Annual Breakfast to Highlight Life-Changing Israeli Youth Program
ALBANY, N.Y., August 7, 2023 — Self-confidence, resilience, communication, and creativity are key qualities of an effective leader. On Thursday, September 28, 2023, at 8:00 am, Jewish National Fund-USA’s Breakfast for Israel at the Albany Marriott will spotlight its affiliate Green Horizons, an Israeli youth program that is empowering the leaders of tomorrow to obtain many of these attributes and more, while also deeply bonding them with the land of Israel.
Green Horizons is the only organization in Israel that teaches youth about the interdependence between Zionism and the environment. Students in grades 5 -12 leave smartphones and electronics behind while getting to know their country using senses and intuition as they explore the great outdoors — relying on skills and judgment as they are immersed in nature and learn about the history of our homeland right where it happened.
Kids and teens meet weekly with counselors, who were once participants themselves. They become experts at map reading, botany, geology, history, topography, and surviving alone in the wild, which prepares them to trek Israel by foot on jaw-dropping monthly hikes. Over the course of several days, they sleep under the stars, explore unmarked trails, learn to track animals, cook meals over bonfires, and participate in other adventurous activities.
In addition, Green Horizons:
The annual event will be chaired by local philanthropists Janis Cohen, Harold Iselin, Karen Lobel, Linda Mandel, and Debbie Ratner, and the Breakfast for Israel will look to inspire the attendees by sharing details about the more than 60,000 alumni who have participated in this life-changing program, made possible by philanthropists in the Capital Region and nationwide.
“Green Horizons provides Israeli children with an opportunity to experience Israel’s natural beauty and to develop self-confidence and independence,” said Event Chair Harold Iselin. “Most importantly, they have fun and develop special friendships. Jewish National Fund-USA’s support for the program is critical to enabling participants from all backgrounds to deepen their connection to their country, the environment, and themselves.”
This will be Jewish National Fund-USA’s 8th annual complimentary community event, which has brought high-caliber speakers, as well as entertaining and impactful programming to philanthropists in the Capital Region. All Jewish National Fund-USA events strive to captivate the audience while educating fellow Zionists about the organization’s overall vision to build a strong, vibrant future for the land and people of Israel. This year’s keynote address will be delivered by Ido Reichman-Eisikovits, Jewish National Fund-USA's Green Horizons Vice President of Fundraising and Marketing.
A proud Major in the Israel Defense Forces Reserves, Reichman-Eisikovits formerly served as an appointed advisor to Peru’s military, as Vice Chairman of the National Union of Israeli Students, and as the CEO of advertising agency Alhon Holdings.
For more information or to register, visit jnf.org/BFIcapitalregion or contact Emily Pfeffer, JNF-USA Associate Director, New England & the Capital Region at epfeffer@jnf.org or 617.423.0999 x812. Additional information about Green Horizons is available at green-horizons.org.
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Media Contact:
Jennifer Milton
About Jewish National Fund-USA
Jewish National Fund-USA builds a strong, vibrant future for the land and people of Israel through bold initiatives and Zionist education. As a leading philanthropic movement, the organization supports critical environmental and nation-building activities in Israel’s north and south as it develops new communities in the Negev and Galilee, connects the next generation to Israel, and creates infrastructure and programs that support ecology, people with disabilities, and heritage site preservation, all while running a fully accredited study abroad experience through its Alexander Muss High School in Israel. Learn more at jnf.org.