Fifth Annual JNF Tu BiShvat Family Celebration A Hit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rachel Klein
Marketing and Communications Associate
847.656.8880
rklein@jnf.org

More than 1,000 Community Members Attend the 5th Annual
Jewish National Fund Tu BiShvat Family Celebration

January 30, 2013 - Chicago, IL - Jewish National Fund (JNF) hosted the fifth annual Tu BiShvat Family Celebration on Sunday, January 27, 2013 from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm at Chicagoland Jewish High School. The celebration, which was co-sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service, celebrated Tu BiShvat, the annual Jewish holiday that observes the new year of the trees. More than 1,000 members of the Chicagoland Jewish community attended this year’s Tu BiShvat Family Celebration, where they enjoyed crafts, free tree planting, games, live performances from local dance and singing groups, great food and visits from Smokey Bear, Woodsy Owl and Blue Box Bob.
"We are excited to bring together the community for this joyful holiday of Tu BiShvat and the land of Israel," said Sue Sacks, Executive Vice President, JNF Chicago Board, and Tu BiShvat Committee Member.
JNF also hosted an art contest and digital media contest in conjunction with the Tu BiShvat Family Celebration. The art contest was open to students from kindergarten through 5th grade, and was themed “Trees and Israel!” The digital media contest was open to students in 6th to 8th grade, and was themed “JNF, Your Voice in Israel.” The winners of both contests were announced at this great event.

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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.