Congratulations Israel A meaningful new home

Centre – the largest hospital in the country’s south and the only one in the Negev – by developing a healing garden.

The Jewish National Fund is delighted to be celebrating Israel’s 75th Yom Ha’atzmaut with its supportive community.

JNF is proud to have contributed to essential environmental projects in Israel, greening our beautiful homeland by planting more than 260 million trees, as well as conducting conservation works, water projects, agricultural research and supporting technological innovation.

JNF is dedicated to supporting the many inspirational Israelis that work tirelessly to improve the environment in Israel and is committed to the welfare of her people.

That’s why JNF is pleased that, in this milestone year, all its campaigns will support the growth and development of Israel’s south.

This September, its 2023 Major Campaign will focus on support for the Soroka Medical

The Centre serves in excess of 60 per cent of Israel’s land area. Upwards of one million patients rely upon Soroka’s care every year. The healing garden will offer a pathway to recovery and peace to many of the most vulnerable.

Ever mindful that its core mission is environmental, JNF Australia also supports a wide range of vital benevolent relief projects.

To mark Israel’s special anniversary, JNF is running two special tours to Israel – the JNF 75th Celebration Tour and a JNFuture Leadership Tour.

May Israel continue to go from strength to strength with the love and support of JNF Australia and the entire Jewish community.

To contact JNF, please email office@jnf.org. au or phone 1300 563 563.

St Kilda shule has bought the desk that belonged to General Sir John Monash GCMG, KCB, VD (1865-1931), the founding president of the Zionist Federation of Australia and New Zealand.

Rabbi Yaakov Glasman announced the news to his congregation after the desk was purchased by the synagogue’s president Janice Iloni-Furstenberg. She donated it to the shule to become Rabbi Glasman’s new working desk.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes when I stumbled upon John Monash’s desk on Posh Opp Shoppe’s Facebook page,” said IloniFurstenberg.

“Monash has been an incredibly important figure in our shule and it was amazing to think we could have another piece of his history.”

The synagogue also owns a gavel that belonged to Monash. The desk’s journey from

Monash’s home in Toorak to the St Kilda shule was explained by Monash’s great-grandson, Michael Bennett. He told Rabbi Glasman that when his father, Sir John Monash's grandson Colin Bennett, passed away last year, Michael Bennett donated his great grandfather's desk to the op shop, which raises money for disadvantaged children. Monash was a longstanding member of St Kilda synagogue and served on its board between 1920 and 1931.

"It feels surreal to be sitting at the same desk at which Sir John Monash sat,” Rabbi Glasman said.

“It's deeply humbling to think every time I sit down to write an email, I'm sitting at the desk of a true Australian hero and arguably the most prominent Australian Jew in our history."

After the desk arrived in Rabbi Glasman’s office, Michael Bennett paid a visit to the shule to see its new home.

He, the rabbi and the president then talked about “all things Monash”.