Byachad Fall 2014 by Jewish National Fund

Together Fall 2014

B’Yachad: The Newsletter of Jewish National Fund

jnf.org

Land

and

Milk

Honey AJPA er Award Rockow llence for Exce tional iza in Organ tters Newsle

1st PRIZE

E-mail us at newsletter@jnf.org B'Yachad · 42 East 69th Street New York, NY 10021-5093

12 - 13

Dear Reader, The land of Israel is full of plentiful offerings, from the etrogim grown in Halutza for Sukkot, to the pomelos of Kibbutz Yahel, to the goat cheese and honey produced in Central Arava and Western Galilee. The tastes of Israel are also the stories of resourceful and entrepreneurial minds that are making the desert bloom using sustainable agricultural practices and techniques. JNF is proud to help enable the dreams and livelihood of so many innovative individuals through our partnerships. Turn to pages 18-23 and take a tour of the tastes of Israel and learn the stories of the people who produce them. And maybe try a recipe or two. It will bring Israel into your home in a most delicious way. We hope you enjoy this issue. Send your feedback to newsletter@jnf.org. Regards, B’Yachad Editorial Staff

Inside this Issue

12 - 13 Operation Protective Edge: How You Helped JNF jumped into action to provide relief to communities under attack during the recent conflict. See how your donations made a crucial difference in people’s lives.

16 Singles Trip to Israel

JNF partnered with JDate for the first singles trip to Israel. Despite taking place as hostilities broke out between Israel and Gaza, the enthusiastic group of 30-45-year-old singles had a truly enriching Israel experience.

18 - 23 Israel: The Land of Milk and Honey

These are the stories of the innovative and resourceful individuals across Israel who are bringing tantalizing flavors to the table. Meet the pioneers who are making Israel blossom and thrive.

24 JNF’s Annual National Conference in Los Angeles JNF hosted our most successful conference to date in sunny Los Angeles. Check out some of the highlights as we look forward to next year’s National Conference that will take place in Chicago.

33 Learning Through Working the Land

The Arava International Center for Agriculture Training attracts students from all over the world seeking to learn the remarkably efficient agricultural practices of the Arava region. They are also learning to make their home country’s traditional dishes using produce grown in the Arava.

Winner of THE AJPA Rockower Award for Excellence In organizational newsletters Printed on recycled paper with vegetable-based ink

® facebook.com/jewishnationalfund twitter.com/jnfusa

B’Yachad Staff Editor in Chief: Ariel Vered Publisher: Russell F. Robinson Executive Editor: Jodi Bodner MANAGING EDITOR: Adam H. Brill co-Creative Directors: Sherene Strausberg & Reginald Jean-Felix JEWISH NATIONAL FUND (JNF) began in 1901 as a dream and vision to reestablish a homeland in Israel for Jewish people everywhere. Jews the world over collected coins in iconic JNF Blue Boxes, purchasing land and planting trees until ultimately, their dream of a Jewish homeland was a reality. Today, JNF continues to give all generations a unique voice in building and ensuring the prosperity of the land of Israel through their generosity and partnership with the people of Israel.

JNF embodies both heart and action; our work is varied in scope but singular in benefit. We strive to bring an enhanced quality of life to all of Israel’s residents, and translate these advancements to the world beyond. JNF is greening the desert with millions of trees, building thousands of parks, creating new communities and cities for generations of Israelis to call home, bolstering Israel’s water supply, helping develop innovative arid-agriculture techniques, and educating both young and old about the founding and importance of Israel and Zionism. JNF is a registered 501(c)(3) organization and United Nations NGO, which continuously earns top ratings from charity overseers. For more information on JNF, call 888.JNF.0099 or visit jnf.org.

WATER

uPDATE

All of the Above: Israel’s Water Policy

A MESSAGE FROM

— OUR PRESIDENT — JEFFREY E. LEVINE

a thanks to our donors By Naty Barak

3 JNF.org

Naty Barak is Chief Sustainability Officer at Netafim, the pioneer and global leader of drip irrigation based at Kibbutz Hatzerim in Israel’s Negev desert.

