A Message from
Milton S. Shapiro,

President's Column

by Neal F. Zalenko

INF National President

T

u B'Shevat, the Jewish New Year
of the Trees, offers us an oppor-
tunity to look back at all that we
have accomplished by planting trees in Israel.
Israel's forests, planted by the Jewish National Fund,
have been a major factor in Israel's transformation over
the course of a century. Consider the fact that Israel, a for-
merly barren land, is the only country whose forests, in-
stead of desert lands, are increasing. Israel is also the only
country that will have more trees at the end of the century
than it had at the beginning.
Israel's trees greatly benefit every Israeli, in every sec-
tion of Israel. In the cities, JNF parks and playgrounds are
a vital resource to families living in crowded urban areas.
In the desert agricultural communities, trees raise the un-
derground water table, restore humidity and decrease
dust. Trees also stop soil erosion and reduce noise and air
pollution.
While we enjoy looking back at our accomplishments,
Tu B'Shevat should also inspire us to move forward. Cer-
tainly JNF's completion of the Jerusalem Green Belt de-
serves the wholehearted support of the Jewish
community.
Jerusalem, the city that we yearned for over genera-
tions, is the capital of the entire Jewish people. During the
Jerusalem 3000 celebrations, let us strengthen and beauti-
fy the city through supporting JNF's efforts to complete
the Jerusalem Green Belt of 1.5 million trees. Let us seize
this historic moment and tell the world how unshakable
our bond with Jerusalem is.

Flora S. Hoffman Establishes Annuity

One of the ardent supporters
of Jewish National Fund, Flora S.
Hoffman, recently invested a con-
siderable amount of money in an
"Ln Agreement, one ofJNF's an-
nuities. Previously, Mrs. Hoffman
established: A Dunam at Neve Ur
Reservoir; a Guardianship at Beit
Bluma School in Petach Tikvah;
3 Homesites in Be'er Sheva; a For-
est of 10,000 Trees in the Ameri-
can Independence Park; and
generous donations toward a Fire
Engine Project, Emergency Fire
Campaign and many other cam-

paigns, all in memory of her
beloved parents, Bessie and Mey-
er Beckman and her beloved
daughter, Myra Jacqueline Hoff-
man.
"What a wonderful way to per-
sonally benefit from an investment
with the knowledge that eventu-
ally my investment will be turned
over to such a worthy cause as the
JNF," remarked Mrs. Hoffman.
The Officers and Board of Di-
rectors of JNF extend to Flora
their best wishes for continued
good health and happiness. 4.

Jerusalem 3000

TI - IF n

un ni T . I FWI SH N FW S

At the invitation of
Jerusalem city officials, JNF will ...
....build Gan Yaldei Yisrael, a unique children's garden

with eight milestones highlighting significant periods in
Jerusalem's history.

*...complete the magnificent Green Belt of trees that en-
circles Jerusalem, symbolizing the fact that Jerusalem is and
always will be the unified capital of Israel.

*...restore the Jerusalem Corridor forests destroyed in the
July 2 fire, the worst in Israel's history, which destroyed two
million trees, devastated nearly 5,000 acres of land, and caused
at least $20 million in damage.

*...develop the KKL Park and Events Center in the Judean
Hills for Jerusalem's inhabitants.

11 of realize that we need to devote
much more effort to making sure
Ath at the generations to come will
have a strong Jewish future and a strong Jewish heritage. It is
wonderful to be involved with a great Jewish organization
that is doing so much to ensure both of these strengths.
Last summer, the hills leading into Jerusalem, once
filled with life, were filled with blackness and death. The
fire robbed Israel of homes, wildlife, two million trees, and .
much more. The 6,000 acres which burned represent the
dreams and visions of a new life carved out of a harsh land
by the sweat, tears and toil of thousands of Israelis. The re-
sponse of the Detroit Jewish community to this fire emer-
gency was inspirational and demonstrates to our brethren
in Israel that we are all one.
On Monday, February 5th, we will be celebrating Tu
B'Shevat, the new year of trees. Hundreds of thousands of
Israelis will be planting trees on this special day. Why not
be part of this holiday by ordering a Tu B'Shevat tree in
honor of a loved one. Call our office at 810-557-6644.
The JNF is currently taking an active role in a most excit-
ing period of time in Israel, the 3000th anniversary of the
city of Jerusalem! JNF has committed to three major pro-
jects: building a major park and events center for the city; a
large children's park called Gan Yaldei Yisrael; and, the
completion of the "Green Bet" of trees around Jerusalem.
I urge you to visit Israel during the next eighteen
months. This is truly a historic time to be in our homeland.
Join our brethren to celebrate the 3000th birthday of our
true united capital - Jerusalem!

Garden Donors
Enrolled As Of
January 18, 1996:

We acknowledge with sincere
appreciation the following garden
donors who enrolled in the Michi-
gan Garden Club as ofJanuary 18,
1996:
JACOB KELLMAN; EL-
EANOR & LOU HEYMAN,
SANDY& RAYSTOI J FR; FLO
MARS; SHIRLEY & ART POL-
LACK; ESTELLE & HARVEY
COLE; DEE & HOWARD FIN-
SILVER; HELEN PERSHIN;
Ii FNE & SAM BABCOCK; GER-
RIE Sc HERM BENNETT;
RICHARD ROSENHAUS; MAR-
VIN BLAKE; DAVID & ANN
ROSENBERG, BARRY, STEVAN
& ROCHELLE; LARRYD. KAUF-
MAN; ESTHER & RONNIE MI-
LAN; PARENTS OF MARA
ELAINE TOBIN; THE HOLLI-
DAY FAMILY; SIMON & ES-
THER TABACHNIK; ROSE
PAULL; FAMILY& FRIENDS OF
MURRAY LIBERMAN. r.

Golden Book
Subscribers As Of
January 18, 1996:

Golden Book subscribers help
the JNF continue land reclama-
tion in Israel. We salute the fol-
lowing contributors of Golden
Books as ofJanuary 18, 1996:

RHODA & JACKADELMAN;
ELAINE & HAROLD EDEL-
SON; JANICE & ROBERT
MANN; NANCY& MARTIN MY-
ERS; DOREEN & DAVID B.
HERMELIN; LOUIS MIL-
GROM; LILLIAN & JACK W.
&
PERLMAN; MYRON
JACQUELINE MILGROM; MR.
& MRS. MARVIN HEIDENRE-
ICH & FAMILY; ESTHER &
RONNIE MILAN; THE RADER
FAMILY; LINDA & MARTY
WEISSMAN; ERWIN & SYLVIA
HARVITH.

"Of Blessed
Memory"

We mourn the loss of:
ROBERT S. AMBERG, MORRIS
D. BAKER, DAVID MICHAEL
BERNSTEIN, MARJORIE BO-
RAKS, GEORGE BRODYJER-
RY S. COHEN, SARA
AXELROD CRAWSHAW, EVE-
LYN DWORKIN, HENRYFEIN-
STEIN, EDWARD L FINE, LOIS
GORDON, JOSEPH LEVINE,
BEATRICE LEVINSOHN, SID-
NEY LIEBERMAN, LILLIAN
MARKOWITZ, DOROTHY
MOSS, LOUIS PEARLMAN,
IRVING RICHTER, MAURICE
ROSEN, JANET SLATKIN,
DENNIS SOLOMON, MEIER
TREITMAN, WILLIAM VALEN-
SKY, VIVIAN WENST, IRV-
ING WOLFE, THEODORE
ZACK.