Palm Beach Couple Funds 10th Life-Saving Fire & Rescue Vehicle in Israel
Longtime philanthropists Herb and Barbara Shear strengthen emergency response in vulnerable communities
| Talia Green
Herb and Barbara Shear
At a time of ongoing security challenges in Israel, Palm Beach residents Herb and Barbara Shear have quietly marked a remarkable milestone: funding their tenth rescue vehicle through Jewish National Fund-USA’s Fire & Rescue Initiative.
As the only official U.S. partner of the Israel Fire and Rescue Authority, Jewish National Fund-USA equips Israel’s firefighters with fire trucks, protective gear, life-saving equipment, and modern fire stations. In 2025 alone, the Shears were among the top national supporters of the initiative. Their most recent commitment builds on their focus on strengthening vulnerable communities across the land of Israel.
The couple’s connection to Israel spans decades and began with one of their first missions through Jewish National Fund-USA. One moment during their visit to Ramon Air Force Base in Israel’s South left a particularly lasting impression. As Herb Shear recalled, a base commander pointed to an image of Israeli jets flying over Auschwitz and explained the message behind it: “We will go get Jews anywhere.”
“That moment stayed with us,” he said.
Herb and Barbara are longtime members of JNF-USA’s World Chairman’s Council, an exclusive society recognizing philanthropists with lifetime contributions of $1 million or more. The Shear Family Foundation—comprised of Herb, Barbara, sons Gerry and John—has long focused their giving on Jewish and Israel-related causes.
The Shear family
Their support of fire and rescue services began after visiting a station in Israel and seeing firsthand that much of the equipment in use dated back to the 1980s. “The outdated fire truck equipment and the gear that goes with the trucks were all behind modern standards,” Herb said.
Recognizing Israel’s urgent need for new fire and rescue equipment nationwide, the Shears made a commitment to help fill that gap. What began as a single fire engine evolved into an annual investment in emergency response infrastructure.
Among the vehicles they have funded are rapid action all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and specialized fire engines capable of reaching border communities and traversing high-risk terrain inaccessible to traditional trucks. These units are particularly critical in areas near Israel’s borders, where both natural wildfires and security-related incidents demand rapid response in challenging environments. “It was simply the need,” Herb explained.
For the Shears, the impact is deeply personal. “We think about families who are living in very dangerous places,” Barbara said, recalling Israeli families displaced and affected by ongoing conflict. “Those are the people we think and care about.”
Despite their extraordinary level of giving, the Shears rarely agree to public recognition. “We don’t do this for recognition,” Barbara said. Their decision to share their story now comes from a desire to inspire others at what they view as a critical moment for Israel. “With everything happening—antisemitism, antizionism, the war—we believe supporting Israel is more important than ever,” Herb said. “If we don’t do it, I don’t know who will.”
Through their ongoing leadership and support of Jewish National Fund-USA’s Fire & Rescue Initiative, Herb and Barbara Shear are helping ensure that firefighters across Israel have the modern equipment they need to save lives, protect homes, and strengthen community resilience for the land and people of Israel’s North and South, for generations to come.
Herb and Barbara Shear beside Jewish National Fund-USA firetrucks made possible through their generous donation
For more information about Jewish National Fund-USA’s Fire & Rescue Initiative, visit jnf.org/fireandrescue.
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The Shear family
Herb and Barbara Shear beside Jewish National Fund-USA firetrucks made possible through their generous donation