Local Families Contribute to JNF House in NYC

Three local philanthropic families were among the more than 100 Jewish National Fund donors and supporters who on Monday, Dec. 12, attended a special dedication ceremony of the Ronald S. Lauder JNF House in New York City. The Baltimore area families included Leonard and Phyllis Attman, Andrew and Jayne Klein, and Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin, representing her parents, Shoshana S. and the late Jerome Cardin. All of the families played instrumental roles in the completion of the project.

“After several years of planning, hard work and more than a bit of elbow grease, I’m excited to welcome all of you back to Jewish National Fund’s home on the Upper East Side of New York City,” said JNF National Board President Jeffrey E. Levine, who co-chaired the JNF Building Modernization Committee.

The day of celebrations kicked off with a gathering of JNF’s national board members from across the country for their first official meeting in the Leonard J. Attman and Phyllis Attman Family Boardroom. This was followed by an official unveiling and dedication of the Lauder JNF House.

“JNF is so very important to me and my wife, Phyllis,” said Leonard Attman. “As a child, I carried a little, round blue box and a handful of poppies that we gave out when someone gave a donation. From that point to this point today, where JNF has grown in stature, not only in funds that they’ve raised but the work that they do. On behalf of my wife and myself, I want to thank you for allowing us the privilege and honor of participating in this wonderful project.”

The Cardin family funded the Executive Conference Room. Rabbi Cardin spoke at the dedication ceremony on behalf of her mother, who was unable to attend.

“My mother started with JNF when she was just 10 years old, standing with a little pushke outside my grandfather’s movie theater, and my father, who was a past JNF Baltimore board president, was part of JNF since as long as I can remember,” said Rabbi Cardin.

“Upstairs, in the Executive Conference Room, also known as the Shoshana S. and Jerome Cardin Conference Room, there is a collage of stamps of the builders and the dreamers of the State of Israel. That collage hung in my family room for 50 years until last year when JNF National Campaign Director Diane Scar was wonderful enough to bring it to JNF House, where it should be.”

Andrew and Jayne Klein financed the entire Executive Management Floor. Andrew Klein is JNF’s incoming national treasurer and a past JNF Baltimore board president.

“My family and I feel privileged to be part of a true legacy of the Jewish people and the State of Israel,” he said in a statement. “Jewish National Fund is historic in Israel’s founding and continues to be an inspiration in Israel’s constant development. We are the caretakers of Israel’s Iand, water and its people. It is an honor and privilege to be affiliated and to serve in the most worthy nonprofit organization in the Jewish world today.”

Story by Staff Report

Publication: JMoreLiving.com