We find ourselves at a powerful moment: the convergence of our sacred High Holidays and the close of Jewish National Fund-USA’s 2025 campaign year. It is a time of deep reflection—and immense gratitude – both for your support and for our cherished land and people of Israel.
I am filled with pride and admiration for the trust and confidence you have placed in Jewish National Fund-USA. Because of you, we’re about to achieve a record-breaking fundraising campaign to support the crucial needs of Israel’s frontier regions and our Zionist engagement efforts.
You have seen how we don’t panic when crises arise in Israel because we are already on the ground, just as we have been there yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Last week, we gathered for our Pre-Rosh Hashanah Major Donor Briefing, bringing together hundreds of generous supporters who contributed $5,000 or more to our annual campaign. Remarkably, this group represents just 20% of our partner (donor) base but contributes a significant amount to our annual campaign total (learn more about our donor societies here).
And when you combine their generosity with the other 647,328 partners who have contributed any amount to our annual campaign (as we strive to inspire One Million Voices for Israel over the next decade), you can see why we’ve become the most trusted and impactful philanthropy for the land and people of Israel. That’s the power of our 124-year-old Zionist movement.
During last week’s Major Donor Briefing, we shared how our partners’ philanthropic dollars are achieving real-world impact through our circles of impact. On our recent Coming Home Mission to Israel, I witnessed firsthand how the generosity of our Major Donors is revitalizing communities in Israel’s North and South—through initiatives that provide medical care, employment services, economic development, emergency response infrastructure, and more – all contributing to our vision of attracting 800,000 to these underserved and underpopulated regions.
Our Coming Home MIssion visiting the almost-complete site of our Galilee Culinary Institute.
We also heard from the resilient residents of these regions. Two powerful messages stood out:
1 They know you have their back.
Over 90% of displaced residents have returned to their homes post October 7 —because they believe in Jewish National Fund-USA and in you. They have seen how we are rebuilding their communities which makes them even better places to live than before the war. As I mentioned, we were there for them yesterday, today, and tomorrow. We are like family to them and we stand with their communities not just for months or years, but for generations. This is the impact you can only achieve through a legacy organization like Jewish National Fund-USA.
2 They send you their deepest thanks.
They spoke not of you as distant supporters, but as true partners. Your generosity is also shaping the next generation of Jewish leaders through our Alexander Muss High School in Israel. At Muss, American teens are immersed in 4,000 years of Jewish history, Zionist values, and identity formation. Remarkably, 70% of their parents have never been to Israel, making these students pioneers in their own families. Supporting Muss is one of the most impactful ways to invest in our future.
Looking ahead, these young leaders will connect with their Israeli peers at the forthcoming World Zionist Village in Be’er Sheva. Set on 16 acres, this world-class $350 million campus will be a global hub for Zionist education, leadership, and innovation. It will also bring economic growth to the region – another example of how individual initiatives form circles of impact that help us achieve population growth in the North and South.
Reviewing our World Zionist Village's Master Plan
As our 2025 campaign year draws to a close, over 8,000 Major Donors have raised $140 million of our $175 million (and counting)— nearly double the amount raised in a typical pre-October 2023 year – and we still have a week remaining! If you have yet to make your pledge for this campaign year, please consider making a contribution before September 30 at jnf.org/donate.
From our proud World Chairman’s Council partners (donating $1 million) to the preschooler donating their first penny to the land of Israel in a Jewish National Fund-USA Blue Box (pushke), or the parent bringing their high school teenager (for free) to our Global Conference for Israel, the feeling of l’dor v’dor – from generation to generation – is embodied in everything we do.
As Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (z”l) once said, “Optimism and hope are not the same. Optimism is the belief that the world is changing for the better; hope is the belief that, together, we can make the world better.”
To you—our donors, our partners, our family—here, and in Israel—thank you for making our land and people of Israel, and our world a better place. May this New Year bring you and your loved ones health, peace, hope, and happiness. And may we continue to pray for the immediate release of all the hostages. B’yachad—together—we will prevail.
Shanah Tovah U’Metukah – A Good and Sweet New Year
Ron Werner
Vice President – Campaign
Jewish National Fund-USA
