Robinson Report—January 2026

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your philanthropic commitment, belief, and trust in our vision for Israel's North and South, and for Zionist engagement. What we are achieving right now is nothing short of extraordinary.

Bill Gates wrote a book entitled Business @ the Speed of Thought, describing how technology transforms our world at lightning speed. That was before AI—so you can imagine how much faster things move today. And yet, no matter how advanced technology becomes, the most important forces in the world remain the same: trust, reliability, and relationships.

That truth is at the heart of Jewish National Fund-USA. Because while the world moves faster, our mission remains the same. We are all about the land and people of Israel. This is as relevant as it has ever been since our founding 125 years ago—to make our homeland stronger, and through Israel, to make the world a better place. Israel is the great uniter of our people!

Israel's Positive Impact Reaches Far Beyond Its Borders

Israel is not only a beacon of hope—it is a global hub of innovation. Breakthroughs are changing the way we detect cancer without invasive surgery, grow extraordinary agricultural products, and develop technologies that bring water and life, and that empower communities far beyond Israel's borders.

One of the most powerful examples is our Kasser Joint Institute for Food, Water, and Energy Security, where Jewish National Fund-USA collaborates with ten leading research centers in the Arava Valley and the University of Arizona. Together, we are advancing solutions in water recycling, aquaponics, drip irrigation, and entrepreneurship—and helping bring these innovations to communities in Kenya, where entire villages are becoming self-sufficient.

This is what it means when we say Israel makes the world a better place—not as an isolated success story, but as a source of life-changing solutions for humanity.

What You Make Possible in One Week Can Change a Life Forever

Just last week, the Gutmann family committed to building a central park in a lower-middle-class community located in the Israel Envelope. This community is often overlooked, yet it is home to hardworking families—the backbone of the region.

When I visited, parents ran out to thank us. One said something I will never forget:

“I don't have to apologize to my children anymore. We will now have the most beautiful place where they can play.” I tear up just thinking of them.

Construction has already begun. Soon, their children will have a safe place to play—and their parents will have something priceless: the memories of having BBQs, playing outdoor games, kicking a soccer ball, and children, despite all the challenges around them, being able to be kids and just have fun. That is what making Israel a better place looks like.

Go North: Leadership in the Galilee Means Building a Future Worth Staying For

Leadership, vision, and tenacity define our strategic work in Israel's North. Seven years ago, we set a bold goal: Grow the Upper Eastern Galilee from 22,000 residents to 75,000. Even with the war, that momentum is real—and it's accelerating because of you!

Today, our magnificent Laureine & David Greenbaum Family Campus and Horwitz-Zusman Family Building are thriving with food-tech startups. The Robert and Gale Kares Kiryat Shmona Medical Center and the Jensen Franklin Emergency Response Center will open after Passover, ending the days when prenatal care meant an hour-plus drive (with no traffic) because emergency care was nonexistent.

And along with our Lauder Employment Center, we are building something larger than any one building: an ecosystem—housing, education, jobs, volunteer programs, and opportunity—created through collaboration and long-term partnerships. We bring people and communities together.

The Galilee Culinary Institute by JNF:
A New Chapter for Israel's North - Join the Journey!

Seeing is believing! Our dreams and vision in the North have further come alive with The Galilee Culinary Institute by JNF featuring the Rosenfield School of Culinary Arts. The campus overlooks land as stunning as the Napa Valley or Tuscany. This Institute will celebrate Israel's remarkable tapestry of flavors: 82 nationalities fused into world-class cuisine.

Students will learn how to grow produce and engage in farm-to-table practices, winemaking, cheesemaking, and cutting-edge food technologies.

Our GCI by JNF board recently held a historic gathering at the Institute, meeting with our outstanding new head chef and tasting the global culinary delights planned for the Institute's restaurant as we chart the path toward a soft launch.

Chef and GCI by JNF Co-founder, Lior Lev Sercarz, who also attended, led Israel's New 12— the country's top TV channel, through the campus. Without even officially opening yet, GCI by JNF is already making front-page news.

Now we have an urgent opportunity before us: scholarships. We need $40,000 per student for 20 young Israelis transitioning from military service to become the next generation of culinary leaders. Please email me at CEO@JNF.ORG if you can make a commitment to this important program or visit galileeculinaryinstitute.com

Strengthening Employment and Opportunity in the Negev

At Jewish National Fund-USA, we know that building stronger communities in Israel doesn't happen through isolated projects—it happens when every initiative is strategically designed to create a circle of impact, where progress in one area fuels growth in another. That is exactly what our Lauder Employment Center in Israel's South is doing: Connecting education to opportunity, talent to industry, and long-term investment to long-term stability.

This week, the Center advanced key efforts to strengthen employment pathways and deepen collaboration with industry and academia. The team held strategic planning meetings with leading employers to align expectations and develop future partnerships that will expand job opportunities in the region. The Center also marked its fifth consecutive year participating in the Be'er Sheva College of Technology employment fair—reinforcing a sustained commitment to connecting students with industry and supporting their integration into the workforce.