JEWISH NATIONAL FUND

When California Governor Jerry Brown and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed a partnership agreement this year with the goal of ending global scarcity of water through innovation, it was clear that Israeli water technology would be one of the pact’s cornerstones. And when a group of visionary colleagues from both countries recently met at the US-Israel Center on Innovation and Economic Sustainability in San Diego to help implement the agreement, it was clear Netafim would be there. At the meeting, we presented several potential projects based on our work in Israel and worldwide that can answer California’s most pressing challenge— water scarcity. Agriculture is the largest user of water resources in California. Drip irrigation has been widely adopted there for high-value crops (e.g. almonds, nuts, wine grapes), but not for commodity crops (e.g. alfalfa, corn), which require large quantities of water. Given the severe drought that California continues to experience, alfalfa is a major driver toward saving water via drip, and is one of the projects we are promoting. We have some success stories to show. One is that of Seth Rossow, farm manager for Bert Wilgenberg Farms, near Merced, California, who says: “My primary goal for shifting to Netafim’s drip irrigation system was to become more efficient with our resources and ultimately more profitable.” Drip irrigation is one of the key tools operating at the food-waterland nexus. Through our work around the globe, we are involved in Gov. Jerry Brown at JNF’s National irrigation projects that enhance sustainable productivity—using less Conference in Los Angeles. water with the same amount of arable land, while producing more food. And its impact can be felt in local, national and regional economies, injecting a shot of prosperity into areas that have helplessly struggled to profit till now. Here are a few examples of our recent activities. In the Philippines, we supplied drip irrigation for new banana plantations for Del Monte. In Vietnam, we installed drip systems for growing dragon fruit, leading to a 10% increase in yield, 25% decrease in water and fertilizer usage, and 75% reduction in labor costs. In Texas, we demonstrated that drip irrigation is practical, affordable and lucrative for cotton farmers who typically have been reluctant to invest in drip irrigation; our drip solutions delivered up to four times the yield from lint and cottonseed compared to furrow irrigation. In Ecuador, we distributed drip systems to some 900 farmers in Santa Elena, and the results have been outstanding—an over-100% increase in corn yield and a 40% decrease in water use. The average farming income per capita improved from $450 to $1,800 per cycle as the farmers carried out 2.5 annual cycles compared to one annual cycle prior to drip. In Macedonia, drip systems delivered yields as high as 17 tons of crop per hectare compared to 5 tons with rain-fed irrigation. In Georgia, we provided farmers with Family Drip System™ (FDS™) kits, seedlings, training and technical assistance to grow and sell vegetables. We also donated FDS™ kits to 10 disadvantaged Roma families in Hungary to help them become self-sufficient. A few projects in Israel make me especially proud. Netafim employees volunteered with children from 20 kindergartens in the northern Israeli Arab town of Baqa el-Garbia to create community gardens irrigated by our drip systems. The goal of the project was to educate children about healthier eating choices, and to provide them with an opportunity to grow nutritious food. In Wadi Attir, we collaborated with The Sustainability Laboratory, the local Bedouin community of Hura, Jewish National Fund and other partners to develop and demonstrate a model for sustainable, community-based organic farming for the Bedouin community.

In early June three Israeli teenagers were abducted from Gush Etzion never to be seen alive again. Their brutal murders, the incessant rocket attacks by Hamas that followed and the discovery of the underground tunnels from Gaza into Israel proved that terrorism is alive and well. Fortunately, the IDF destroyed the “terror tunnels” and any future attack on Israel via them has hopefully been mitigated. Israeli IDF soldiers and civilians made the ultimate sacrifice during Operation Protective Edge in order to protect the democratic liberties Israelis and free people everywhere enjoy. It is also unfortunate that as a result of the war many civilians in Gaza lost their lives. June, July and early August were extremely difficult, as each day, four million men, women and children across Israel experienced some form of attack with over 3,200 rockets fired at them from Gaza. Thankfully, Israel’s Iron Dome system worked well and brought down many of the missiles, saving countless lives in the process. These past months have nevertheless seen inspiring moments as the global Jewish community came together like at no other time that I can remember. Jews displayed wonderful solidarity and generosity for their Israeli brothers and sisters, serving to reinforce the bonds such unity can produce when we realize that what happens in Israel happens to all of us. I could not be more proud of over 25,000 donors who showed deep compassion and empathy for our extended Israeli family. We sent out emails, made phone calls, had phone-a-thons, held conference calls with Israeli leaders, took four solidarity mission to Israel, which included members of Jewish National Fund’s future leadership, and asked for monetary support—and JNF donors delivered on every count. Our emergency campaign raised over $6 million dollars and helped to make life safer, calmer, and a bit easier for those under attack. During the crisis I was on the phone with our partners on the ground in Israel to determine what the needs were and how we could aid. And help we did: we delivered mobile bomb shelters to Israeli communities on the border with Gaza, like Halutza, so families could have a safe place to go when rockets struck; coordinated programs and events for those in shelters; nearly 800 people a day enjoyed the JNF Indoor Recreation Center in Sderot; brought hundreds of people each day to the northern parts of Israel and out of harm’s way; delivered packages to Israeli soldiers; and made sure that the health and well-being of individuals with special needs was well-maintained. What we do at JNF in time of war is very similar to what we do every day. We are not an emergency 911-agency. We have and always will be the boots-on-the-ground organization that builds a better future for the land and people of Israel. It is why we were able to respond to the crisis so quickly and effectively. We did not have to find the people who needed bomb shelters. We knew them. We did not have to find the children who needed respite. They are our children, our extended family. We were part of their lives yesterday and we will be there alongside them tomorrow. We have a bold vision for Israel’s future and have taken on the challenge to make it a reality. We take the impossible and make it possible. We are JNF, your voice in Israel.

