NEGEV, Israel, August 3, 2026 — Over the past six months, with the help of Jewish National Fund-USA, more than 13,600 young Israelis have participated in youth leadership programming, while nearly 8,700 volunteers have supported community security initiatives, as announced in its affiliate, HaShomer HaChadash’s mid-year report. The organization has helped establish seven new communities, supported nearly 3,000 farmers, and cultivated or protected more than 40,000 acres of agricultural land.
With Jewish National Fund-USA's support, the youth movement of agriculture volunteers, considered to be the largest in Israel, protects farmland through volunteer patrols, and runs Zionist youth leadership programs, while establishing new communities.
"Jewish National Fund-USA is dedicated to strengthening Israel's northern and southern regions through population growth and securing Israel’s future by connecting young people to the land, communities, and people,” said Talia Tzour Avner, Jewish National Fund-USA's Chief Israel Officer. “Through affiliated programs like HaShomer HaChadash, participants gain hands-on experiences in Israel's North and South, developing a deeper connection and understanding of the land, its resilience, and the pioneering spirit that continues to shape it.”
Support from Jewish National Fund-USA has also helped strengthen a transformative 13-month pre-Israeli army leadership program, where young Israelis spend a year working in agriculture, safeguarding farming communities, studying Zionism and leadership, and preparing for lives of military and civic service.
“In a country where so many are already dedicated to defending the land and people of Israel, seeing hundreds of thousands more step forward to care for its farms, strengthen its communities, and preserve its future is a powerful reminder of the resilience, unity, and enduring spirit of the Jewish people,” said Jewish National Fund-USA CEO Russell F. Robinson. “Jewish National Fund-USA embodies the spirit of Zionism by connecting people to the land through meaningful service and volunteerism.”
Jewish National Fund-USA partners (donors) have also helped sustain the youth movement’s Operational Room, the organization's command center that fields hundreds of calls from farmers facing agricultural crime, labor shortages, and other urgent challenges. By coordinating thousands of volunteers in real time, the Operational Room ensures farmers receive the support they need to continue feeding the nation and strengthening Israel's agricultural resilience. Funding also provides essential training, transportation, equipment, and operational support for volunteers serving throughout Israel's strategic border regions.
“Zionism is not just an idea—it is something you live every day.” Robinson added. “Jewish National Fund-USA is the spirit of our people, and we are proud to continue it.”
For more information about Jewish National Fund-USA's support for volunteers in Israel, visit jnf.org.
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About Jewish National Fund-USA
For 125 years, Jewish National Fund-USA has helped strengthen the land and people of Israel by investing in the communities, infrastructure, and leadership that shape the country’s future. Our work is focused on making Israel’s North and South places where families can build full, vibrant lives with access to medical care, emergency response, water solutions, parks, playgrounds, jobs, and economic opportunity. Working with our donors and partners, we support underpopulated communities, help attract new residents, improve quality of life, and create the conditions for long-term growth. Our work reaches beyond projects on the ground. Through education, travel, and leadership opportunities, we connect Americans of all ages to Israel in meaningful and lasting ways. That vision continues with the World Zionist Village in Be’er Sheva, a global center that will bring people together to live, learn, lead, and strengthen the next generation of Zionist leadership. From urgent relief to long-term transformation, Jewish National Fund-USA is helping build a stronger future for Israel and creating lasting legacies for generations to come. Learn more at jnf.org.
