Together Summer 2018 B’Yachad has the largest circulation of any Jewish-American newsletter. We hope you enjoy this issue. Send your feedback to newsletter@jnf.org. - B’Yachad Editorial Staff
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 5
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B’ YACHAD STAFF PUBLISHER
Russell F. Robinson EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Jodi Bodner
Honor Your Legacy
Empowering Women
Israel’s New Wave
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Daniel Peri MANAGING EDITOR
Adam H. Brill ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Marina Brodetsky CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Don Morris ART DIRECTORS
Gaby Garuz Jessica Herschler DIGITAL PRODUCTION
Greg Weber
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND (JNF) began in 1901 as a dream and vision to reestablish a homeland in Israel for Jewish people everywhere. Jews the world over collected coins in iconic JNF Blue Boxes, purchasing land and planting trees until ultimately, their dream of a Jewish homeland was a reality. Today, JNF continues to give all generations a unique voice in building and ensuring the prosperity of the land of Israel through their generosity and partnership with the people of Israel. JNF strives to bring an enhanced quality of life to all of Israel’s residents, and translate these advancements to the world beyond. JNF is greening the desert with millions of trees, building thousands of parks, creating new communities and cities for generations of Israelis to call home, bolstering Israel’s water supply, helping develop innovative arid-agriculture techniques, and educating both young and old about the founding and importance of Israel and Zionism. JNF is a registered 501(c)(3) organization and United Nations NGO, which continuously earns top ratings from charity overseers. For more information on JNF, call 800.JNF.0099 or visit jnf.org.
We’re Halfway There! IN 2014, JEWISH NATIONAL FUND launched its revolutionary One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the
Next Decade, a groundbreaking campaign on behalf of our one and only Jewish homeland, Israel. This campaign channels Jewish National Fund’s values for new ventures and calls for investments in a range of initiatives, including community building in Israel’s periphery, engaging the next generation with Israel, heritage preservation, work for individuals with special needs, and so much more. Four years into this 10-year plan and the response from donors has been nothing short of amazing. I am proud to announce that Jewish National Fund has generated $505 million and is continuing its march toward the $1 billion mark ahead of schedule! Building infrastructure and communities represents more than 40% of our Roadmap. Since 2014, Jewish National Fund has opened new medical centers in the Central Arava and Halutza, and has helped alleviate Israel’s growing housing crisis by developing more than 800 housing sites throughout the Negev and Galilee thanks to JNF’s Housing Development Fund. It has also been steadily improving the quality of life and infrastructure in the Negev’s development towns, with Be’er Sheva having undergone a revolutionary change and now considered Israel’s fastest growing city—something unimaginable less than a decade ago. These are just some of Jewish National Fund’s accomplishments in the four short years since the One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade was launched. We have just under six years left with much more to do for the land and people of Israel. Jewish National Fund is building new fire stations and purchasing scores of new fire trucks so our brave first responders are better prepared and equipped. We are building more accessible parks, new buildings, and programs for individuals with disabilities and special needs. The once hidden gems of the Galilee are now there to be explored by all thanks to Jewish National Fund’s new Western Galilee Tourist Information Center in Akko. And of course, water is the essence of life, and Jewish National Fund continues to help mitigate Israel’s long-term drought and is raising funds to build more reservoirs for agricultural needs. This is all made possible thanks to you—the most passionate and dedicated Zionists in philanthropy today. I, along with Jewish National Fund’s lay leadership and professional staff, look forward to us reaching the finish line ahead of schedule and bringing to fruition all of the plans in the Roadmap for the benefit of the land and people of Israel, and the Jewish people everywhere. Thank you for all you do,
Jewish National Fund, CEO