Israel at 65!

Now is our chance to stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters in Israel following this difficult period.  

Please join JNF this spring for the Israel at 65 mission!  

Highlights:

Take part as Jewish communities from around the world honor Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day

Celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s national Independence Day, in the heart of Jerusalem with Israelis - a one-of-a-kind experience

Attend the famous opening ceremony at Mt. Herzl that marks the start of Yom Ha’atzmaut

Experience JNF’s important work first-hand and meet the Israelis whose lives are being impacted

Visit an AFB base for an exclusive tour with soldiers and learn about daily life

Witness the transformation of the Negev and Galilee and learn what the future holds for these regions

Spend Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel and experience the spirit of Jerusalem

Explore the modern metropolis of Tel Aviv

Visit major historic and cultural sites throughout Israel such as Independence Hall, the Ayalon Institute and Ammunition Hill

Meet high-ranking officials, experts and leaders and get a behind-the-scenes look at Israel’s history and future

Proud to be part of the JNF family

Dear friends,

Now that all the kids are safely back home, I can sit and write you how amazing your gift was and say a huge THANK YOU!!!!


When Alon asked us to do what ever we can to help the kids in the south, we didn't know how complicated it would be.
Many people were scared that their kids will go on a bus and drive throw the fire zone. More then that, after the rockets over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv -no were looked safe to send the kids.  Even when we found families that are willing to let the kid come to the fun camp,the collecting regulations and getting out of the fire zone were very harsh and difficult.  At the end, we succeeded in less than two days to collect 200 kids and families in needs from Sderot, Kiryat Malachi, Beer Sheva, Gan Yavne and Ashkol for 3 days in Jerusalem.


Every group had its own special needs and the feedback was amazing! The social worker from Kryat Malachi told me that those 3 days made a change she couldn't have made in a year of processing with those families. Even when my husband came to shoot the activity for a short film, dozens of girls from Sderot religious school jumped on him and asked him to film them saying thank you to JNF.


It was incredible to see how thankful and happy everybody were !!!!!  It was even surprising to see how people, that have nothing to do with activities like Green Horizons, were enthusiastic and connected to the activities that Jerusalem's Green Horizons  organized for them and enjoyed sitting next to the bonfire and having outdoor activities. 

I must admit that this was a very special mission for me as a fund raiser because I knew where the money comes from and JNF's donors had faces in my head. I felt the need to choose how to spend the money in a way it will do the most to those people in minimal price.  It may sound silly, but I even preferred to buy products in the super market and cut vegetables in one of the days so I could save hundreds of shakels on expensive sandwiches for lunch :)  I was happy to know that JNF trusts us to spend the money wisely so we can do the most with it.

I want to say BIG thank you to Michal and Shorashim staff-they were wonderful and really helped me in all the logistical aspects and made this crazy operation work smoothly as possible!  Neot Kedumim and Ayalon Institute were willing in a day notice to host us for free and make the trip fun and educational.  I was very thankful when the City Of David and Israel Museum also offered to host all of our kids for free .

Personally I am extremely proud of being part of the JNF family and thank you for allowing us to make things really happen!!!


Karmit Arbel Rumbak
JNF- Green Horizons Liason
Green Horizons

 http://green-horizons.org
 www.jnf.org/greenhorizons

Giving Tuesday - today a matching gift!

DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT

After Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving

And Two Days of Deals - Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Comes a Day to Give Back - #GivingTuesday

Your gift to Jewish National Fund on #GivingTuesday will be matched by the generous contribution of The Gene and Marlene Epstein Humanitarian Fund, so make your gifts today and let your voice be heard in Israel!

JNF enhances the quality of life to all of Israel's residents, including:
• Providing emergency relief during times of crisis
• Greening the desert with millions of trees
• Bolstering Israel's water supply
• Creating new communities in the Negev for generations of Israelis to call home
• Building thousands of parks
• Educating both young and old about the importance of Zionism and Israel today
DONATE NOW and double your impact, TODAY ONLY: jnf.org/givingtuesday

Donate Now!

Things you can only see from there....

Things you can only see from there…

I saw reserve soldiers, family men who just finished two weeks of exhausting reserve duty, receive a “change of mission” and go south.

I saw a large and impressive military unit quietly, confidently and in record time get efficiently organized and change directions from north to south.

I saw the Nachal Brigade’s excellent field commanders learn the missions and stand at the head of their units, willing and able to receive any and every command; I saw the time being utilized for another training session, another exercise, deeper learning of the maps and intelligence.

I saw how confidence was implanted in the soldiers.

