Robinson Report—January 2024
Welcome to The Robinson Report, an exclusive monthly newsletter written just for you, our valued partner, delivering important updates and breaking news on our work for the land and people of Israel.
Israel Resilience Campaign
By the time we awoke in the U.S. on October 7, Jewish National Fund-USA had already established a situation room in Israel, fielding incoming emergency calls from people in the Israel Envelope. The border communities who have been our partners for decades needed evacuation assistance, the firefighters dealing with rocket attacks needed specialized equipment, and rural communities suddenly swelling to twice or more their size were struggling to house and feed the stream of displaced Israelis. Every call was answered, and this work continues as the war rages on. We have:
Evacuated nearly 40,000 residents from the South and the North and provided for their every need
Supplied firefighters and civil defense units with essential life-saving equipment
Deployed 150 bomb shelters since October 7, with 250 more planned
Helped set up makeshift educational facilities, respite activities, and resilience therapy
Sent thousands of supplies and support packages to IDF soldiers on the front
Helped local businesses stay afloat
Sent volunteers to pick fruits and vegetables
Supported lone soldier parent visits
Paid house calls to people who couldn’t evacuate in at-risk communities, providing food, medicine, and care
Supported the Hostage and Missing Families Forum and
Of course, we are supporting our tens of thousands of students on college campuses across the U.S. as they face rising antisemitism.
We were there yesterday, we are there today, and we will be there tomorrow.
As of today, here’s where your dollars are being used:
Emergency Campaign Transfers:
| Aiding Evacuees of Southern Israel including Eshkol, Ramat Hanegev, Sderot, Sha’ar Hanegev Mitzpe Ramon, Kibbutzim and Moshavim | 6,413,209.00 |
Supplying and Equipping Medical Facilities | 1,716,317.00 |
Aiding Residents of Northern Israel (which activated | 1,752,000.00 |
Care for Special Needs Populations | 1,063,600.00 |
Coordinating and Mobilizing Volunteers for the Farmers | 4,117,007.00 |
Supporting Emergency Operations – Fire & Security Equipment, | 5,232,500.00 |
Funding Flights for Lone Soldier Families (with | 2,000,000.00 |
Supporting Families of Hostages & Missing Persons | 250,000.00 |
Livnot B’Yachad – Building Together Campaign Commitment | 25,000,000.00 |
$47,544,633.00 |
Volunteer missions
December 10 marked our first 4-day volunteer mission to Israel, and we have been going strong ever since. Over 1,000 people have signed up. These include college students and young professionals – one person even signed up for three weeks in a row! -- and they are coming back, only wanting to go again. The days are spent on the farms – farmers are in dire need of help --weeding, picking fruits and vegetables; packing care packages for wounded soldiers and then delivering them to the hospitals; meeting with evacuees and listening to their stories; working on an army base packing high-energy foods that go straight to the soldiers in Gaza, cooking for soldiers and evacuated families, and bringing hugs from the Diaspora, something every Israeli we meet is so grateful for. All this is being put together based on the needs of our partners on the ground in Israel.
As one volunteer participant, Sanford Fineman, said: “Let me say that this was one of the most memorable experiences I have ever encountered in my life. We were greeted by such kindness and appreciation for us being there at a time of conflict and got to see Israeli resilience up close and personal.”
Another volunteer, Anne Cohn, said: “We wanted to make a difference and help. We are able to do something – social action through our bodies and souls, and it was wonderful.”
Our missions are scheduled now through May, but sell out fast.
See a sample itinerary and sign up today at www.jnf.org/volunteeril.
“Livnot Byachad,” Building Together
In the wake of this great tragedy, Jewish National Fund-USA is committed to taking part in one of the greatest projects the Jewish people have ever known: Rebuilding and strengthening the land of Israel.
Our “Livnot B’Yachad” - Build Together plan is an opportunity for organizations and individuals everywhere to join forces in creating a bright new future for the Israel Envelope. This is a plan to work together in unity as one family. New houses, fresh paint, beautiful parks, repaved roads, and strategic community infrastructure will be the more visible cornerstones of this effort. Vision and imagination will be the architects as we rebuild the Israel Envelope (formerly known as the Gaza Envelope) to a new level of glory.
We will humbly and steadfastly maintain guiding principles of:
- Community Participation - We will work closely with local leadership and steering committees from each community to define their needs, goals, and directions.
- Renewal - We must make these communities a home again. We will engage architects, planners, social workers, psychologists, and government officials to assess and redesign, putting lives and property on a path to renewal.