The week concluded with a presentation at Neot Hovav's eco-industrial park, highlighting the importance of cooperation between graduates, academia, and employers. Because when young people can build real careers close to home, it doesn't just strengthen the job market—it strengthens the entire region. It supports families, drives economic growth, reinforces community resilience, and ensures that the Negev continues to thrive for generations to come.

A Message of Gratitude from Israel’s Ethiopian Community

For more than three decades, the Shabo Banim Community Center in Beer Sheva has served as a home for the Ethiopian-Israeli community—a place to preserve tradition, strengthen identity, and support families. Established in 1992, the building remained untouched for 32 years.

Around a year ago, we worked with them to change that reality.

This month, Israeli-Ethiopian Community Leader, Naftali Aklum, shared a moving message of thanks to Jewish National Fund-USA’s Brotherhood Mission for taking a central role in the comprehensive renovation—renovating both floors, creating a new entrance, and building gardens and seating areas that will bring warmth and dignity to this important space. Importantly, it will be able to accommodate this growing community and their ongoing needs.

As they said so beautifully, this is more than construction. It is a partnership, and it is a responsibility.

Inspiring the Next Generation in Israel and on Campus

After four months in Israel, our latest cohort of Alexander Muss High School in Israel (Muss) students returned home more inspired than ever. To call their experience life-changing would be an understatement. They learned Jewish history where it happened, lived through current events as they unfolded, achieved academic success, strengthened their connection to Israel, and grew into leaders with lifelong friendships and renewed purpose.

The majority of colleges ask prospective students to list if they studied abroad during high school, yet few students can say they did. That’s why Muss alumni gain an advantage over other college applicants.

If you know someone looking to study abroad at Muss, refer them to us at amhsi.org/refer.

Friends and Allies

This month, nearly 30 American college student leaders beyond the Jewish faith visited Israel through our Caravan for Democracy program—gaining firsthand experience to foster informed, constructive dialogue about Israel on their campuses.

One of their most meaningful stops was to the largest rehabilitation village for people with disabilities in Israel’s South, where students experienced what an inclusive Israeli society looks like up close—meeting staff, playing with children in the integrated kindergarten, and seeing how dignity and specialized care can build an entire community. The students were blown away—not only by the facilities, but by the respect and partnership shared by people of every background.

Faculty Fellowship in Israel: Building Understanding Through Real Encounters

Almost 30 American university faculty members from beyond the Jewish faith visited Israel with us as part of our bi-annual Faculty Fellowship Program in Israel. They met with academics, policymakers, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators who are shaping Israel's future.

One highlight was a powerful visit to Sapir College, where the visiting professors and Sapir's faculty engaged in thoughtful, forward-looking dialogue. Sapir is deeply rooted in the Israel Envelope and unafraid to engage with the complex realities of Israeli life—an institution defined by academic excellence and community connection.

Affiliates Day: Israel's Impact, Seen Up Close

This is what it looks like when more than 30 Jewish National Fund-USA Affiliates from across Israel come together in Mitzpe Ramon to explore our circles of impact.

The work happening there every day is meaningful, inspiring, and strengthening communities across the country—proof that when you zoom out, our mission is national; when you zoom in, it's personal.

This wasn't about different organizations coming together to compete. They were there with only one thing on their minds—collaboration. Zero “logo ego.” They just wanted to work together towards the same goals. This is the story of Jewish National Fund-USA. We unite.

A Defining Moment for Security in Israel's Far South

In Israel's far South, the Eilot region shares a 70 mile open border with Jordan and a 100-kilometer border with Egypt, spanning roughly 125 miles of communities. This is a region that needs speed, coordination, and constant readiness.

That is why, in just two weeks, a new Jewish National Fund-USA Emergency Response Center will be operational (one of 15 we are building across the country)—marking a fundamental change in how regional security and emergency response are managed.

For the first time, all emergency personnel will operate under one roof. Local police and security teams will work side by side with regional and military personnel. The operations room will integrate live radar, cameras, and regional communications systems—creating a shared picture and faster decision-making when every second matters.

This is resilience in action. Strengthening the South means strengthening the people who live there, the communities growing there, and the systems that protect everyday life.

Wishing A Beloved Fundraiser Farewell In Retirement

After 26 years of extraordinary service, I want to thank Sharon Joy, our retiring National Campaign Director for the West Coast and Mountain States, all the best as she embarks on a well-deserved retirement. I remember meeting Sharon for the first time and seeing how passionate she was about our land and people of Israel. Sharon has helped shape the organization's growth and impact—supporting transformative initiatives across Israel's North and South, strengthening youth leadership, and founding Jewish National Fund-USA's Arts and Entertainment Task Force, and Film and Television Fund.

Sharon's passion, vision, and dedication leave a lasting legacy. Thank you, Sharon, for everything.

Join Us in Building What Comes Next

Everything I've shared here has one common thread: you. Your support ensures that tomorrow's dreams become today's reality.

Together, we are strengthening Zionist engagement while building a stronger Israel—and a better world.

Warm regards,

Russell F. Robinson

Chief Executive Officer

Jewish National Fund-USA