Not the Israel of their youth: Baby Boomers see country anew on JNF tours

Over the course of nearly 20 years, over 500,000 young Jews have traveled to Israel with Taglit-Birthright for an unforgettable opportunity to connect with the country. Alleviating the fear that the next generation of Jews will drift further from their Jewish traditions, Birthright has become an institution for Israel education and learning. Parents and grandparents "kvell" when their children return from such a transformative experience, living their Israel experiences vicariously through Facebook and Instagram photos, and also feeling newfound appreciation for Judaism and Zionism and pride in their heritage.

But loving all Israel has to offer isn't just for the younger generation, as a recent Jewish National Fund (JNF-USA) Sunshine Tour for travelers 55 and over proves. "This is not the same Israel I grew up with," one participant said. "This is an adventure in context with the land. It is living history and it's really spectacular."

Powerful theme of JNF doctors trip to Israel: Treating all with humanity

Members of the 2017 Doctors for Israel Mission to Israel.

By Dr. Fredric Cohen, co-chair of JNF's Doctors for Israel Mission

We came together from all over North America -- New York and Dallas; Toronto and Tampa Bay; Philadelphia and Paramus -- all with the same goal, to experience and to support. We walked the sparkling, modern, and very upscale shops and eateries of Sarona, built around the historic Jewish National Fund-renovated first buildings of a nascent Tel Aviv. We heard about the trials and tribulations of pre-State pioneers, and the birth pangs of the current State of Israel. 

Israel trip leaves millennial hopeful as ever about her generation

The author planting a tree in Israel with JNF. 

By Lauren France

Millennials get a bad rap. People write off my generation as lazy, entitled, and obsessed with social media. Sure, that last one might be true, but what I've learned in my four years as national chair of JNFuture, working alongside hundreds of my fellow "babies of the '80s," is that we are so much more than the stereotype. 

As chair of JNFuture, I had the privilege of serving as co-chair of the young professional track on the JNF 50th Anniversary of Jerusalem's Reunification Mission. After leading 31 other participants on a week-long tour of Israel, I am more encouraged than ever at the power of the millennial generation and the power of the Internet.

A love letter to my JNF mission

Members of JNF's board of directors, including the author, on their recent mission to Israel. 

By Geri Shatz

A love letter to my JNF mission. Really? Yes, really.

I love to travel with you, even though you drive me crazy. You plan visits to the sites I want to see, but you act as if we'll never return and cram them in. You take me to the loveliest hotels and don't remind me of that when I complain about the shabbier ones. You begin my days so early I'm unprepared for the weather and end them taking me to communities in the dark. You're patient when I don't hear your instructions and intemperate when the bus driver doesn't.

You always give me too much to eat, but you never point out that no one forces me to eat all the chocolate. You talk too much and I tell you so. You remind me that I do the same. Luckily, you provide liquor when called for.

1,000 strong in Israel: JNFuture goes hands-on to make the desert bloom

This winter alone, the JNF hosted over 1,000 young people in Israel -- through programs such as Alternative Break, JNFuture Volunteer Vacation, Alexander Muss High School in Israel, JNF on Campus' Caravan for Democracy, and Taglit-Birthright Israel-Shorashim. We will be profiling some of the trips, and you can see more directly through the eyes of the participants by searching the #PoweredByJNF hashtag on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.


By Tamara Raynor-Cote

Since late December, Jewish National Fund has sent more than 1,000 young people to Israel to learn, explore, and volunteer time and energy. With participants on trips like Birthright (600 college students taking part), Caravan for Democracy, and Alternative Break, and high schoolers studying at Alexander Muss High School in Israel, young people have chosen to support Israel in great numbers. (You can see more directly through the eyes of the participants by searching the hashtag #PoweredByJNF on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.)

   

One of the trips, JNF's first ever JNFuture Volunteer Mission to Israel this winter, saw 33 JNFuture members successfully raise $67,000 before volunteering on various Blueprint Negev projects in Israel's southern desert area. Before departing, each participant had to raise $1,800 to join the volunteer trip, with the money going directly toward Blueprint Negev initiatives, while accommodations were covered by a generous grant. Participants hailed from across the United States, ages 24-38, and all with the same shared desire to give back in a meaningful, hands-on way. 

JNFuture member and co-chair of the mission Simon Schwartz spoke passionately about Israel and the Negev and the work of JNFuture members do there: "I see us as continuing Ben Gurion's dream and really making the desert bloom with our efforts."