I saw the military might advance southward on tank transporters and armored personnel carriers, being confidently driven by reservists, some of whom have long since passed the age of 50. Fearless, in an area constantly bombarded by rockets, these vehicles spread out ready and equipped with their barrels pointing south – threatening the hornet’s nest. 

I saw the munitions experts move from weapon to weapon and efficiently check that each one is ready for action; I saw the logistics soldiers readying the equipment and making sure nothing was missing.

I saw the communications people making sure every piece was working – again and again, the intelligence personnel studying the territory.

I met residents of the South - welcoming, smiling, supporting us and caring for anything we were missing. One of my fellow officers went to a small coffee shop in Netivot and ordered 5 cups of coffee, the owner made them and quietly said – I’m only charging you for the milk.

I saw a Regiment Commander and a Deputy Brigade Commander whose children were born during the Operation (Mazal Tov), and except for a quick visit at home didn’t stop fulfilling their duties for a minute.

I saw the soldiers of the Nachal Brigade – Ashkenazy and Sephardic, new immigrants, city-born and country-born, from the moshav and from the kibbutz – stand equipped and ready for any command. These are our soldiers – my brothers!

I saw them roar and cheer with appreciation for the “Iron Dome” system with every successful interception over our heads!!

I heard my wife, children and family on the phone, worried but filling me with a sense of security – these are my real heroes!

I saw my team, excellent officers and soldiers attacking every mission and fulfilling it quickly and efficiently – I’m proud of you!!

So until next time, I want to say to everyone – we have an excellent brigade, commanders of the best I’ve ever seen and readiness for whatever may come their way.

I’ve returned home – the rain is washing everything, wonderful! Maybe the rain will purify the air, cleanse the rivalry and settle the disputes. 

If not, we are here – ready for any command!

Major (Reserve service)

Lavi Zamir 

Green Horizons CEO

Be part of the miracle!

Welcome to the Jewish National Fund blog.  We are glad you found your way here.  Maybe you are thinking, "Jewish National Fund - isn't that the tree organization?  I remember getting a bunch of 'tree certificates' when I had my bar mitzvah.  Maybe some day I should go to Israel and visit 'my tree'." 

Here is the truth - Jewish National Fund is not the tree organization, though planting trees is one of the many, many things that JNF does.  And, I am sorry that we actually won't be able to locate your exact tree!  Your "tree" was indeed planted -  but it was one of millions of trees planted in the year of your bar or bat mitzvah alone.  It is growing alongside all of the other generously donated trees from all over the world - planted for births, wedding, bar mitzvahs, bris and baby namings, and in memory of loved ones from all walks of life.  Even if you can't find "your tree", you should feel proud about it and come visit Israel's forests.  They are beautiful.  While you are at it, you should visit Israel's deserts, cities, oceans, parks, and communities and see just how much JNF touches all of those things!

While we have a very dynamic website, emails updates, Facebook pages, and a quarterly publication called "B'Yachad", we decided it was time to start a blog - so you can check in with us and know what's happening in real time.

So, if we aren't the tree organization, who are we?

JNF is the community building organization - we are building communities from the ground up all over Israel.  We are using the ample space still undeveloped to make sure that there is more room for Israelis to settle in, that there is affordable housing for them to live in, that there are jobs, and schools, and daycare facilities, and roads, and medical clinics and everything else you can think of to ensure a safe and secure lifestyle for those who cannot or do not want to live in the center of Israel.  Our focus is on building the periphery of Israel - from the far north to the very southern tip.

JNF is the environmental organization - We are funding cutting edge sustainable agriculture methods, and promoting cross border clean air, land and water efforts - JNF is the premier Israeli environmental organization.

We are supporting places like the Arava Institute - where Israelis study alongside Palestinians and Jordanians to find solutions to regional environmental challenges that affect all three peoples.

JNF is the water organization - Drought is a very serious matter in the Middle East.  JNF has pioneered innovative solutions to stretch Israel’s water supply, leading to a 12% increase in the water economy - from investing in new water saving techniques and solutions, to river rehabilitation, to building reservoirs,

JNF is the security organization - We are engaged in the building secure roads through hostile areas so that commuters and schoolchildren can get safely to work and the classrooms each day.  We built a 21,000 square foot, state of the art indoor playground in the Gaza border town of Sderot to keep children safe and out of harms way while they play.  We are also raising money for the Friends of Israel Firefighters - purchasing necessary firetrucks and other emergency response vehicles and equipment for firestations throughout Israel.

JNF is the research and development organization -  working with other academic and scientific institutions both in Israel and abroad, JNF funds research that turns salt water into sweet fruit, grows tomatoes and peppers without soil, and makes the desert bloom.

