JNF Brings Young People Together
As a young adult, Ori Friedland loved nothing more than being outdoors and surrounded by nature. One day a few years back, as he was hiking with some friends in Israel, he lost his footing and fell. Left unable to walk and confined to a wheelchair, Ori’s spirit was broken and he fell into depression. Eventually he visited Jewish National Fund-partner LOTEM-Making Nature Accessible and became a guide on the universally accessible trails. His esteem returned and surrounded by his love, the nature of the land, Ori regained his life and found renewed purpose. He entered university and while studying there met a fellow student, Yasmim. This past November, they both came to our National Conference to share their story and to thank our donors, especially the Gutmann family of Norwood, NJ for building the “Path of Creation” hiking trail. Shortly after returning home, Ori and Yasmim announced their engagement. He credits JNF’s programming for helping him return to life and have a happy and promising future.
I am also very happy to share the engagement of Rebecca Levy, a JNFuture from Austin, Texas to Jason Zenner, National JNFuture Vice Chair and the Trips and Chair of JNFuture Chicago, who met through JNFuture, and fell in love after participating on the JNFuture Leadership Institute Mission in 2016. And, a special Mazel Tov to JNFuture Sam Goldberg on his wedding last week to Natalie Aswell.
Tourism to Israel is Up, Up, Up
Uri Steinberg, Consul and Israel’s Tourism Commissioner for North America, recently advised me that last year’s numbers look great for travel to Israel from North America. Over 778,000 American tourists visited Israel in 2017, a growth of 20% compared to 2016 (648,000 tourists), which was a record year in itself. So, I ask, are you among the 778,000 who visited last year? If not, sign up for one of our amazing trips and see Israel with Jewish National Fund. If you are among those stats, I thank you, and ask you to book another trip to keep the numbers soaring higher. We have trips for everyone and upcoming tours include our Israel@70 experiences on four very different tracks; the VIP Tech Tour; Young Professionals Tour (for singles ages 30-45); the Sunshine Tour (for active adults 55+); Queen of Sheba: Women for Israel Tour; and the Israel H20 Water Tour.
Did you know that tourism from North America made up nearly 24% of the overall incoming tourism to Israel in 2017 (3.6 million tourists). For the first time, revenue from incoming tourism passed the NIS 20 billion threshold and created about 25,000 new jobs.
Adam Ziv (R) and Alaa Sweitat. (Photo: Yuval Chen-YNET)
Buza Founders named to Visionary List
I am very proud to share that Adam Ziv and Alaa Sweitat, founders of Buza Ice Cream, were again named to Real Leaders ‘100 Visionary List’. The magazine referenced that their vision “to set an example of coexistence for Arabs and Jews in Israel began when they established their ice cream company that specializes in producing a 100% natural, fresh and local product.” The duo, members of Jewish National Fund’s super Chamber of Commerce in the Western Galilee, has built a renowned business where Arabs and Jews can experience “cooperation and personal empowerment.” At Buza, “their policy is to employ workers from all communities, including the disabled, to foster an inclusive and peaceful working environment.” Last Fall the partners received the prestigious UN Flourish Prize for their work promoting peace. Read the YNET story. Well done Alaa and Adam!
In March 2011, Ben Sherry, son of JNF’s Laura Sherry, Director, North Palm Beach and Boca Raton, chose his Bar Mitzvah project to center around his love of basketball while raising money for JNF’s Indoor Recreation Center in Sderot. Drawn in by stories of how kids in Sderot had no safe place to play due to regular rocket attacks coming from nearby Gaza, Ben devised a 3-on-3 basketball tournament for girls and boys divisions with his “Ben’s Hoop It Up Mitzvah Project.” He also got the word out to members at Congregation B’Nai Torah and donations came flooding in, raising $2,000 for the Center. Now, nearly seven years later, as a sophomore at The University of Florida at Gainesville studying advertising in the School of Journalism, Ben took part this winter on Taglit-Birthright with Shorashim and his group visited Sderot. This was Ben’s first time seeing the Rec. Center (pictured above with Hagit, a staff member there) and the many children and parents who utilize the facility knowing that they can safely play without fear of danger.Thank you Ben!
For Your Eyes Only
Chief Executive Officer
Jewish National Fund