- Focus on the Most Vulnerable - Priority will be given to those most vulnerable in each community, including farmers, the elderly, children, people with special needs, and those who have lost family members.
- Efficiency of Resources/Collaborative Approach - We will take a partnership approach to build efficiently. We will work with and encourage government support, businesses, volunteers, fundraising, and financial aid to come together and remove all bureaucratic roadblocks where possible.
- Today and Tomorrow - We will build high-quality infrastructure. We will focus on projects consistent with our mission decided by local communities to optimize our efforts and impact.
- Home Base - We will organize with one main point of contact to address and engage with the many partners. We will maintain quality control and organization while streamlining administrative tasks.
- No Ego, Just Results - We will accept and utilize the support of all nonprofit organizations, government businesses, and those who want to help. Organizational ego will play no role here. The residents and rebirth of the Israel Envelope are our top priority.
I invite you to join us in any capacity to make this plan a reality.
To learn more or get involved, reach out to me at rrobinson@jnf.org
Our Everyday Vision Continues
In the North, construction is ongoing at The Galilee Culinary Institute by JNF, which is set to open in November 2024 and will be a game-changer for the region, as will our new medical center in Kiryat Shmona, where the cement foundation was just poured!
In the South, we are committed to our Innovation Hub in Mitzpe Ramon, which opened a few weeks ago and is already attracting people who want a state-of-the-art space to work out of in the middle of the Desert. Both evacuees and area residents are using it daily as well. This will attract many entrepreneurs to the area, as will the Conference Center, which is down the road and getting off the ground now.
And 2,000 miles away in Kenya, our Agrivoltaic project is up and running thanks to our very own Kasser Joint Institute. The project, which grows plants under solar panels, will use the solar power generated to operate water pumps and irrigate local fields, provide clean water and electricity for the nearby school, and show the farmers how to maximize their crops’ market value and nutrition. Local alums from our agricultural school in the Arava, which trains farmers from Africa and beyond, will be operating the project. They, in turn, will train the community and act as an important connection between the Arava and Kenya.
Jewish National Fund-USA in the News
Our media coverage is always strong but has been especially stellar these last few months. Here are just a few of the recent stories published about our work:
TV/Radio Spots:
Russell F. Robinson on ABC News
Dr. Sol Lizerbram on ABC News San Deigo
Alan Wolk on Fox News Atlanta
JNF-USA supporting people with disabilities
Rick Krosnick on Chicago radio
Marina Furman on Voice of America
Articles/Podcasts
JPost:
Jewish National Fund-USA leads relief efforts for Israel's battered south
Fox Denver:
Denver-area residents fundraise for Israel
Ynet News:
Volunteers from the United States mobilize for Israel
Washington Jewish Week:
Times of Israel:
Reflections on a Volunteer Mission to Israel
Times of Israel:
Why I Volunteered in Israel, and What I Learned
Non Profit Wire:
United for Good: American Volunteers Positively Impact Israel and Themselves
Sparks of History:
Discovering the Beauty & Heartbeat of Israel
Zionist Education
Exciting news! Our Alexander Muss High School in Israel is reopening! Our Hod Hasharon campus will be home to a cohort of students for the next four months. They are so excited to go, and we are thrilled to welcome them.
How You Can Advocate for Israel Wherever You Are
Never has it been more important to raise our voices for Israel than in this post-October 7 world.
The war is not only on the ground but also on social media, and you can help. To help promote pro-Israel content, there are three simple steps you can take to make a difference:
1. FIND THE CONTENT:
Content that supports Israel and supports the truth. It can be educational, political, hard facts, celebrity-driven, or similar. You can find a lot of content on JNF-USA’s social media accounts:
Facebook: Jewish National Fund-USA & Humans of JNF
Instagram & Twitter: @jnfusa
LinkedIn: Jewish National Fund-USA
2. BOOST THE CONTENT:
- Like it
- Comment on it
- Share it
Each of these actions informs the platform’s algorithm that the content should gain greater visibility.
3. IGNORE THE ANTI-ISRAEL Content: If you find lies, hateful propaganda, or other disinformation, DO NOT ENGAGE WITH IT. The algorithm will boost its exposure when you view it, read the comments, and comment on it.
Bonus Step: CREATE YOUR OWN CONTENT. We all have stories and pictures from Israel. Share your Israel story on social media to show why you care about Israel. And don’t forget to tag Jewish National Fund-USA.
Thank you for all you do for the land and people of Israel. Please do reach out with comments, ideas, and suggestions. Email me at ceo@jnf.org.
Am Yisrael Chai – The People of Israel Live!
Russell F. Robinson