Special Report
ON THE COVER
Left: Arthur and Gina Horwitz
Right: Arthur Horwitz, Rabbi Arnie Sieutelberg of Cong. Shir Tikvah in Troy, Larry Jackier of West Bloomfield and David Techner of Birmingham
Editor's Note: These remarks are adapted from remarks made at the JNF Tree of Life Dinner honoring the
Arthur and Gina Horwitz on Sept. 17 at Congregation B'nai Moshe, West Bloomfield
Our Personal Ties To The JNF Story
Arthur Horwitz
Jewish Renaissance Media
ewish National Fund is about more than
blue tzedakah boxes and planting trees.
It is about providing fresh water in a
parched part of the Earth. It is about recycling and
restoring as well as developing land for the cur-
rent and future needs of the people of Israel.
Gina and I were attracted to the Beersheva
project precisely because we in Michigan have an
abundance of fresh water while Israel has so little.
But we were, and are, attracted to Jewish
National Fund for personal reasons, too. Jewish
National Fund/Keren Kayemet L'Israel was instru-
mental in providing a new life for members of our
respective families.
My cousins are from Moshav Aminadav — locat-
ed on Jewish National Fund/Keren Kayemet
L'Israel land adjoining the John F. Kennedy Forest
j
Gina Horwitz
Jewish Renaissance Media
ewish National Fund — Keren Keyemt
L'Israel — played essential roles in my
family, too. My mother was born in
Germany; and after Kristallnacht, she and five of
her siblings were shipped out of Europe and to
Great Britain on the notorious Kindertransport
... just months ahead of the start of World War II.
They never saw their parents again.
After living with a foster family in Liverpool,
my mother worked in London as a secretary for
the Keren Keyemet L'Israel. Shortly afterward,
she moved to British Mandate Palestine to join
the Haganah and lived with other Brits on kibbutz
Kfar Hanassi, overlooking the Huleh Valley and on
j
,
A14
November 13 • 2008
on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
My mother is a Holocaust survivor. From a fam-
ily of almost 100, she could count on one hand
the number who survived. One was Yitzchak
Kirschberg, a refugee
with nowhere to go after
World War II. He moved
to British Mandate
Palestine, met and mar-
ried Rochel — whose fam-
ily lived in that area for
almost 500 years — and
settled onto this moshay.
I remember my mother
sending packages to
this family, with clothes,
instant coffee and other
necessities. Today, my
cousins have grown and
matured — much like the
country. Cousin Hezzie is a veteran teacher at the
agriculture school in Ein Kerem and a member of
the regional moshav council. Most of my younger
cousins have done their military service, including
Elad, who was trained to
work with a bomb-sniffing
dog. My cousin Tamar is a
budding fashion designer
in Tel Aviv and my cousin
Alon is an entrepreneur.
If you've ever rented a
bicycle in Israel, odds are
it was from his company.
And his brother, Tzachie,
is a professional mountain
biker — with sponsors!
My cousin Alon recent-
ly took a bride — the
first of his generation to
marry.
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Jewish National Fund/
projects that benefit
Keren Keyemet L'Israel
Israel and its neighbors
land.
— and produce new jobs
While she decided to
right here in Michigan.
leave and ended up mov-
But we also think of
ing to America, her sister,
our family roots, and
Arthur Horwitz with his young Kirschberg
Klara, and brother, Leo,
the critical role Jewish
cousins at Moshav Aminadav in 1988.
remained in Israel for
National Fund and Keren
the rest of their lives. My
Keyemet L'Israel played
Aunt Klara was one of my heroes, serving as a
in providing a place to live for our cousin Yitzchak
social worker at absorption centers in Katamon
Kirschberg and his family ... and a place for my
and Gilo, helping new immigrants adjust and adapt
mother to work and live during a very important
to life in Israel.
time in her life.
So, when Arthur and I think of Jewish National
May the work of Jewish National Fund strength-
Fund, we think of the land and trees and the envi-
en and inspire us as it continues to rebuild and
ronment and water. We think of how researchers
replenish Israel. Next year in Jerusalem ... and
in Israel and Michigan can collaborate on water
Beersheva.
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