Favorite Photo in Israel Contest

JNF Program Areas Community Building

JEWISH NATIONAL FUND

JNF enhances quality of life in Israel by building new communities and bolstering existing ones in peripheral areas. With 90% of Israel’s population concentrated in less than 40% of the country, the northern and southern regions are largely uninhabited. JNF plays a major role in helping to develop new communities in these areas, giving families an alternative to Israel’s crowded and expensive center, and rejuvenating established towns with opportunities to combat unemployment and stagnant population growth.

FORESTRY & Green Innovations As an innovator in ecological development and a pioneer in forest creation, JNF has hand-planted more than 250 million trees in Israel, providing luscious belts of green covering more than 250,000 acres. JNF’s parks and forests are enjoyed by millions of people each weekend and holiday. Through agricultural infrastructure development, research, and soil conservation, JNF has been able to create and extend the presence of fertile land where there was once endless desert.

Water Renewal

JNF.org

You can be featured in the next issue of B’Yachad. Tag #JNFPhotoContest on Instagram or Twitter.

JNF has been at the forefront of water management and conservation in Israel, increasing the country’s total water supply by over 12% and helping Israel become a world leader in water recycling. JNF’s network of over 250 recycled water reservoirs provide almost half of the water used for agriculture, saving enough freshwater to meet the needs of 4.4 million people a year.

Research & Development

Plant a Tree in Israel in Memory of a Loved One

JNF sponsors research initiatives in Israel as part of its efforts to cultivate the land. Today, JNF is a world leader in both technological, agricultural and environmental innovation. Working with distinguished academic and scientific institutions in Israel and abroad and in our own research centers, JNF has supported innovative solutions in the areas of solar power, water sustainability, and agricultural development.

ZIONIST Education & Advocacy JNF is the single largest provider of Zionist engagement programs in the U.S. and offers myriad ways to connect young American Jews to Israel, from trips to Israel to B’nai Mitzvah projects and Israel advocacy programs on college campuses. In addition, JNF supports leadership development and environmental education programs for Israeli youth.

Heritage Sites Israel’s rich modern history can be found in every corner of the country. JNF is committed to the preservation of historical sites associated with Israel’s rebirth and independence and to ensuring that the stories behind them are properly documented and retold for generations to come. Heritage site development enables JNF to share the past, the important events, places, struggles and the fight for Israel’s independence.

ACCESSIBILITY & Therapeutic Services

800.542.TREE(8733) • JNF.ORG/MEMORY

JNF is dedicated to ensuring that no member of Israeli society is left behind. Through a variety of initiatives, JNF provides cutting-edge rehabilitative services, special education, and medical care for people with special needs and makes its forests, parks, picnic areas, playgrounds, nature trails, and recreation facilities “inclusive” to visitors of all ability levels.

Project Spotlight: JNF Western Galilee Visitor Center The city of Akko is a meeting place

Proposed JNF Western Galilee Visitor Center.

