A MESSAGE FROM JNF AMERICA AMBASSDOR TO KKL AND ISRAEL STANLEY M. CHESLEY
Jewish National Fund
4 JNF.org
I want to thank you for the fastest, most productive six years of my life. As I look back on my tenure as President of Jewish National Fund I cannot believe what we have accomplished. JNF mirrors Israel—or maybe it’s the reverse—but no matter the order, we—JNF—are the “Will Do, Can Do, Now” people. We see a job, a project, that needs to get done and we do it—now. It may read like a laundry list but behind every achievement is a lot of thought, your support, a vetting process that a top 500 company would envy, and a lot of passion and love. Look at the Negev. For 65 years (really, for thousands) it was more desert than home. A decade after we made Blueprint Negev a priority, the region boasts new life, new water, upscale homes, is preparing to accommodate the IDF, has become a national priority for the Israeli government with millions in funding to back up that commitment, and is becoming the place of choice for young Israelis to build their lives. Soon water will even be running under the newly redesigned Pipes Bridge! In short, it is undergoing a renaissance and that is all thanks to JNF putting it front and center. We are good at recognizing need and then filling it. We are more than good at it; we are great. Look at what we do in times of crisis: the Sderot Indoor Recreation Center, the Carmel Forest Fire, our Emergency Relief campaign—we see a need and we respond in the blink of an eye. There is mobility to this organization, kinetic energy that allows it to move back and forth between developing long-term vision and responding to short-term needs that is unparalleled and of which I am most proud. Domestically, our Zionist education program is the largest in the U.S. and we are building towards the future with our new partnership and acquisition of Alexander Muss High School in Israel; we underwent a realignment that streamlined our fundraising processes and has other organizations seeking our advice; we built the 9/11 Living Memorial—the only memorial outside of the U.S. that lists all the names of those who died on 9/11; and we are in the midst of a capital campaign that will transform JNF House into the premier home of Jewish organizational life in Manhattan. I hand over the presidential reins to the very capable Jeffrey Levine and assume a new role within the organization: JNF America Ambassador to KKL and Israel. I know that my new role will see me spending more time in Israel, working with ministers, and, while remaining apolitical, allowing them to see how important JNF’s work is to the land and people of Israel, how we are part of the very fabric of the country. I thank you for the past six years and look forward to the future— there is no end to what this organization can and will achieve. Contact me at schesley@jnf.org.
JNF Program Areas Community Building JNF enhances quality of life in Israel by building new communities and bolstering existing ones, in peripheral areas. With 90% of Israel’s population concentrated in less than 40% of the country, the northern and southern regions are largely uninhabited. JNF plays a major role in helping to develop new communities in these areas, giving families an alternative to Israel’s crowded and expensive center, and rejuvenating established towns with opportunities to combat unemployment and stagnant population growth.
FORESTRY & Green Innovations As an innovator in ecological development and a pioneer in forest creation, JNF has planted more than 240 million trees in Israel, providing luscious belts of green covering more than 250,000 acres. JNF’s parks and forests are enjoyed by millions of people each weekend and holiday. Through agricultural infrastructure development, research, and soil conservation, JNF has been able to create and extend the presence of fertile land where there was once endless desert.
Water Renewal JNF has been at the forefront of water management and conservation in Israel for two decades, increasing the country’s total water supply by 12% and helping Israel become a world leader in water recycling. JNF’s network of over 250 recycled water reservoirs provide almost half of the water used for agriculture, saving enough freshwater to meet the needs of 4.4 million people a year.
Research & Development JNF has sponsored research initiatives in Israel as part of its efforts to cultivate the land. Today, JNF is a world leader in both technological and environmental innovation. Working with distinguished academic and scientific institutions in Israel and abroad, JNF has supported innovative solutions in the areas of solar power, water sustainability, and agricultural development.
ZIONIST Education & Advocacy JNF is the single largest provider of Zionist engagement programs in the U.S. and offers myriad ways to connect young American Jews to Israel, from trips to Israel to B’nai Mitzvah projects and advocacy programs on college campuses. In addition, JNF supports leadership development and environmental education programs for Israeli youth.
Heritage Sites Israel is well-known for its ancient historical sites, but remnants of its rich modern history can also be found in every corner of the country. JNF is committed to the preservation of historical sites associated with Israel’s rebirth and to ensuring that the stories behind them are properly documented and retold for generations to come. Heritage site development enables JNF to share the past, the important events, places, struggles and the fight for Israel’s independence.
Inclusion & Therapeutic Services JNF is dedicated to ensuring that no member of Israeli society is left behind. Through a variety of initiatives, JNF provides cutting-edge rehabilitative services, special education, and medical care for people with special needs and makes its forests, parks, picnic areas, playgrounds, nature trails, and recreation facilities “inclusive” to visitors of all ability levels.