Values in Action

For Abby Rubin, being part of the JNFuture community of young professionals is a way to live out her Zionism in real time.

Rubin, who lives in Bala Cynwyd, a suburb of Philadelphia, has been working to inspire others by growing JNFuture throughout her region. This has included spreading the word about JNFuture among her fellow young parents, recruiting JNFuture members, promoting JNFuture’s offerings of social and educational programs for ages 22-40, and sharing her authentic passion for all things Jewish National Fund-USA.

As a member of JNFuture, Rubin was part of a May 2024 cohort in the JNFuture Leadership Mission in Israel (JLIM), an invitation-only weeklong visit to Israel. Three months later, she participated in the JNFuture Leadership Institute Summit (JLIS), held in New York City.

Participating in those programs provided her with the opportunity of “being around people who understand one another,” Rubin said in a recent interview. “It was invaluable.”

For Rubin, the highlight of that trip was spending time at Alexander Muss High School in Israel, Jewish National Fund-USA’s college prep study abroad program.

The school “blew me away,” Rubin said. “Speaking to the students there, who were 16 and 17, they were so intelligent, so articulate, and had such a depth of understanding and knowledge.”

Rubin, a mother of four, somehow finds the time to also serve on the board of her School District. She was elected to her position shortly after October 7. Since then, when encountering various forms of antisemitism, she’s drawn on her experiences with Jewish National Fund-USA to stand up for Jewish students in the district. “It’s helped me with how I communicate about it,” she explained. “Having this community behind me and all that I have learned strengthens my resolve,” she said. “I am much more confident in speaking, and I don’t feel as alone as I could have.”

Even before she became involved with Jewish National Fund-USA, she was peripherally connected. After finishing college, she spent a summer volunteering on Kibbutz Ketura, a community in Israel’s south supported by the organization’s philanthropic investments in R&D, resilience centers, medical facilities, schools, parks, playgrounds, and more. The kibbutz’s success in irrigating the desert was another example, she said, of “Zionism in practice.”

“The work of Jewish National Fund-USA is similarly action-oriented,” she said.

“It’s one thing to learn about Zionism online or in a book, but seeing it and living it and wrestling with it and understanding why it still matters and why it’s still relevant,” Rubin said, “it’s just very cool. Now it’s our responsibility to step into leadership roles to help foster a connection with Israel for future families and generations.”

To get involved in JNFuture or learn about the JLIM nomination process, contact Shaked Angel at [email protected]