For more information on the Go North initiative, contact gonorth@jnf.org

Campaign All-Star: Judi Edelman Dr. Judi Edelman first learned

about Jewish National Fund when she participated in a Sar-El (Volunteers for Israel) mission in 2008. She spent several weeks living and working among the men and women of the Israel Defense Forces and had the opportunity to take part in JNF’s Clean Up the World Campaign. Since that life-changing experience, Judi has made Israel and its people a priority and her bond with JNF and Israel has strengthened greatly. For her tireless devotion, Judi has been named Campaign All-Star. Time and again, Judi has set aside her busy life in South Florida to live and volunteer in Israel. Traveling throughout the country, she has seen firsthand the important work JNF has accomplished over the years and fervently believes that JNF is not merely for Israel, but that JNF is Israel. “Judi Edelman is the definition of passion and commitment,” said JNF CEO Russell F. Robinson. “She solicits, she holds events in her home, she volunteers with JNF and our partners in Israel; she is the consummate advocate for JNF’s work in Israel.” This past summer, Judi participated in JNF’s June Blitz Campaign and traveled to Denver to speak about the upcoming 2015 campaign and JNF’s travel missions to Israel.

“Judi has a passion for JNF and for Israel matched only by her genuine compassion and sensitivity for its people,” said Ellen Rosenberg, JNF Makor member from Maryland. “She is an incredibly decent woman who works so hard and so effectively without ego; she truly is an inspiration to others. The success of her efforts for JNF speaks volumes.” At home in Weston, FL, Judi holds a doctorate in counseling from the University of Florida and has been actively involved in private practice in the Orlando area as well as South Florida. She has sat on numerous professional boards and worked diligently on the local and state levels as a mental health advocate. She serves in several Jewish and civic organizations including Temple Dor Dorim in Weston and on the Israel Solidarity Committee. Judi continues her love affair with Israel through her commitment to JNF’s Broward Board of Directors and the JNF Broward Women for Israel Campaign. “Judi’s love for all things Israel is evident from the moment you meet her,” added Glen Schwartz, Executive Director of Major Gifts. “Through her tireless service on various boards, task forces and committees, Judi shines as a wonderful campaign leader for JNF.” n

I want to begin with a thank you to those who gave generously and often during our recent emergency campaign. Some of us were in Israel the first week of July when Hamas launched a barrage of missile attacks across the country and were able to report back “from the field,” which greatly helped to decide where our resources should be focused. Additionally, we sent solidarity missions and did everything we could to put protections in place for all those in harm’s way. We hope that the Operation Protective Edge’s purpose—to secure Israel’s border and mitigate future terrorism—will have a lasting effect for the people of Israel. Over 23,000 people have made a special gift to JNF to support our efforts of bringing relief to the people of Israel. I am so proud of the way you, our donors, have shown your deep love and support for the land and people of Israel. Every dollar of the over $6 million raised specifically to support the emergency is allocated for our emergency campaign and services. With your support, we supplied dozens of bomb shelters to communities in southern Israel; purchased new fire trucks for Israel’s heroic fire fighters; hosted 800 people daily at the Sderot Indoor Recreation Center; worked with our partner Green Horizons to provide nature hikes in the relative calm of northern Israel; and supported the most vulnerable of Israel’s population—people with severe disabilities, through Aleh Negev and LOTEM. Because of your kindness, we were able to meet exceptional needs during this time of conflict. However, our campaign story in 2014 cannot be defined exclusively because of the war. Before the first rocket was launched, we had a “year to remember” in so many ways. At the 2013 National Conference in Denver we announced JNF’s $1 Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade, our plan to become a $100 million dollar annual campaign for the next decade. I am very pleased to tell you that we have nearly raised $250 million dollars, one-quarter of the way to our one billion dollar goal in just two years! Our 2015 annual campaign kicked off on October 1 and our goals for the coming year are just as lofty. Specifically we will work to strengthen our affinity group programs aimed at professional groups like lawyers, healthcare professionals, finance and real estate. We will continue to develop our Women for Israel group, which not only is the fastest growing segment of our campaign, but provides exceptional leaders to push JNF onward to greater heights. And even while we work to expand our donor base with new supporters at every giving level, we will also place significant emphasis on growing our major donor societies. Our success is because of you and the more than 100,000 donors across the country who stand with Israel whether there is peace or conflict. JNF will always stand with Israel as we continue to build and strengthen our Jewish homeland for the benefit for all her citizens.

