Jewish National Fund-USA’s Breakfast for Israel Explores the Legacy of David Ben-Gurion

Naples, Fla., Feb. 23, 2023 — On Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, nearly 200 philanthropists and pro-Israel community members in Naples attended Jewish National Fund-USA’s Breakfast for Israel at The Baker Museum at Artis— Naples. This annual signature event in the region celebrated the upcoming 75th anniversary of Israel’s Independence.

“We are blessed to have good homes and communities to return to, places to work and schools to send our children,” said Nancy Kaplan, member of the organization’s Naples Board of Directors, in her remarks at the breakfast. “Our synagogues and Hebrew schools are vibrant and alive with young people and small children — the next generation — who look to their own futures with hope and wonder. Many of them will one day get to go to Israel to visit, study or live. Along the way, Jewish National Fund-USA will be there to connect them to their eternal homeland, a place we, as family, are entrusted to ensure remains secure and vital. There can only be one constant in our lives and theirs; that Israel maintains its existence, that the great hope for peace is realized, and that our people will always have a Jewish homeland to turn to when in need.”

Josh Mellits, JNF-USA director, Western Florida and Orlando; Neil Braverman, member, JNF-USA Naples Board of Directors; and David Braverman, president, Naples Board of Directors

The event featured Alon Ben-Gurion, the grandson of the state of Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion. His keynote speech received a standing ovation and addressed the legacy of David Ben-Gurion as a statesman, father and grandfather; how he is actively promoting development in Israel’s Negev Desert, working to make the region bloom; and how his grandfather’s vision is being brought to life through Jewish National Fund-USA’s game-changing initiatives in Israel’s north and south.

Cary Barbor, a reporter with WGCU, Southwest Florida’s NPR station, attended the event to interview Ben-Gurion about Israel’s role in the world as the country prepares to reach this incredible milestone, as well as his thoughts about the rise in antisemitism.

Ben-Gurion quoted his grandfather’s vision in the interview: “Our historic yearning has been for a new society built on liberty, equality, tolerance, mutual aid and love for man,” he said. “A society without exploitation and discrimination, slavery or tyranny. Our stance in the world will not be determined by our supposed material wealth nor by our military might but by the moral light of our understanding. And, although there are some shadows, among them heavy shadows in our lives now, we have the grounds to believe that we can be an example nation.”

Rabbi Adam Miller, member, JNF-USA Naples Board of Directors; Stuart Price, member, JNF-USA Naples Board of Directors; Alon Ben-Gurion; and Estelle Price, member, JNF-USA Naples Board of Directors. Photo credit: Ted Epstein

Other highlights from the event included announcements regarding the organization’s not-to-be-missed Israel@75 mission to Israel in April, Jewish National Fund-USA’s 2023 Global Conference for Israel, taking place in Denver from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3, and that the organization had reached its ambitious $1 billion fundraising goal for its One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade initiative 10 months ahead of schedule.

For more information or to learn about future events in Naples, contact Joshua Mellits, director, Western Florida and Orlando at jmellits@jnf.org or call 941-462-1330 x865.

About Jewish National Fund-USA

JNF-USA is the leading philanthropic organization for Israel that supports critical environmental and nation-building activities in Israel’s north and south. Through its One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade, JNF-USA is developing new communities in the Galilee and Negev, connecting the next generation to Israel, and creating infrastructure and programs that support ecology, individuals with special needs and heritage site preservation. Learn more at jnf.org.