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Americans are signing up for volunteer missions to Israel with Jewish National Fund-USA as the organization continues its support for the communities devasted by the October 7 terrorist attacks.

NEW YORK, December 27, 2023 — Americans nationwide are signing up to volunteer in Israel with Jewish National Fund-USA's Missions to Israel. The week-long trips support relief efforts aimed at shoring up the country’s food security, assisting at rehabilitation hospitals, and supporting civilian logistical needs on army bases.

Volunteer mission highlights include:

• Spend time with evacuees and the people providing lifesaving efforts to support them.
• Take part in community service helping with anything needed, from cooking to assistance in daycares, laundry, or cleaning up.
• Work with Hashomer HaChadash on farms, picking vegetables and other crops to prevent food shortages and ensure no farmer is left alone.
• Volunteer at an army base and take on logistical roles necessary to fill the void of the over 350,000 Israelis serving in the IDF and reserves.

For Chicago-based philanthropist Deb Lust Zaluda, taking part in Jewish National Fund-USA’s inaugural volunteer mission in mid-December impacted her in unexpected ways.

“I wanted to have an impact in Israel, make a difference, do something, feel useful, however, what I didn’t expect was the impact the mission would have on me,” said Lust Zaluda, who is also the organization’s Assistant VP of Missions.

Volunteers picked over 4 tonnes of citrus fruit (Credit Arnold Abelman)

“Yes, we pulled weeds so that the fields of green onions didn’t suffocate and could be harvested when it was time. We picked citrus, which would have gone rotten on the trees if not for us. But more importantly, we listened. We listened to the story of the lone soldier from Texas, Noah, who went back into the army after being released so he could join his unit in Gaza. We heard from Erez, a citrus farmer in the south of Israel whose family was evicted from Tunisia in the early 1950s with just the clothes on their backs. Erez’s family knew nothing of farming when they arrived in Israel, but they helped make the desert bloom in the Negev through their grit and determination.”

She added, “Erez, after looking at our group of volunteers, was truly shocked by how much we did – as his level of trust in the future had been shattered.”

The volunteer missions include accommodation, airport transfers, armed security, daily transportation to sites, 4-6 hours of daily volunteering, and all meals. Trips will run every other week and are currently scheduled through May 2024.

For more information, visit jnf.org/travel. Support Israel with Jewish National Fund-USA’s Israel Resilience Campaign.

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Media Contact:

Stefan Oberman

212.879.9305 x222

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.