5 JNF.org

historical sites and Arab hospitality, the Western Galilee offers an exciting range of activities. As part of its Go North initiative to revitalize and grow the Galilee, JNF is building a Western Galilee Visitor and Information Center in the city of Akko. The JNF Western Galilee Visitor Center will create a dynamic and sustainable method for delivering information to over 2.5 million tourists who walk through the streets of Akko currently. The building, which will be located in the historical

BILL MILLER, vp, Campaign

JEWISH NATIONAL FUND

for East and West, new and old. Located on the northern shore of Israel, the famous walls of the old city of Akko have survived centuries. Today, Akko is experiencing a cultural renaissance, slowly transforming itself from a city rich in history into a charming haven for enterprising young business owners and innovators. So goes the region itself. From wine boutiques and cheese factories to

section of the old city, will showcase the wide variety of tourist opportunities in and around the Western Galilee. As a city full of old historical treasures, there is a great deal of potential for turning Akko and Western Galilee into a major tourist destination. This dynamic, functional space will help showcase the vast array of opportunities available, with information on employment, education, housing, tourism, culture, transportation and community life in the Galilee. Tourist specialists will help people with setting up bed and breakfast reservations, guiding, and provide information on different sites to visit. The center will offer services for travelers, including restrooms, wireless internet access, information about Akko and other destinations in the north and limited refreshments and materials such as books and travel gear. Residents will be able to promote and sell their products and businesses, and tour groups and potential olim will stop in on their way up North. By exposing the 2.5 million tourists who walk through Akko each year to the diverse offerings of local vendors and businesses, the Visitor Center will also increase the revenue and growth in the region. n

campaign update

Jewish National Fund

Across the country For info on upcoming JNF events, visit jnf.org and click on “JNF in Your Area” New England

Los Angeles

JNF ACROSS THE COUNTRY

6 JNF.org 4

6 New england 1

The Blank family was honored at the 2014 New England Golf Tournament and Tribute Dinner for their dedication and generosity. (L-R) Dorothy, Jody, Stuart, Boston President Michael, Pat and Aaron Blank, Noreen and Avi Goldwasser.

(L-R) JNF Israel Operations Development Officer Ariel Kotler, JNF-KKL Emissary to New England Rami Hazan, New England Board Member Robert Zelinger, JNF Senior Campaign Executive Deborah Budd, New England Executive Board Member Steve London, Coleman Levy, and Dean Levy at the West Hartford Negev Nights Reception.

(L-R, front row) JNF Capital District Board Members Jane Golub and Karen Hausler, Haim Kotler; (L-R, back row) Capital District Board Members Jeffrey Adler, incoming Board President Robert Ganz, JNF Israel Operations Development Officer Ariel Kotler, National Major Gifts Chair Kenneth Segel, and JNF-KKL Emissary to New England Rami Hazan at a Capital District Board meeting.

LOS ANGELES

(L-R) Incoming Capital District Board President Robert Ganz, National Major Gifts Chair Kenneth Segel, and Arthur Brenner at a major donor thank you dinner in the Capital District.

(L-R) Golf Chair Matt Levy, Boston President and honoree Michael Blank, National Vice President, Corporate Sponsorships and New England Chairman of the Board Jeffrey Davis, National Major Gifts Chair Kenneth Segel, and New England Board Member Jonathan Plaut at the New England Golf Tournament.

JNF New England Director Sara Hefez (far left) with some of the participants on the 2014 Spirit of Israel mission, which was chaired by New England President Larry Cohen and Boston President Michael Blank.

1. (L-R) Michael Ashoori, Lauren Kort, Daniel Zakowski, Lacee Kine, Civia Caroline, Michelle Jackson, Jordana Reim, Shannon Delrahim, and JNF-Halutza Liaison Yedidya Harush at the Los Angeles JNFuture Leadership Development Program meeting. 2. (L-R) Alan Abramson, David Mendelson, Tom Morgan, Eric Adler and Keith Wasserman at the 24th Annual Los Angeles Golf Tournament held at Sherwood Country Club. 3. (L-R) Larry Russ, featured speaker Stanley Gold, and Laurence Richards at the inaugural JNF Finance for Israel Speaker Series event in Los Angeles.

Southern

Midwest

JNF ACROSS THE COUNTRY

7 JNF.org

Southern

midwest

1 (L-R, back row) Israel Emissary Ezra Ravins, Dan Regenstein, Howard Wexler,

1. (L-R) Event Chairs Gordon Schwartz and Cindy Schoenstadt with guest speaker and 9. Event committee members Nancy and Andrew Soclof at the Northern Ohio Tree of

Ross Gelfand, and Jeff Diamond; (L-R, front row) Southeast Campaign Executive Abby Bernstein and Margot Alfie during a phone-a-thon in Atlanta for JNF’s Emergency Campaign.

