NAPLES, Fla., February 24, 2026 —Jewish National Fund–USA united nearly 200 philanthropists for its annual Stand With Israel Legacy Luncheon at the Hilton Naples on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, to thank local partners (donors) who support the land and people of Israel through their long-term financial or estate plan.
The event centered on the powerful idea that every partner shapes Israel’s future for generations to come and planning today can shape tomorrow for the Jewish people.
Stuart and Estelle Price (credit Janet Combs)
“Planned giving is nothing more than an assurance that after you’re gone, your values and commitment to Israel will endure,” said Robin Dermer, Esq., Jewish National Fund-USA’s Director of Planned Giving, Florida. “When you make a legacy gift, you are not simply donating. You are placing a stake in the ground — for Jewish safety, Jewish dignity, and the Jewish future.”
The program opened with welcome remarks from David Braverman, Co-President of Jewish National Fund-USA’s Naples Board of Directors, who reflected on the organization’s 125-year Zionist legacy.
Stacy and David Braverman (credit Janet Combs)
“Jewish National Fund began with coins in blue boxes and a bold vision,” said Braverman. “Today, that vision lives on in the forests, reservoirs, medical centers, communities, and resilience initiatives that strengthen Israel from the Galilee to the Negev.”
The luncheon also featured keynote remarks from Pulitzer Prize–winning New York Times columnist and editor-in-chief of SAPIR Bret Stephens, who offers a powerful voice on Jewish life, democracy, and Israel.
Bret Stephens (credit Janet Combs)
The former editor of The Jerusalem Post kicked off his speech by sharing his personal connection to Jewish National Fund-USA, and how his family planted a forest in Israel after his father passed away. “I know that everyone at JNF-USA will want to tell you that they're more than just about trees, which is true,” said Stephens. “But I like the trees and I'm grateful to Jewish National Fund-USA for giving me the opportunity to honor my father in the country that he loved so much.”
Stephens also touched upon critical points including:
- The distinction between “thriving Jews” and “Jewish thriving,”
- How even after October 7, he remains confident in Israel’s long-term future,
- Rejecting framing Jewish identity primarily around victimization,
- And how he believes, like Jewish National Fund-USA, that building is the key to securing Israel’s future and the ultimate response to antisemitism.
Rabbi David Arias (credit Janet Combs)
“We have to stop thinking of ourselves by who hates us and what we're against and start thinking about what we love and what we're going to build,” added Stephens. “And no, that doesn't mean pretending that antisemitism doesn't exist...But it means remembering that Israel didn't come into existence to showcase Jewish victimization. It came into existence to end Jewish victimization. And the American Jewish community needs to think in the same terms.”
Dermer also echoed Stephens’ point in her remarks. “The antidote to antisemitism is to build,” she said. “The antidote to antisemitism is to educate. The antidote to antisemitism is to empower. The antidote to antisemitism is Jewish National Fund. We Build. We Teach. We Empower.”
Cristina Isaacs, Ellen Frankel, Robin Dermer (credit Janet Combs)
Dermer also shared the many ways supporters of Israel can achieve their philanthropic goals while taking advantage of existing U.S. tax laws, including Charitable Gift Annuities, where individuals can receive a fixed income as high as 10.1%. She also discussed savvy ways people are utilizing Donor Advised Funds and IRAs, as well as traditional bequests.
To learn more about the many meaningful ways you can leave a legacy for Israel, call 800.562.7526 or email plannedgiving@jnf.org.
Bret Stephens (credit Janet Combs)
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About Jewish National Fund-USA
Jewish National Fund-USA builds a strong, vibrant future for the land and people of Israel through bold initiatives and Zionist education. As a leading philanthropic movement, the organization supports critical environmental and nation-building activities in Israel’s north and south as it develops new communities in the Negev and Galilee, connects the next generation to Israel, and creates infrastructure and programs that support ecology, people with disabilities, and heritage site preservation, all while running a fully accredited study abroad experience through its Alexander Muss High School in Israel. Learn more at jnf.org.
