Jewish National Fund-USA to Lead “We Choose Life” Solidarity Mission to Israel
JERUSALEM, September 27, 2024 — Jewish National Fund-USA supporters and leaders from across the United States will unite like never before with the people of Israel during the organization’s "We Choose Life" Solidarity Mission to Israel. From October 6 to October 9, participants will honor the memories of those who perished in the heinous terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023, while standing with the survivors and supporting Israel's ongoing recovery.
From the very first moment, Jewish National Fund-USA swung into action, providing immediate relief to displaced Israelis. These efforts were powered by the generosity of hundreds of thousands of American partners (donors). The mission is unique in that it will give these donors the opportunity to witness how their philanthropic dollars directly helped the people of Israel.
The participants will meet with survivors, members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), first responders, and community leaders, all of whom have shown remarkable courage and strength in the face of adversity.
“As we approach the first anniversary of the October 7 tragedy, Jewish National Fund-USA offers a powerful opportunity to transform grief into action and fear into hope,” said Mission Chair Deb Lust Zaluda. “This solidarity mission allows participants to stand united with our family and friends in Israel, remembering and honoring those lost while witnessing the incredible resilience of the people of Israel. By joining this journey, individuals can play a direct role in Israel's story of strength and renewal, affirming that once again, even in the face of tragedy, our shared bonds and commitment to mitzvot, good deeds, justice, and life-affirming rituals, we continue to light the way forward. Together, we honor the past while building a stronger, more united future for Israel.”
A Journey of Solidarity and Support
The mission will begin on October 6 with an opening program at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, where participants will hear from a representative of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel. Hostage Square, a public plaza in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, has become a central location for families calling attention to the plight of hostages taken by Hamas.
The mission will also visit key sites affected by the attacks. On October 7, participants will travel to Yad Mordechai, a kibbutz located near the Gaza border, to pay respects at the site hit by a Hamas terror rocket during the initial wave of the October 7 attacks.
The group will then visit the Sha’ar HaNegev Athletic Center, where they will lay a cornerstone in memory of Ofir Libstein, the late mayor of the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council and a dear friend of Jewish National Fund-USA CEO, Russell F. Robinson. The mission will also honor the memories of the other community members murdered in the attacks.
In a moving ceremony, mission participants will gather at the Nova Festival site in Kibbutz Re’im, where a new Sefer Torah will be dedicated as part of JNF-USA’s Be Inscribed initiative, symbolizing that the Jewish People will continue to endure and prosper.
The group will then take part in a Building Together Ceremony at Kibbutz Re’im, commemorating those lost, supporting hostage families, and sharing plans for rebuilding affected communities.
Addressing the Challenges in Israel’s North
On October 8, the mission will shift its focus to the north of Israel, where thousands have been displaced by rocket fire from Hezbollah. Participants will visit Akko in the Western Galilee, where they will meet with local residents to discuss the challenges facing small businesses and industries that have been affected by the conflict – and how Jewish National Fund-USA’s “Reimagine” Plan is already giving the region hope for the future.
The mission will also honor the memory of Yarden Buskila, a victim of the Nova Festival massacre, by packing Western Galilee Now boxes for soldiers. Yarden grew up in Kibbutz Kfar Masaryk, and participants will visit the kibbutz to commemorate his life.
The mission will conclude with a tour of Be’er Sheva, where the group will tour the site of Jewish National Fund-USA’s planned World Zionist Village – one of the largest philanthropic capital projects in Israel’s history that will reinvigorate and inspire the conversation around Zionism’s future. They will then gather for dinner at the Alexander Muss High School in Israel’s Be’er Sheva campus, where participants will hear from young Israeli agricultural volunteers, listen to the Special in Uniform Band, and meet with local mayors from the south, including Be’er Sheva mayor, Ruvik Danilovich.
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Media Contact:
Yael Levontin
054.201.2911
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.