Israeli basketball legend Tal Brody at the annual Chicago Suburban Breakfast.

Life™ Award Dinner.

10. (L-R) Guest speaker, Goodwill Ambassador and Israeli basketball legend Tal Brody Marcia Rubin, and Midwest Executive Director Beth Cherner at the Chicago Tree of reunited with former opponent Sandy Pomerantz at the St. Louis annual breakfast. 2 Atlanta Board Members and friends of JNF showed their support for Israel with Life™ cocktail kick off reception. 11. (L-R) Helene Kessler Burke, Marci Caplan and Elaine Solomon enjoyed Yom Assistant Vice President of Campaign Ken Segel at an Atlanta rally. 3. (L-R) Guest speaker, Goodwill Ambassador and Israeli basketball legend Tal Brody, Ha’atzmaut with JNF in Western Pennsylvania. Breakfast Co-Chair Tracy Treger, Tirtza Brody, and Breakfast Co-Chair Steve Elrod 3 (L-R) Tal Postelnik Baum and Aviva Postelnik at a JNF Women for Israel luncheon in at the annual Chicago City Breakfast. 12.(L-R) 2014 Guardian of Israel Award Honoree James P. Wagner, Western Pennsylvania Atlanta. Board Member Linda Safyan-Holber and Dr. Tom Holber stopped for a photo at the 4.(L-R) JNF Lawyers for Israel Chair Todd Bailey, Lindi Shane, Adam Vernick, Harry Guardian of Israel Award Dinner in Pittsburgh. Guttman and Laura Wright enjoyed the Southern Ohio and Kentucky Tree of Life™ 4 (L-R, top row) JNFuture Members Brian Deitch, Julie Lasky, Lauren Kahn; 13. (L-R) Gabe, Stephanie, Aria and Alex Small celebrated Israel at iFEST in Pittsburgh Award Dinner. (L-R, bottom row) David Levy, Arielle Levy, and Rebecca Levy at the 3rd Annual by taking home a JNF Blue Box. Pot Luck Shabbat in Austin. 5.(L-R) Les and Elece Kovel, David Gershuny and David Eisenstein spread JNF cheer 14. (L-R) Wisconsin Director Sidney Rivkin, Guest Speaker Attorney Martin J. Greenberg 5 (L-R) Noah Johnson, Lori Slater, Vane Kriendel and Niko Kriendel celebrated Israel and Blue Boxes at the Dayton, Ohio Tikkun Olam Festival. and Event Chair Attorney Richard Marcus at the JNF Lawyers for Israel Luncheon in at a Houston community celebration. Milwaukee. 6.(L-R) Lara Danziger Isakov, National JNF Doctors for Israel Co-Chair Ronna Schneider, Ben Schneider and Ronnen Isakov at the Southern Ohio and Kentucky 15.(L-R) Wisconsin Board Members Fred and Rena Safer, Annual Tribute Banquet 6 (L-R) Regional Director Julie Malin and Shari Kammerman at Houston’s annual JNF JNF Doctors for Israel parlor meeting. Honoree Nancy Barnett and Michael Askotzky at the Wisconsin Community Women for Israel event. Breakfast. 7.Ivy Gantverg and Mitchell Wasserman at the Northern Ohio Tree of Life™ Award Dinner. 16.(L-R) Wisconsin Board Member Fredlyn Viel with Sandy Kaner at the Wisconsin 8.(L-R) Event Committee Member Kenneth Liffman and Northern Ohio Board Member Community Breakfast. Dr. Michael Frankel at the Northern Ohio Tree of Life™ Award Dinner. 2. (L-R) Susan Sacks, Lori Komisar, JNF CEO Russell F. Robinson, Lori Rubin Dekalo,

FLORIDA

JNF ACROSS THE COUNTRY

8 JNF.org 12

FLORIDA 1. (L-R) Addison Shuster, David Chase, Scott Silver, Alan Cohn and David Silver at the JNF Lawyers for Israel Downtown Speakers Series lunch at Berger Singerman in Ft. Lauderdale.

9. (L-R) Es Cohen, Deborah Meitin, Noreet Levitt, Dr. Robin Katzman, Valerie Shapiro, Linda Kaufman Weiss and Brenda Faiber at a JNF Women for Israel event in Orlando.

