BECAUSE OF YOU…
Jewish National Fund-USA will be able to help rebuild the land of Israel and continue to help the people in the North and South.
Jewish National Fund-USA has developed a bold and comprehensive strategic plan to rebuild communities in the Israel Envelope (formally known as the Gaza Envelope), which is the populated areas in the Southern District of Israel that are up to 4.3 miles from the Gaza Strip border. Called Build Together (Livnot B’Yachad), the plan will soon also include the Reimagine Plan, which will then cover Northern Israel as well. When asked about his dreams for the future of Israel, one community leader responded, “We were never asked before and I never had the money to dream. Now I do.”
Both the Build Together plan and the Reimagine Plan will honor the memory of those lost and give hope to survivors when they return home.
The goal of Build Together is twofold. Jewish National Fund-USA aims to help bring Israelis back home. This will be accomplished in coordination with the area residents and thousands of volunteers from around the world. In addition, Jewish National Fund-USA intends to increase the population by creating secure and beautiful havens while supporting the needs, issues, and dreams of the residents of the many Moshavs (cooperative agricultural settlements), Kibbutzim (collective communities) and the City of Sderot. Safety, education, mental health and healing, comfort, jobs, and services will all be addressed.
Jewish National Fund-USA has been on the ground in these areas for over 20 years and has developed partnerships and the trust of the Israelis. Jewish National Fund-USA will be collaborating with leading housing developers and construction firms to rebuild communities with modern, sustainable, environmentally-sound techniques. State-of-the-art, efficient power (including solar), water (including recycled) and transportation systems are all part of the plan.
Volunteers have been and will continue to be involved in park beautification, building playgrounds, and creating outdoor classrooms and therapeutic areas. Projects that were already in the works by Jewish National Fund-USA, such as Community Centers and Emergency Response Centers, will be completed.
Build Together is moving forward all while the Emergency Efforts (Jewish National Fund-USA Resilience Plan) continues to be implemented. The Resilience Plan works to support evacuees with housing, food, clothing, education, and other everyday needs, while also providing therapy via one-on-one sessions, groups, animal-assisted therapy, and JNF-USA’s many Resilience Centers. Jewish National Fund-USA is supporting firefighters engaged in civil defense with equipment, such as rapid response vehicles, radios, and tactical clothing.
Many volunteers (both international and Israeli) have been engaged in working in the fields to ensure that food production continues. They have also been involved in working with displaced and traumatized children and contributing to respite activities. 36,000 Israelis have been checking on the elderly and infirm and those unable to evacuate.
Jewish National Fund-USA retrofitted a bus to serve as a public service center in the Sha’ar HaNegev Region, located in the north-western Negev and bordered on the west by the Gaza Strip. The region’s heroic mayor was one of the first killed on October 7. This center will offer psychological services, a resilience center and welfare offices to help community members who remain displaced. Meanwhile, this month families have started moving back to Sderot! They will be able to use the Sderot Indoor Playground, established by Jewish National Fund-USA 16 years ago and damaged in the war, as a safe place for children to play and adults to gather and receive resilience and employment counseling.
The only rehabilitation hospital in the south of Israel is located at the JNF-USA affiliate ADI-Negev Nahalat Eran facility and it is providing essential medical services to thousands of wounded soldiers. Jewish National Fund-USA also supports the Hostages and Missing Families forum.
The Build Together plan promises to rebuild communities devastated by the attacks and ongoing war, while keeping the spirits and hopes of the people high and making a tangible difference for the future. Join Jewish National Fund-USA in imagining the sounds of tomorrow: children playing in the parks and the construction of new homes. Give to Israel through Jewish National Fund-USA’s visionary Build Together plan. Your impact matters.
Written by Lyn Buzen, Chair, Long Island Regional Board and Vice Chair, National Women for Israel Newsletter