And, JNF is also the Israel travel organization - with missions and trips to Israel leaving throughout the year and catering to all types of people, interests, tastes and ages, Jewish National Fund is the organization ensuring a fabulous trip to all of our participants.  While we won't be able to help you find "your tree" exactly, we encourage you to come with us to Israel to visit the forests that are made up of all of our trees.

Keep checking back here and learn more about the people, communities, regions and lives that are being changed every day by JNF.  Be part of the miracle!

 

I work for the firefighters!

My three boys think I have the coolest job.  No, I'm not a firefighter but I work for the Israeli fire fighters - a JNF partner here in Israel. We work to make sure that the firefighters have the best equipment, the best most modern trucks, the finest programs that could be offered, and I love every single second of it. 

Last year JNF-FIF started an amazing program - a special program targeted especially for the young fire scouts. The Fire Scouts Program was established in 1959 by Israel's Fire and Rescue Services. The program gives high school students the opportunity to fulfill their community service requirements by volunteering at their local fire stations. The new JNF-FIF transformative program instills in its participants the value of helping others, shaping them into better citizens and better people. Volunteers learn that they are responsible not just for themselves but for their entire crew, their family at the fire station, and the residents of their community. They experience success and failure and understand what it means to be part of a team. Personal pride and motivation are stressed and every scout feels important. Working on this program, developing it and shaping it into something that truly makes a difference in these kids lives has been something that will stay with me for a long time. The most amazing moment last year was seeing all 350 kids from the program dressed in uniform that we bought them all with their new logo as well as the JNF logo - standing together at Neot Kedumim, planting trees. The sense of pride that these kids had and to see just how incredible they all look together was something wonderful. 

I always hoped I would work at something that would make me happy. This program did just that. So when I walk around with the sweatshirt that we bought the kids and people look at me and ask are you a fire fighter? I say no...  but I work for them.

Yael Levontin lives and works in Israel and is the JNF liason to the Friends of Israel Firefighters

LOTEM - Special activities for those with special needs

 Dear all,

I wanted to update you on the amazing activities enjoyed today by residents of southern Israel and guided by LOTEM, thanks to our help from the JNF. 

Four groups of children, adolescents and adults from special-education backgrounds, residing in the South, went on outings guided by LOTEM staff, finally getting a chance to get away from the battle zone. 

Kedma Youth Village for boys and girls at risk, situated in the Yoav Regional Council, is home to adolescents aged 14-18, defined as ‘juvenile delinquents’. The youth village is the last stop before a penal institution, and provides the possibility of rehabilitation and return to the community. The youth village was closed a week ago, at the start of the battles. While the youth who have a home to return to went home, those whose families are defined by the administrative authority as “unable to contain or sustain the adolescents” were transferred to temporary residence at Neve Amiel Youth Village in the north of Israel.

Today, thanks to the JNF, we were able to take this group out on a day of repose at Nachal HaShofet and Emek HaShalom. The group hiked around the river, let off energy, enjoyed the open spaces, prepared pita bread over the bonfire at Emek HaShalom, and experienced a calm, fun day out at nature.

Beit Omer Hostel from Ashdod and Beit Gaya Hostel from Ashkelon also went out on a daytrip with LOTEM’s professional guides, in Jerusalem. These groups consisted of adolescent men and women, aged 12-18, who suffer mental disabilities and reside at the hostels due to their families’ inability to take proper care of them. The groups toured Nachla’ot neighborhood and Mishkenot Sha’ananim in Jerusalem, and enjoyed a relaxed day, accompanied by guiding well adapted to their needs.

Finally, a group of women and children from the Be’er Sheva battered women shelter go on an outing. This group consisted of twenty women, along with their children, aged 3-12, who took refuge at the shelter from personal experiences of violent homes – only to encounter statewide violence and tension. These women craved to get away from the cramped shelters for a day of repose, and today toured Canada Park and Ein Hemed Park, enjoying every minute of tranquility at nature. 

Next week three more groups will participate in repose activities. I’ll be sure to send more pictures and updates as the week progresses. 

In addition, it’s important for me to share that following JNF’s engagement in the program, other organizations, in Israel and abroad, also joined in assisting and funding our project. These include private donors, lending their time and volunteering to accompany the tours as escorts, bus companies that donated transport days, a catering company that donated refreshments, and the Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, that donated four more days of activity for “the day after the war ends”.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank Alon Badihi who helped us to get the funding to this project and each and every one of you for your help and support to LOTEM, in these difficult days. We are proud to help the special populations of southern Israel however much we can. 

Hoping for continued peace and quiet, throughout the country,

Rotem and the entire LOTEM team.