2. (L-R) Greg Popowitz and Broward Board Members Lance Ross and Eric Assouline at the JNF Lawyers for Israel Downtown Speakers Series lunch at Berger Singerman in Ft. Lauderdale.

10. (L-R) Palm Beach Board Member Herb Siegel and Sydelle Sonkin with JNF CEO Russell F. Robinson at American Independence Park in Israel.

3. (L-R) Dr. Mark Gendal accepted an award for winning South Florida’s “31 Days in May” contest from South Florida Campaign Executive Debbie Regent.

11. (L-R) William Sussman and South Palm Board Member Ron Lewittes at the JNF Lawyers for Israel Downtown Speakers Series lunch at Berger Singerman in Ft. Lauderdale.

4. (L-R) National Executive Director, Major Gifts Glen Schwartz, with Patricia Hashuel, Gabriel Baredes, Patricia 12. (L-R) Sharon Schwartz, Cantor Elaine Shapiro and Susan Cain at a Rosh Chodesh meeting hosted at Susan’s home in Finchelman, Rosalie Schlaen, Horacio Schlaen and KKL Shaliach Shay Salomon at a JNF Latin Division event hosted at Highland Beach. the home of Rosalie and Horacio Schlaen in Miami. 5. (L-R) Debra Johnson, Roy Esh and Mark Gendal at the JNF Lawyers for Israel Downtown Speakers Series lunch at

Carlton Fields Jorden Burt in Miami.

6. Miami-Dade Board Members Dennis Klein and Maria Meyer at the JNF Lawyers for Israel Downtown Speakers Series lunch at Carlton Fields Jorden Burt in Miami. 7. (L-R) Orlando Board Member Archie Ossin, Myrna Ossin and Israel Goodwill Ambassador Tal Brody at a donor luncheon in Orlando. 8. (L-R) Jim Shapiro, Kevin Weiss, Goodwill Ambassador Tal Brody and Dick Weiner at a JNF Lawyers for Israel breakfast in Orlando.

13. (L-R) JNF Israel Operations Development Officer Ariel Kotler with Jacob, Alissa and Devin Chernin and parents Adam and Lynn Chernin during a trip to Israel where the family dedicated a fire truck in honor of their grandfather and father Marshall Chernin (z”l). 14. Tampa Bay lay leaders during a phone-a-thon for the “31 Days in May” campaign. (L–R front row) Ida Raye Chernin, Andrew Meyer, Matt Masem and Dr. Rob Lewenson; (L–R back row) David Pearlman, Mandy Gordon, Dr. Stuart Lipman and Maxine Solomon. 15. (L-R) Host and Tampa Bay Board Member Ellyn Kessler with granddaughters Paige and Sharyn Taylor and Tampa Bay Board Member Dr. Lynne Merriam at JNF Movie Night in Clearwater.

â&#x20AC;&#x201A;GREATER NEW YORK

4 JNF ACROSS THE COUNTRY

9 JNF.org

GREATER NEW YORK

1. (L-R) Brian, Jenna and Sam Gutmann at the JNFamily event at the Central Park Zoo. 2. (L-R) Greater New York Executive Director Michael Feinman, Westchester Board Members Shoshana Bederman, Caren Hammerman, Ruth Raisfeld, Dr. Norman Weiss, and Lynn Jacobs with Westchester Director Stephanie Risa Balkin and speaker Micah Halpern at a Westchester breakfast.

3. (L-R) Guest speaker Member of Knesset Ruth Calderon, Marga Hirsch and Rabbi Angela Buchdahl of Central Synagogue at a JNF Rabbis for Israel luncheon in Manhattan.

4. (L-R) JNF Rabbis for Israel Society Member Rabbi Jaymee Alpert of Congregation Kneses Tifereth Israel, JNF CEO Russell F. Robinson, and Rabbi Elie Abadie of Congregation Edmond J. Safra at a JNF Rabbis for Israel luncheon in Manhattan.

6. Today Show weekend hosts Lester Holt, Jenna Wolf and Erica Hill with the Wasserman, Zalta, Wachs, and Rubinson families of the Westchester Boys Mitzvah Project. 7. (L-R) Bayonne Golf Tournament co-chairs Ari Wise and Ira Steinberg.

8. Andrew Obin and Suzanne Dance toured Israel with JNF-Halutza Liaison Yedidya Harush. 9.(L-R) Bonnie Weiss; Westchester Board Member Dr. Norman Weiss; National Assistant Vice President, College Activists and Boston President Michael Blank; Westchester Director Stephanie Risa Balkin; and Westchester Board members Caren Hammerman and Cheryl Pine.

