The Newsletter of Jewish National Fund

Jewish National Fund:
Not Just Trees Anymore

hen most people hear the words "Jewish
National Fund," one word comes to
mind: trees. And while it is true that JNF
has planted more than 240 million trees in Israel
since its inception in 1901, many people are not
aware of the others ways in which JNF has strength-
ened the nation of Israel over the past 105 years.

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During the first half of the 20th century, JNF
purchased the land that would become the State of
Israel. After 1948, JNF helped create new commu-
nities so that Jews from around the world would
have a place to call home. Today, JNF is taking on
one of Israel's most pressing problems — alleviat-
ing overcrowding in the nation's cities by creating
educational, social, and employment opportuni-
ties in the Negev desert, where 25 new communi-
ties have already been developed.
Rabbi Alfredo Borodowski, Director of the
Hartman Institute, USA said, "The new JNF has
developed into the organization that adopts mod-
ern ecological wisdom to connect land, water, and
life, assuring the total development of the land of
Israel. I just hope that our conception of JNF can
evolve as fast as the organization itself."

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forever.

People are often surprised to learn that an
organization that began with people dropping
pennies into pushkes (or "Blue Boxes") now invests
over $6 million each year in research and develop-
ment, constantly devising new ways to utilize the
land's natural resources without exploiting them —
the delicate balance commonly referred to as sus-
tainable development. We also share our technolo-
gy with our neighbors in the Middle East and
around the world.
According to JNF's National Vice President for
Campaign, Bud Levin, "We have become the vehi-
cle of modern Zionism for the United States.
There are many Jewish philanthropies that serve
the Jewish people. There are many Jewish philan-
thropic organizations that raise funds to help the
people of Israel and Jews around the world. But
JNF has always focused on its mission statement.
We are the caretakers of the land of Israel on behalf
of its owners - Jewish people everywhere."

To learn more about JNF's crucial
work in Israel, please call your local
office at 248-324-3080 or visit us
online at www.jnf.org .

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JNF meets all
23 standards
of the Council of
Better Business Bureau.

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FOR JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES,

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Ronald S. Lauder

A Message from our President

For Israel, Forever

At Jewish National Fund, we pride our-
selves on being the caretakers of the land of
Israel - and while Israel may be a small
country, there is a lot of land that needs our
attention. In the north, we are working to
replace over 2 million trees that have burned
down. This will be a long process, but one
that is crucial to Israel's prosperity. JNF has
already begun replanting these forests, and
is employing 1,500 residents of northern
Israel who would have otherwise been left
jobless as a result of the war. You can read
more about how we protected the citizens
and the precious landscape of northern
Israel during the war on the back page of
this newsletter.
In the southern region of the country lies
the Negev desert, the focus of JNF's
Blueprint Negev initiative. The Negev repre-
sents 60% of Israel's landmass, but only 8%
of its population lives there. By creating com-
munity infrastructure and employment
opportunities in the Negev desert, we are ful-
filling David Ben-Gurion's dream of making
the desert bloom and creating a beautiful
and affordable place for Israeli families to
live, away from the overcrowded cities.
Each time I visit Israel, I see how JNF's
love of the land is working to improve the lives
of its people. We are not just caring for Israel's
land, we are caring for her people. People
who need clean drinking water, who need an
affordable place to raise their families, who
need jobs, who need a safe place to send
their children during times of war, who need
inclusive parks that can be enjoyed by those
with and without disabilities, and who need
security roads to travel safely to school and
work. JNF is there for the people of Israel —
we hope you will join us."

27600 Farmington Road, Suite 204 • Farmington Hills, MI 48334 • 248.324.3080