We did it again! For the 6th consecutive year, Jewish National Fund earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. This is the highest rating achievable under the Charity Navigator rating system. They wrote: “Only 6% of the charities we evaluate have received at least 6 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Jewish National Fund, United States outperforms most other charities in America. This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator sets Jewish National Fund, United States apart from its peers and demonstrates to the public its trustworthiness.”

We are at $491.3 million toward our $1 Billion goal. Less than $9 million to reach the half way mark and we will get there six months ahead of schedule. During the past week we saw excellent activity around the country closing gifts of $5,000 or more and have closed the gap significantly on the total number of Major Gifts compared to the same time last year. We have also done well closing General Campaign gifts at the $1,000 level as part of our Chai at $1,000 campaign. We do have quite a bit of work to reach our goal of closing 2,000 gifts of $1,000 or more by Passover. Thank you to all the lay leaders around the country who are taking pledge cards and making phone calls…your efforts are paying off.

As a reminder, yesterday was International Women’s Day and, for JNF, the month of March is Women’s Month. Thanks to two generous donors in Arizona, we have a matching gift of a total of $1,000,000 for any women’s gift closed this month. In addition, we just received a challenge from a New York foundation toward the Alexander Muss High School in Israel that will provide a 2 for 1 match for any gift of $10,000 or more to support AMHSI through June. So, a gift of $10,000 would receive a $5,000 match from the foundation. Here is the best news…during March we can double dip with the two matching gifts. A woman’s gift of $10,000 or more designated for AMHSI in the month of March can be matched by both challenge funds!

I was at the AIPAC Policy Conference earlier this week. It was great to see so many JNF lay leaders, donors and JNF partners from Israel who proudly represented Jewish National Fund and sought each other out. I look forward to seeing all of you at the next big gathering of pro-Israel supporters at the JNF National Conference, October 26 – 29 in Phoenix, Arizona. Please register here.

I came across this great article about leadership entitled How to Lead Authentically. The four key principles suggested that make for an authentic leader are:

1. Purpose driven – Authentic leaders are driven to discover who they really are, to identify and connect with their ‘why’. They use that sense of purpose to inform decision making and stay balanced and focused, regardless of external realities.

2. Listeners – An authentic leader is a good listener who seeks and integrates feedback.

3. Dialoguers – An authentic leader promotes safe, trustworthy dialogue. They master the art of conversation and share their leadership story or point of view – especially with those who are new to the organization.

4. Connectors – Authentic leaders lean into challenges and go the extra mile to work with, understand and develop the people they are privileged to lead.

You can read the full article here, which included a few tips to help us build our authenticity as leaders.


Shabbat Shalom,

Bruce K. Gould
President Elect and Vice President, Campaign

In this week’s Torah portion, Vayakhel, G-d commands the people of Israel to donate materials for the construction of the Mishkan. All kinds of material were required for the Mishkan's construction: metals (gold, silver and copper); fabrics and materials (wool, linen and skins); wood, oil, spices and precious stones.

As soon as Moses delivered the message, the people began collecting items to donate. They were so happy to contribute that they brought everything they had: jewelry and material and skins and fabrics. They brought so much that Moses had to tell them to stop.

Next, the Torah describes the workers who volunteered to build the Mishkan as "every man whose heart inspired him." These Israelites had absolutely no experience in this type of unique construction. What then made them qualified to carry it forth? The answer: Their "hearts inspired them." In other words, they had a desire. They were eager to do it. And by virtue of this desire and eagerness, they became qualified and rose to the occasion.

We’re taught that the most essential ingredient is not contemplation or analysis, but action. When we’re presented with an opportunity to do a mitzvah, to become more religiously observant or to get involved in a worthwhile endeavor, let us lighten up a bit on the philosophical introspection and self-examination and "Just do it!" 

This is what makes our leadership and donors so special. They are truly an inspiration and they move others to join them. Each stand up and don’t just talk about what they want to do, or how things can be done better, they take action and they make things happen even if it is something they have not done before. They join Task Forces, they become Makor members, they host parlor meetings, they travel to Israel to see JNF’s work and meet with our partners, and they do so much more.

Shabbat Shalom,

Yossi