An Exclusive Report from Russell F. Robinson

We are Truly a Light unto the Nations

This past week, Yossi Kahana represented Jewish National Fund in Chesterfield, VA for a kick-off event marking the start of a collaborative relationship between our affiliate Special in Uniform and Growth Through Opportunity. Seven adults with special needs and disabilities entered a 16-week cadet academy, where they will be trained alongside members of Chesterfield County’s Sheriff’s Office, Police Dept., Fire and Emergency Medical Services Dept., and General Services Dept. He was joined by Tiran Attia, Director of Special in Uniform, who represented Israel and gave out special IDF “dog tags” to each of the cadets and placed a beret on their heads.

Please see the video just released:

https://youtu.be/txsbnWrB94k

This is part of a larger plan for Special in Uniform to be modeled across the United States. I couldn’t be prouder of us, of Special in Uniform and the people of Israel. Watch for more as the program develops.

New Language to Help you Talk about Jewish National Fund

As I travel around the country and Israel, I spend time listening to people and how they speak about the work we do. It is always important for us to convey the big picture —we don’t do projects; we are all about strategic vision. Take a look at our new language that reflects the big picture. Let me know what you think.

Unparalleled in the Jewish philanthropic world, Jewish National Fund-USA’s strategic vision has been and always will be, to ensure a strong, secure, and prosperous future for the land and people of Israel. Everything we do — every project, initiative, and campaign we take on ‑ is integral to our vision of building and connecting to our land. We plant trees, build houses and parks, source water solutions, buy fire trucks, and improve the lives of people with special needs. We boost tourism, support Aliyah, promote Zionist education and engagement, build medical centers and trauma centers, fund agricultural and culinary research, and run an American semester abroad high school in Israel. We do all these things because each project, each program, each partnership, is consistent with our strategic vision – population growth in the north and south, connecting the next generation to Israel, infrastructure development, ecology, forestation, heritage preservation, and more — all for the land and people of Israel.

Jewish National Fund:  We are unique, we are strategic, we are visionary, and we have been that way since 1901.  Join us.

The Fruits of your Labor

I received this email last week and it made me smile, so sharing with you:

Russell—

My daughter is spending Shabbos in Halutza with her Halutza friend who she was setup with through the program she initiated at Hadar High School in Boca Raton. She took another friend with her who has never been to or heard of Halutza but I am confident, after this incredible Shabbos experience, will never forget about Halutza and its inspiring residents.

You made this all possible.

Thank you.

Donny Cohen

More on Halutza

The Israeli Ministry of Education just published a list of 50 outstanding boarding high schools in Israel that have achieved 100% matriculation eligibility.  The big news is — 2 of the top 50 are from Halutza! What an incredible achievement! Despite the distance and the security situation, families from all over Israel send their children to be educated in Halutza. It’s only been 10 years since the first community, B’nei Netzarim, was founded in the sands of the desert where no man had gone before. Together with the incredible pioneers who had been evacuated from Gaza, Jewish National Fund and you have helped build a region that is winning awards and attracting new residents. It is a thriving area with hundreds of families, schools, agricultural fields, the Helmsley Jewish National Fund Medical Center, and so much more. They feel our love and partnership each and every day.

Sad to Say Good-bye to our Friends

It’s always sad to hear of the passing of our friends and donors. Florida and New Jersey resident Leonard Glaser, a longtime donor of ours, who established an endowment fund at Jewish National Fund, passed away in May. Our thoughts go out to his family. Read about other donors who have kept their legacies alive by making gifts to Jewish National Fund, here.

Making the Airwaves

A show on the Timna Valley National Park, a JNF affiliate — where Jewish National Fund and the Chudnow family have been involved since the 1980s and have built a lake, visitor’s center, restaurant, and gift shop — has made it to prime time. Take a look: https://www.smithsonianchannel.com/shows/secrets/king-solomons-mines/1003102/3462222

National Conference Update

I hope you have you registered for our National Conference in Washington DC. It takes place Friday, September 13th to Sunday, September 15th. If you haven’t, I urge you to join us. It is sure to be an incredibly significant, meaningful, important, and FUN time with like-minded individuals all sharing a love of our homeland. 

Bonus:  For those who are registered for this conference, a special discount is available—only to you—for National Conference 2020 in Israel, a gathering of young and old, first time visitors and veteran Israeli travelers. This is not a mission nor is it typical of our annual conference.  Vivian Grossman and Bob Benedon are our recruitment chairs and will be reaching out.

Please register for NC 2019 at www.jnf.org/nc

With my very best wishes to you and your family,

Chief Executive Officer
Jewish National Fund