Greater Los Angeles philanthropist presented with organization’s highest honor
LOS ANGELES, Calif., November 17, 2022 — Over 1,400 supporters of the land and people of Israel, including a delegation from Greater Los Angeles, united in Boston on November 4-6, 2022, for an unforgettable and riveting weekend at Jewish National Fund-USA’s largest ever National Conference. The organization’s annual symposium is unique in that it brings together high school students, college students, rabbinical students, leading philanthropists, prominent Zionist thought leaders, and Israelis from the Negev and Galilee who are directly and positively impacted by the partnership of Jewish National Fund-USA.
Rachel Herman, Neuriel Shore, Alyse Golden Berkley, Lauren Cohen, Eva Katz, Alice Sherman (Courtesy Jewish National Fund-USA)
Jewish National Fund-USA’s President, Dr. Sol Lizerbram, announced that the organization was close to achieving its fundraising target for its One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade as its supporters reclaim the Zionist narrative and stand up against Jew-hatred.
“The conference was a combination of intense learning about our impact in Israel, meeting and reuniting with our JNF-USA family from around the country, learning what other regions are doing, and having so much fun,” said Sara Cannon, member of the Greater Los Angeles Board of Directors, Arts & Entertainment Task Force and regional Women for Israel Chair.
In addition to hearing from incredible speakers and influencers including Israel's Ambassador, Michael Herzog, Ronald S. Lauder, Olga Meshoe Washington, Rachel Fish, Hen Mazzig, and Ben M. Freeman, attendees also celebrated the 50th anniversary of Jewish National Fund-USA’s Alexander Muss High School in Israel (Muss). Participants also learned about one of the organization’s largest initiatives ever announced — the creation of a 20-acre World Zionist Village to be built in Be'er Sheva, Israel, which will bring together Jews and Zionists of all ages and backgrounds from around the world.
Greater Los Angeles philanthropists and members of Jewish National Fund-USA’s Arts & Entertainment Task Force with members of the Special in Uniform Band
Through various engaging plenaries and interactive sessions including a “Shark Tank-style,” event featuring the chair and Greater Los Angeles-based founder of the Arts & Entertainment Task Force, Civia Caroline, who served as a “judge,” attendees were impressed to learn how the organization is the largest provider of Zionist educational activities in the U.S., and how it is improving the quality of life throughout Israel by providing new beginnings for Ukrainian refugees and families making aliyah (immigration to Israel); creating new employment and housing opportunities; delivering ag-tech solutions to farmers in developing countries; empowering people with disabilities to thrive in Israeli society; solving global food and water crises, and so much more.
“A dairy farm in the desert, a 100% off the grid aquatic center in the middle of nowhere, building the finest culinary institute in the world located in the Greater Kiryat Shmona area — a region in which people never before talked about moving to, only moving from,” said Jewish National Fund-USA’s CEO Russell F. Robinson. “This is our opportunity to stand up and say to the world and to future generations, ‘we are one and we are in!’”
During the conference’s closing night gala, Dr. Lizerbram presented Greater Los Angeles philanthropist, Past President of Greater Los Angeles Board of Directors Alyse Golden Berkley, with Jewish National Fund-USA’s President’s Award, the organization’s highest honor.
Jewish National Fund-USA’s President, Dr. Sol Lizerbram and President’s Award recipient, Alyse Golden Berkley (Photo credit: Hannah Rose Osofsky)
Jewish National Fund-USA's National Conference also welcomed over 600 high school and college students from across the country. Other conference highlights included emotional performances by the organization's Special in Uniform band, an initiative supported by the Arts & Entertainment and Disabilities Task Forces, that empowers young people with cognitive disabilities to serve in the Israel Defense Forces and enjoy the same “rite of passage” as their peers. An exclusive late-night cocktail reception was also held for 200 young philanthropists ages 22-40.
“My wife Linda and I traveled to Israel in September 2022 with Jewish National Fund-USA’s President’s Society,” said JNF-USA partner (donor), Paul Adler. “Our trip was eye-opening, quite inspirational, and a lot of fun. After seeing what the organization has accomplished throughout Israel, I’m now getting involved to help further its objectives and aspirations for the Jewish state and its people. For me, the Conference in Boston put an additional spotlight on another side of the organization and all that it does. It was compelling to see so many people in unison — all committed to Jewish National Fund-USA and passionate in their own way about the Jewish homeland and building an ever-stronger nation, especially in the peripheral communities of the Galilee and Negev.”
Registration is now open for Jewish National Fund-USA’s 2023 International Conference for Israel, which will take place from November 30-December 3 in Denver, Colorado. Sign-up at jnf.org/nc2023 or contact Louis Rosenberg, JNF-USA Executive Director, Greater Los Angeles at 323-964-1400 x963 or lrosenberg@jnf.org.
###
Media Contact:
Jennifer Milton
561.447.9733 x 875
About Jewish National Fund-USA
JNF-USA is the leading philanthropic organization for Israel that supports critical environmental and nation-building activities in Israel’s north and south. Through its One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade, JNF-USA is developing new communities in the Galilee and Negev, connecting the next generation to Israel, and creating infrastructure and programs that support ecology, individuals with special needs, and heritage site preservation.