Natan Sharansky to Keynote JNF Conference in Phoenix

Contact: Jodi Bodner •JNF Director of Communications • 212-879-9305 ext. 221 • jbodner@jnf.org

August 7, 2008 -- New York and Arizona — Internationally renowned human rights activist and political leader Natan Sharansky will rivet more than 250 of Jewish National Fund’s (JNF) leaders when he addresses them at the organization’s annual national conference September 14-15 at the Ritz-Carlton in Phoenix, AZ.

Sharansky, who will be speaking at Sunday’s dinner at the Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Arts, will be joined by other well-known presenters during the course of the conference. The list includes: Stephen Benson, Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist for The Arizona Republic; Dr. Boaz Ganor, Deputy Dean, Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy; Dr. Yossi Leshem, Researcher and Director of the International Center for the Study of Bird Migration at Latrun; Nir Barkat, member of the Jerusalem City Council and declared candidate for Mayor of Jerusalem; Matthew Brooks, Executive Director of the Republican Jewish Coalition and the Jewish Policy Center; Mark Mellman, President and CEO of the Mellman Group; Fred Zeidman, Chairman of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum; and Major General (Res.) Doron Almog, Chairman of Aleh Negev Rehabilitative Village among others.

Participants will also hear from JNF's Chairman of the Board, Ronald S. Lauder, and JNF President, Stanley M. Chesley.

With an agenda designed to inform, scintillate, and energize, the participants -- who come from all across the country -- will leave brimming with ideas and goals for the coming year. This is the first time the conference is coming to Arizona and as in years past, while content is focused on JNF’s accomplishments and plans, emphasis is also placed on larger Jewish and Zionist issues.

Israel’s past, present, and future will be addressed, as discussions and workshops detail the country’s birth, the current crises it faces -- both internal and external -- the environment, the bold vision for the future, what the upcoming U.S. presidential elections will mean, and more.

“The conference is a great event to educate all attendees on what JNF is all about and to learn about the projects that are being built in Israel,” said Marc Kelman, JNF Western Zone president and co-chair of the conference. “We are also thrilled that it’s in Phoenix as it gives us a great opportunity to showcase JNF to the community and reach out to others.”

“Having the conference in a city that has flourished in the desert as Phoenix has,” said Jeffrey Levine, JNF Greater New York Board President and conference co-chairman, “gives us a wonderful platform from which to talk about JNF’s work with water and the great strides we are making in revitalizing Israel’s Negev Desert.”

Registration for the entire conference, including all meals is $395. Please contact Elisa Iteld at heiteld@jnf.org, or call 212-879-9305 ext. 295 to register.

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JEWISH NATIONAL FUND (JNF) began in 1901 as a dream and vision to reestablish a homeland in Israel for Jewish people everywhere. Jews the world over collected coins in iconic JNF Blue Boxes, purchasing land and planting trees until ultimately, their dream of a Jewish homeland was a reality. JNF gives all generations of Jews a unique voice in building a prosperous future for the land of Israel and its people.

JNF embodies both heart and action; our work is varied in scope but singular in benefit. We strive to bring an enhanced quality of life to all of Israel’s residents, and translate these advancements to the world beyond. JNF is greening the desert with millions of trees, building thousands of parks, creating new communities and cities for generations of Israelis to call home, bolstering Israel’s water supply, helping develop innovative arid-agriculture techniques, and educating both young and old about the founding and importance of Israel and Zionism.

JNF is a registered 501(c)(3) organization and United Nations NGO, which continuously earns top ratings from charity overseers.

For more information on JNF, call 888-JNF-0099 or visit www.jnf.org.