JNF FAQs
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TREE PLANTING
What are the prices of trees? What is the breakdown?
Trees are $18
A Ring of 3 trees is $54
A Circle of 5 trees is $90
An Orchard of 10 Trees is $180—you can save up to 50% by signing up for a JNF E-Z Tree™
Call us about recognition opportunities in Groves and Forests Grove
Are trees really planted?
Absolutely, in fact JNF plants almost 3 million trees each year. When purchased, a donor is paying for the cost of the sapling and the process of creating and mailing a certificate dedicated to a loved one or friend.
Where are trees planted & can I visit my tree?
Due to the tremendous amount of trees planted in Israel each year, we are unable to tell you the exact location of any individual tree. Trees are not marked when they are planted. Trees are planted in Israel where they are most needed in the environment that is most conducive to their growth.
What kinds of trees are planted?
“When you shall come to the land you shall plant trees” (Leviticus 19:23) is something we take very seriously. JNF tries to choose a variety of trees that are indigenous to the area being planted and we plant trees such as olive, palm, oak, Jerusalem pine, sycamore, and cypress, among others.
CERTIFICATE ORDERS
How long will it take for the certificate to be received?
Can I receive it faster? We have many special and unique certificates to choose from at various levels of recognition to commemorate an event. Certificates are available in an assortment of options and prices, beginning at $18 and ascending to $5,000 and more. JNF tree certificate will be handled with care and mailed out from our New York office within 1-2 business days after purchase; please expect to receive it within 7-10 business days. Federal Express option is available for U.S. addresses only, an additional donation of $50. (Please note that we cannot ship by Federal Express if a plaque finish is chosen. For plaques, please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery)
My friend did not receive his certificate; can it be sent out again?
Yes, we would be more than happy to reissue the certificate.
Can I get/print/emailed a copy of the certificate?
A duplicate copy of the certificate is an additional donation of $10.
Is there something other than a certificate that I can send as an acknowledgment to someone?
Yes, you may make a donation to Jewish National Fund in honor or plant a tree in memory of someone and an acknowledgement of your donation will be sent to them.
OUR HISTORY
What is Jewish National Fund (JNF)?
JNF is a not-for-profit organization and United Nations NGO (non-governmental organization) that gives all generations of Jews a unique voice in building a prosperous future for the land of Israel and its people.
When was JNF established?
Jewish National Fund-Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL-JNF) was founded at the Fifth Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland on December 29, 1901. In the United States, JNF was established in 1926. While we work very closely with KKL-JNF in Israel, we have no role in the management of KKL-JNF. JNF in the U.S. is managed by a board of directors who represent a broad spectrum of Jewry from across America and projects are donor designated to the specific work JNF focuses on.
Why was JNF created?
Jewish National Fund began in 1901 as a dream and vision to reestablish a homeland in Israel for Jewish people everywhere. Jews the world over collected coins in iconic JNF Blue Boxes, purchasing land and planting trees until ultimately, their dream of a Jewish homeland was a reality. Today JNF embodies both heart and action; our work is varied in scope but singular in benefit. JNF strives to bring an enhanced quality of life to all of Israel’s residents and translate these advancements to the world beyond. JNF is “greening” the desert with millions of trees, building thousands of parks across Israel, creating new communities and cities for generations of Israelis to call home, bolstering Israel’s water supply, helping develop innovative arid agriculture techniques and educating both young and old about the founding and importance of Israel and Zionism. JNF is the single largest provider of Zionist programs in the U.S. Its work is divided into seven program areas: Forestry & Green Innovations, Water Solutions, Community Building, Zionist Education & Advocacy, Research & Development, Heritage Sites, and Disabilities and Special Needs.
JNF Blue Boxes What is a JNF Blue Box?
JNF was created in 1901 with the purpose of purchasing land in what was then Ottoman-controlled Palestine. Shortly after JNF’s founding, a Polish bank clerk named Haim Kleinman proposed that a collection box bearing the words “National Fund” be placed in every Jewish home to raise money for land purchases. Production began in Vienna and because of the boxes’ initial blue color (they were later produced in a variety of shapes and hues) they became known as “Blue Boxes.” Before long, JNF Blue Boxes were in stores and homes all over the world. Poor people placed their pennies in Blue Boxes and went door-to-door collecting coins with the hope that buying land in Eretz Israel would give them a Jewish homeland. The JNF Blue Box gave hope to Jews living under tyranny in Eastern Europe. Every coin deposited in the JNF Blue Box made the giver a partner in the creation of the State of Israel. While the iconic Blue Box has taken many shapes over the decades, it continues to evolve much like the land and people it was designed to help. If you are interested in ordering one, simply e-mail bluebox@jnf.org.
What role did the Blue Box have in land purchases?
The boxes were so effective that by 1904 the first tract of land, Kefar Hittim in the lower Galilee, was purchased. Four years later, in 1908, Ben Shemen and Hulda in Judea and Kinneret-Deganya near the Sea of Galilee were bought. Also in 1908, JNF started planting trees and lent money to founders of Tel Aviv for land reclamation. These two activities laid the foundation for JNF’s work today. Today, JNF owns approximately 13 percent of Israel’s total landmass. The JNF Blue Box is a symbol of the bond between man and country, a link between the Jewish people and the land, a symbol of Jewish continuity. Haim Kleinman’s little box helped build the State of Israel.