A New Era
Ronald S. Lauder Elected President
Of The Jewish National Fund
President's
Column
by Neal F. Zalenko,
President, JNF Council of
Michigan
KERERKAYEMETH LEISRAEL
JNF: The single
best non-profit
franchise
S
est
0 Mile Road
Southfield, MI
48075
Phone 557-6644
FAX: (810) 557-2412
ince its founding in
1901, JNF has been
one of the most suc-
cessful and longest-stand-
ing non-profit
organizations ever built. It
is the best non-profit fran-
chise in the Jewish com-
munal world, with high
visibility, a fabulous track
record and a following
other organizations would
envy. Simply put, JNF is
much more than trees.
Ask your parents. Ask
your kids. Ask your grand-
parents. Do they know
JNF? The answer will be
yes. Our children, grand-
children and great-grand-
children learn about JNF
at synagogues, temples,
day schools and Hebrew
schools. When they think
abut pushkes, they envi-
sion the blue and white
JNF container. Sure, they
equate those pushkes with
trees. But so what?
It is time to build upon
our "tree" reputation to
educate the community
on the many infrastruc-
ture projects like Action
Plan Negev (see main sto-
ry) that JNF is tackling.
I believe JNF is the most
critical organization for Is-
rael. With its continuing
commitment to Zionist
educational programs in
America, JNF is working
hard to cultivate its next
generation of community
leaders. I have no doubt
that with support from De-
troit's Jewish community,
we can capitalize on these
opportunities.
Please help us realize
our dreams and continue
to develop Israel so it can
produce more food, boost
its local economies and
provide enough employ-
ment to secure the future
of our Jewish state.
International businessman and Jewish state and the key to Israel's
philanthropist Ronald S. Lauder future prosperity and security."
Lauder said he is excited to
has taken the helm of the Jewish
National Fund, paving the way for work with JNF chapters through-
out the country to continue the
continued progress in Israel.
Lauder, the former U.S. Am- dream. During his presidency, he
bassador to Austria and President will work with all JNF chapters to
of the Ronald S. Lauder Founda- raise money for many projects, in-
tion that supports projects to re- cluding Action Plan Negev, which
vitalize Jewish life in Eastern and aims to develop parts of the Negev
Central Europe, was elected pres- for agriculture, industry and set-
ident by a unanimous vote of the tlement, the restoration of the
organization's Board of Directors Jerusalem Corridor forests that
at a special meeting last February were destroyed in 1995 by the
in New York. He replaces past worst forest fire in Israel's history,
and the maximization of Israel's
President Milton S. Shapiro.
"I am deeply honored to have scarce water resources to fuel its
been asked to lead JNF at such an agriculture.
Lauder said he also hopes to
exciting time in history," Lauder
said. INF is living proof of address problems impacting hous-
Theodore Herzl's exhortation, "If ing and tourist industries, the on-
going peace process and the
you will it, it is no dream.
INF has helped turn deserts expansion of Israel's infrastruc-
into green fields, swamps into ture and parks and recreation ar-
forests, and a desolate land into eas.
Lauder, son of cosmetic indus-
one rich with agricultural and eco-
nomic growth," Lauder added. try leader Estee Lauder, is active
`These accomplishments are the in many Jewish community activ-
underpinnings of the modern ities. In 1993, he received JNF's In-
Ronald S. Lauder
ternational Peace Prize, an honor
previously given only to Jehan Sa-
dat, the widow of Egyptian Presi-
dent Anwar el-Sedat and to former
British Prime Minister Margaret
Thatcher.
The Ronald S. Lauder Foun-
dation helps revitalize Jewish life
in Eastern and Cental Europe
through student exchanges, con-
stru.ction of schools and summer
camps, renovation of synagogues
and the preservation of Jewish
manuscripts. 4'
)NF Spotlight
Elyse Goldin Essick
WHO: Elyse Goldin Essick
Member, JNF long-range plan-
ning committee
Personal Stuff: 39, lives in West
Bloomfield with nine-year-old
daughter, Mara and soft coated
wheaten puppy, Straddles.
What she does for JNF: One of
a handful of professionals advis-
ing the executive board on ef-
fective methods to deliver the
new JNF message to a diversified
audience.
What she does for fun: Collects
hats. Loves to cook gourmet and
traditional Jewish cuisine. Gefilte
fish is one of her favorites. Enjoys
overseas travel. In addition to hay-
ing lived in Israel one and one-
half years (in a kibbutz and on a
university campus) , has visited
Africa, China, England, France
and Italy. Will visit Israel this sum-
mer with her daughter and soon-
to-be bat mitzva'd niece Hilary
Goldin. She calls her daughter
Mara "my ticket to a second child-
hood. Mara enables me to see
and appreciate the world through
the eyes of a child all over again."
What she does at work: She is
Vice President and Director of
Client Services for Michigan's
largest independent investment
advisor, Munder Capital Man-
agement in Birmingham, MI and
was instrumental in the firm's
growth to $38 billion in assets un-
der management. Responsible
for overseeing client communi-
cations and establishing new
client and industry relationships.
How she rose to the top: A
good listener. Has worked in
portfolio management and client
services areas of investment busi-
ness since 1980. Started as a port-
folio manager managing the
assets of charitable clients. Tray-
els extensively to meet with
Munder's existing and prospec-
tive clients throughout the Unit-
ed States. Frequent guest speaker
to women's groups and others on
various investment topics.
Education: B.A. in Journalism,
Michigan State University, M.B.A.
in Finance and Marketing, Uni-
versity of Detroit. Sophomore
year at Hebrew University of
Jerusalem.
In her own words: "I've lived in
Israel and seen how JNF has con-
tributed to the lifeblood of Israel.
Not only through the beauty of
trees that we have all come to as-
sociate with JNF, but also by pro-
viding water to Israel's most
remote communities and farms.
I am excited to play a role in the
success of these projects and per-
sonally challenged by the oppor-
tunity to contribute to an
organization steeped in great tra-
ditionjust as a new, young and
well-respected leadership is mov-
ing JNF into the next century.
Ronald Lauder, JNF's new Pres-
ident, has already made impres-
sive contributions to
investor Profile - Eli Scherr
What advice would you give to oth-
• Eli Scherr, past president of
Jewish National Fund Council, e ► who are considering setting up sim-
has endowed a fund to benefit ilar funds? `The satisfaction one
Jewish National Fund. In this re- derives from perpetually being in-
gard, we asked him the following volved with a quality charity is very
rewarding. It prompts the phrase
questions:
What prompted you to set up the `Give until it feels good"' .
What are other ways people can help
find? "As an investor I have always
sought to establish a portfolio of JNF? "Giving of one's time and
blue chip stocks. Similarly, I've networking with friends are two
wanted involvement with quality methods. One can help oneself
charitable organizations. Jewish -- as well by participating in JNF de-
National Fund's endowment pro- ferred gifts program. In other
gram provides me with an op- words, giving to JNF can provide
portunity to add a blue chip financial benefits along with a
organization to my 'portfolio of wonderful sense of satisfaction
and accomplishment."
charities' ".