I’m a Woman for Israel Because...

The hardest part of interviewing Jacqui Schneider is getting her to talk about herself.  She would much rather talk about JNF and the amazing life-changing work they do or her JNF leadership role models Debbie Kornberg, Sherri Schenk, Barbara Burry, and Kim Kotzin who took her under wing, supported, encouraged her, and pushed her along.

Up until Covid times, her knowledge of JNF extended to the Blue Box of her childhood and planting trees in Israel. And her Jewish philanthropy extended as far as her community. But when Covid forced all of us into homebound isolation, she joined a JNF virtual tour of Israel. Within a few months, she attended additional tours and recruited her friends to join. In no time, she was asked to become a Woman for Israel, became a member of the Sapphire Society, and began chairing Women for Israel in San Diego. “I wish I had discovered JNF 40 years ago. Who knows what I’d be into now!”, says Jacqui.

She attributes the success of her WFI region to JNF programs and the ability for donors to direct their funds to a myriad of options. “If you tell me what you’re interested in, I will find something that JNF is doing that you can connect to and feel passionate about.”

 
Some of the first of JNF’s programs that caught Jacqui’s interest were water solutions and the wide range of programs for people with disabilities, especially Special in Uniform. On a recent trip to Israel, she was gob-smacked to find that her Israeli nephew had been in “Special in Uniform” for 2 years. “The day he was rejected from the Army, our family suffered. The day he was accepted into Special in Uniform was the brightest day for our family”, said her Sister-in law, Shula. This was an unexpected connection that affirmed her deeply meaningful and unbreakable ties with JNF.

What Jacqui wants Women for Israel to remember: “Women are powerful. We can and do make a huge difference. JNF is apolitical - we are Zionists committed to building a stronger, healthier Israel. I’m excited to see what the future brings.”

Written by Jackie Goldstein, Co-chair WFI Atlanta