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Planting Identity

A young volunteer at the Jewish National Fund
hopes to inspire his Detroit peers to environmentalism and Judaism.

LYNNE MEREDITH COHN

Scene Editor

T

he two Jewish National Fund
staffers in Detroit literally
gush when talking about
Ryan Seyburn. After leaving
Israel last summer and resettling in his
hometown of Detroit, Ryan is volun-
teering, just like many other Jewish
young adults. The only difference is
that he's taken to the JNF, whereas vir-
tually no one else within decades of his
peer group has.
It's been a long time since the local

7/17
1998

74

JNF office had a spark for local involve-
ment within its reach. In fact, it may be
the first time that the environmentally
oriented Israeli agency has the potential
to take off among Generation Xers in
Detroit.
Ryan, 27, an ecology/environmental
science graduate of the University of
California-Davis, shrugs off the signifi-
cance of his involvement. He says that
it's natural to devote his time and ener-
gy to an organization that educates
Americans about essential Israeli envi-
ronmental issues such as water supply
and afforestation. For Ryan, it's either

get involved with the JNF in Detroit or
make aliyah.
"The JNF is really the organization
that built Israel - developing the land,
making it possible for immigrants to
settle the land," he says. "It's great to
enjoy the outdoors, but to me, this
organization has taken it one step fur-
ther."
What he wants to do, he says, what
he's determined to do, is to ignite in his
peers the same excitement he feels
about JNE
In several American cities, Jewish
National Fund not only has a presence

among the post-war and Baby Boomer
generations, but also inspires devotion
among Xers, through the National
Future Leadership division.
Not in Detroit. At least, not yet.
Here, JNF has been either a vestige
of childhood Tu b'Shevat tree planting
or a long-time devotion among the
elderly.
"I think JNF is viewed as more for
parents than young adults," said
Priscilla Sullivan, one of two local INF
staffers. "But it's not true. JNF is very
proactive, that's what we do — environ-
mental issues in Israel. We needed