Robinson Report—December 2025

Dear Friends,

I’ve just returned from an inspiring week in Israel. More than ever, the words of Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, ring true: “In Israel, in order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles.” At Jewish National Fund-USA, we have asked millions of you to believe, to have faith, and to inspire others. This week, I have seen the miracles we have created—not as dreams but as realities. From our beautiful Galilee Culinary Institute by JNF to exciting partnerships with leading academic institutes, our future is bright—and a reality.

Choosing Life: Leadership Born in Crisis

Leadership does not always begin in an office or at a podium. Sometimes it begins in a fortified safe room. 

In Sha’ar HaNegev, Ori Epstein, the region’s mayor, never imagined a life in politics. On October 7, he sat with his daughter as terror unfolded outside. 

He lost his beloved son Netta, his brother-in-law Ofir Libstein (the region’s former mayor), his other brother-in-law Uri, his mother Bilha, and his nephew Nitzan. When they were rescued, he made a vow to his daughter: We are not going to mourn. We are not going to grieve. We are going to live. 

He told her that if he ever fell into darkness, she should remind him of that promise. Later, as he wrestled with whether to lead his community, his daughter did exactly that. If you’re running for life, she said, run for office. 

Today, he leads the regional council—not from grief, but from life. That is Israel.

Safe Rooms

I am proud of our partnership with this special community, where we have invested and continue to invest strategically in programs and projects that attract new and returning residents to the region. 

Our Regional Sports Complex in Sha’ar HaNegev named after the late mayor, Ofir Libstein, is rising from the desert sand and will include a community hub, a soccer field, a running track, and swimming facilities. It will attract the very best clubs in Israel to come and practice, while enabling local residents to use its state-of-the-art facilities, which will be the envy of the entire country.

JNF-USA Sha’ar HaNegev Athletic Center

Within the region, our resilience centers continue to provide vital mental health services to residents who have returned to their homes in the Israel Envelope (formerly known as the Gaza Envelope). In towns like Sderot, less than a mile from Gaza’s border, over 90% of children suffer from PTSD—and that was before October 7.

In addition to the sports center and resilience centers, Emergency Response Centers (ERCs)—a first-of-its-kind concept created by Jewish National Fund-USA will house multiple first responder units under one roof in this region. Fifteen of these centers are planned throughout the country.

What do an athletic complex, resilience centers, and a hub for first responders have in common? They are all part of the ecosystem we’ve built to create circles of impact. To attract 800,000 new residents to the North and South, we must invest in initiatives that create jobs, boost economic development, and ensure that people moving from Israel’s central cities can experience the same, or even a higher quality of life.

Changing the Narrative of the North

For years, people called it “aspirational.” “A compelling vision.” “A good fundraising pitch.” 

The idea was simple but bold: change the narrative of Israel’s North—from overlooked to undeniable. 

Today, that vision is no longer theoretical. It is unfolding in real time, driven by education, innovation, and opportunity coming together in ways we imagined—and hoped—would one day be possible. 

Have you heard of Tel Hai College? This inspiring institution, based in Israel’s North, is becoming a university, spurred by our vision for them and Israel’s North. 

That transformation alone changes everything. A region once dismissed as peripheral is now emerging as a destination for serious academic pursuits. Students who may never have considered studying in the north now see opportunity, excellence, and future-building in a place once overlooked. 

Education anchors communities. Universities create gravity. And Tel Hai is becoming a force that pulls talent, ideas, and life northward. 

Alongside Tel Hai stands the Galilee Culinary Institute by JNF featuring the Rosenfield School of Culinary Arts—something far greater than a cooking school. 

Following the soft launch early next year, students will experience the culinary traditions of 82 nationalities found in Israel’s North. They will come together to learn cuisine, nutrition, food technology, sustainability, and innovation. Students won’t just learn how to cook; they’ll learn how food can heal communities, protect resources, and feed a changing world.

From innovative alternative proteins to preservation and storage, these programs are not only about Israel. They are about humanity. Israel makes the world a better place, and this is one more way it does exactly that. 

Students studying marketing at Tel Hai will contribute to building tourism in the Galilee. Food technology students will work alongside leading chefs and innovators. Continuing education, research, and hands-on experience will weave together across disciplines. 

Students from around the world won’t just study in Israel. They’ll experience Israel—its people, its challenges, its creativity, and its solutions. 

This is not a pitch anymore. It is a reality and one of the greatest examples of our circles of impact, where every project and program is part of an interconnected ecosystem that strategically supports our vision of attracting 800,000 new residents to the North and South.  Join our journey.

The Power of Innovative Thinking and Long-Term Vision

Be’er Sheva: When Vision Becomes Reality

Faith, Proof, and 125 Years of Building

Russell F. Robinson

Chief Executive Officer

Jewish National Fund-USA