It might seem unlikely that an organization famous for planting trees, building reservoirs, and supporting communities in the Negev and the North would align with film and TV production. But this is where Jewish National Fund-USA thrives—at the intersection of innovation and impact.
Through a powerful partnership with the Israel Entertainment Fund (IEF), JNF-USA is helping Israel tell its own stories—authentically, powerfully, and with heart—in alignment with its core mission.
“When JNF-USA helps bring stories like Red Alert to life, we’re not just funding a series, we’re standing with the women, families, and children of Israel, reminding them they are not alone. Stories like Red Alert turn empathy into action and share Israel’s truth with the world,” said JNF-USA National Campaign and Arts & Entertainment Initiatives Director, Sharon Joy.
Israel often faces biased media coverage that lacks context, fueling confusion and anti-Zionist sentiment. The Israel Entertainment Fund empowers supporters to champion high-quality digital content that portrays Israel in a positive, humanizing light.
“This project matters deeply,” says Nati Dinnar, IEF Director and CEO of IZZY TV. “Beyond the historical importance of the events it depicts, it was essential for the creators and production team to tell this story. It’s an opportunity to create real change.”
The new dramatic series Red Alert is a five-part narrative co-produced by JNF-USA through the IEF, Keshet 12, Green Productions, and others. It tells the stories of ordinary people who, in the face of terror and tragedy on October 7, became extraordinary. People who faced the unthinkable—and chose life.
These are not just stories of survival—they are stories of character. “This isn’t political,” says Ruth Efroni, Co-Creator and Green Productions Head of TV Content. “These are human stories.” Among them:
• Batsheva Yahalomi, whose husband was shot and taken to Gaza. She and her three children were abducted to Gaza on motorcycles. Miraculously, she and her two daughters (ages 10 and 20 months) escaped their captors while watching her son being taken to Gaza.
• Hamid Abu Ar-ar, a Muslim father of eight, whose wife was murdered while riding with him and his daughter. While hiding with his infant daughter in an electrical cabinet, he risked everything to save IDF soldiers by warning them of an impending ambush he overheard Hamas terrorists planning.
As Maya Fischer of Green Productions put it: “One of the things that is most important for us is to not only show who these people are, but who they were, what they lost, what was important to them before October 7. We don’t want to define them only by what happened to them on this terrible day. Their October 6th story is important”.
As I sat on set in Kibbutz Na’an, observing the mood and the intentions of everyone involved, I saw how every person, from acclaimed producers like Lawrence Bender (9-time Academy Award Winner, including An Inconvenient Truth) to actors known from Fauda, brought not just their talent, but their heart. With Israel still at war and hostages still in captivity, telling these stories posed unique challenges for the actors and crew. Everyone involved approached the project with the utmost respect and professionalism. The atmosphere was emotional and intense. There were tears. Hugs. Silent moments of grief and resolve made for a very soulful, close-knit, protective family atmosphere.
And now, thanks to you—our JNF-USA donors—these stories will be shared with the world. Your support makes this possible. You’re not just funding a TV series. You’re helping a nation heal. You’re giving voice to truth. And you’re helping ensure that no one forgets what happened—and what must never happen again.
Join us in October for the JNF-USA Global Conference for Israel for a Red Alert screening and conversations with the creative team and those whose lives are portrayed.
Together, we are planting more than trees. We are planting the seeds of memory, justice, and resilience to build a stronger, secure and prosperous future for the land and people of Israel.
Learn more about Jewish National Fund-USA’s Arts and Entertainment Initiatives.
Written and photographed by Jackie Goldstein, Proud Sapphire Society Member, National WFI Executive Board, JNF-USA Board of Directors, Atlanta, WFI Steering Committee, JNF-USA Arts & Entertainment Initiatives.
Click here to read more about Jackie’s on-set experience.