land; it is a worldwide phenomenon,
occurring all over the globe at the rate of over 14 million acres per year. Desertification is the result from both climatic conditions and human's destructive use of the soil.  The planting of trees, along with sophisticated techniques from nursery propagation to irrigation, provides for the reclamation, preservation, and enrichment of soil.

WATER - The trees you plant help to prevent harmful land pollutants, contained in the soil, from entering waterways.  Your trees slow down water run-off, ensuring that groundwater supplies are continually replenished.

WILDLIFE - Almost disappeared, wildlife has returned to the new forests in Israel.  You can now see deer, rabbit, squirrel, fox, quail, and many beautiful birds.  Animal habitats complete the circle of life in our Holy Land forests.

Addresses are compared and standardized to the database of the U.S. Postal System to ensure an accurate and prompt delivery.

Authorize.Net instantly processes credit card entries through to the bank that issued your credit card.  It is your credit card company that has declined the transaction, not Trees for the Holy Land.  Please contact your credit card company with the phone number on the back of your credit card to inquire why they declined the transaction.  
It’s also possible that you entered your credit card number incorrectly, and so you may wish to try again.

You should have received an immediate and automatic confirmation at the email address you provided when you ordered. If you haven’t, most likely you entered your email address incorrectly when placing your order.

Also, check your Junk/Spam Mail folder in case it was routed there.  IF you haven’t received your confirmation email, don’t hesitate to let us know.  We will forward the confirmation to you.  Contact Us or email service@treesfortheholyland.com

Yes.  Reply as soon as possible to the Order Confirmation you received by email, with any requests for changes or cancellation.   

Contact Us, or email as soon as possible service@treesfortheholyland.com

International orders are welcome! Shipping fees are calculated at check out to mail the certificate of tree planting to addresses outside of the U.S.

Orders are processed, and certificates of tree planting are mailed within 1 to 2 Business Days.  

Priority Mail and Express Mail orders are processed faster than First Class U.S. Mail orders.

YOUR ORDER MAY BE PUT ON HOLD if it contains name spellings that do not match or seem logical, or other anomalies. We will contact you as soon as we notice a potential error, and your order will be placed On Hold until we reach you to verify.  

WE WILL CONTACT YOU IN WRITING BY EMAIL, NOT BY PHONE, IF WE HAVE A QUESTION ON YOUR ORDER.  

Please reply ASAP, in writing, so that your order can be processed promptly.

PLEASE CHECK OVER YOUR ORDER FOR ERRORS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT IT.

After you submit your order, please review the email you receive with your order confirmation, in case there are any errors.

It depends on the shipping option you select, and also on any anomalies in your order entry for which your order would be on hold pending contact with you.

First Class U.S. Mail – NO Tracking Number or Delivery Confirmation.

Orders are processed, and certificates of tree planting are mailed within 1 to 2 business days. Receipt within 2 to 3 business days after mailing.

Priority Mail USPS – WITH Tracking Number and Delivery Confirmation.

Orders received by 12 noon EST are processed and mailed the same day (business days only). Receipt within 1-3 business days after mailing.

Express Mail USPS – WITH Tracking Number and Delivery Confirmation.

Orders received by 12 noon EST are processed and mailed the same day (business days only). Receipt within 1-2 Business Days after mailing.

We accept these major credit cards: Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®, Discover®, along with PayPal and Amazon Pay.

Yes.  Authorize.Net, is the gold standard in payment processing.  Credit card numbers, expiry dates, names, and other details
are encrypted using the level of online security banks use, 128-bit encryption.  Credit card details are not seen by humans
at any point, cannot be accessed, and are never stored. Ordering online is much safer than giving your credit card to a waiter
in a restaurant.

This website is hosted in a virtual (cloud-based) environment with industry-standard certifications including:

    Level 1 PCI DSS     ISO 27001     SOC 2

Learn more:  Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council

Additionally, we do not store your credit card number. We purposely do not have "customer accounts" where you can have us "save" your credit card to make it easier for you to purchase on future orders. While other stores/websites may believe that is a helpful feature for your convenience, we believe it is risky to allow stores to retain your credit card number and personal information (and some stores don't give you choice, or even allow you to de-select storing your credit card on their website).

Yes!  A custom number of trees is a most special way to honor those you love on their birthday, anniversary, or for the number of people
in your family.  Please Contact Us or email us at service@treesfortheholyland.com and we would love to help you with your special tree planting.

This is a nice idea, but we prefer that you keep your money.  Did you know that approximately 18% of gift cards and other store credits are never redeemed?

The price per tree is not a tax-deductible donation; it is the fee for the tree-planting service.

Next Shmita will be in 5789 (September 2028 – September 2029).

Shmita is the Sabbath year in Israel, occurring every seventh year; the year when the land is “released” and allowed to rest. During this year, Jewish law prohibits farming, tilling soil, planting seeds, plowing, harvesting, and pruning, but work such as watering, fertilizing, and pulling weeds is allowed.

“For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather in its produce. But in the seventh year, the land shall have a complete rest, a Sabbath to the Lord; you shall not sow your field, you shall not prune your vineyard, nor shall you reap the after growth of your harvest..”                         Leviticus 25:3-6

Many additional trees are planted in advance the year before Shmita, so that the tree you order has already been planted.
View photos and read more about the sabbatical year, along with arrangements completed for shmita.

Unfortunately, only one certificate can be processed per order.

Trees for the Holy Land offers a tree planting service. All services are non-refundable.

The certificates of planting are a receipt of service. We understand that there may be a disruption in the postal service at this time. If a certificate does not reach the intended recipient, we will either 1) send a second copy of the planting certificate or 2) send a digital copy of the planting certificate via email.