10.David Wishnow enjoyed the Bayonne Golf Tournament.

(L-R) Long Island Associate Executive Director Howard Ingram, LI JNF Lawyers for Israel (LFI) Board Members Robin Nackman, 11.Eric Segal of Congregation Beth Sholom in Teaneck at a Yom Haâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;atzmaut celebration with snacks provided by JNF partner Josh Kardish, Brad Siegel, guest speaker Executive Vice President of Barclays Center and Brookyn Nets Jeff Gewirtz, Jeff Osem. Schwartz, LI Board President Michael Kessler and LI LFI Board member Larry Ingber at a Long Island LFI reception.

Mid-Atlantic

Northeast

1 JNF ACROSS THE COUNTRY

6 3

10 JNF.org 6

northeast

MID-ATLANTIC

1 (L-R, top row) Ari Stanger, Deputy Consul General Elad Strohmayer, Lauren Kaufman-Bergmann, Alexander Hankin, Mark

1.JNF Breakfast Co-Chair Jeff Menick addressed the DC community breakfast.

Lazaroff, Kara Kimmel, Liza Dabrow; (L-R, bottom row) Aliyah Furman, and Erika Shaid, co-chairs of Philadelphia JNFuture Summer Happy Hour at Brü Craft & Worst.

2 (L-R) Regional Director Marina Furman, Max Levin, Danielle Levin, and Deputy Consul General Elad Strohmayer at Philadelphia JNFuture Summer Happy Hour at Brü Craft & Worst.

3 (L-R) Actor Paul Reiser, Michael Boni and Yossi Kahana at a major donor breakfast outside of Philadelphia. 4 (L-R) Adam, Nina, and Missy Wayne at a Lag Ba’omer community event in Cherry Hill, NJ. 5 Attendees at Jump N Jive with JNF Live in Margate, NJ. 6 (L-R) Dr. Robert Benedon, JNF Regional Director Lynn Norton Robins, Shelly Abramson, and Betsy Fischer at a major donor breakfast outside of Philadelphia.

7 (L-R) Central New Jersey General Campaign Chair and Board Member Alyssa Russo; Rabbi Greg Litcofsky; Central NJ JNF

Women for Israel Co-Chair, Board Member and Breakfast Co-Chair Marci Robinson; and Co-Executive Director, Alexander Muss High School in Israel (AMHSI) Rabbi Leor Sinai at the Central New Jersey Annual Breakfast.

8 (L-R) AMHSI alumni Saul and Alyssa Sutton with Doris Leibowitz at the Central New Jersey Annual Breakfast. 9 (L-R) Central NJ JNF Women for Israel Co-Chair and Board Member Marci Robinson with Marina Kirshenbaum at the Central New Jersey Board BBQ.

2.JNFuture Members Evan Hoffman, Jenny Feuer, Nicole Reisman, Kira Sherman, Lauren Kaufman-Bergmann and Eric Weissmann at the DC community breakfast.

3.Executive Director of the Arava Institute David Lehrer with Cary Feldman and Larry Schleifer at a parlor meeting on the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies.

4.(L-R) Frank Spector and Mark Wolkow at the Baltimore community breakfast. 5.Susan and Jerry Grossman at the dedication ceremony for the new student lounge at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies.

6.(L-R) Jack Rose, National Campaign Director Diane Scar, Debbie Spector, and Nanci Seff at the Baltimore community breakfast. 7.(L-R) Larry and Naomi Amsterdam with National Campaign Director Diane Scar and IDF General Doron Almog at the dedication of the Aleh Negev Dental Clinic in Ofakim.

8.(L-R) Lynn Kapiloff with Dr. Michael and Judy Kapiloff and their children at the dedication of the Caregiver Training Program at Aleh Negev.

WESTERN

10 4

11 4

JNF ACROSS THE COUNTRY

11 JNF.org

WESTERN

1. (L-R) Lior Siboni and Vered Aizenberg at the Las Vegas Breakfast for Israel.

8. (L-R) Nancy Goldberg, Northern CA Board Member Gunda Trepp, Northern CA

2. (L-R) Sandy Mallin at the Las Vegas Breakfast for Israel.

Board President Emeritus Marlene Maier, Reuben Donig, and Stephanie Lachtman at the San Francisco Breakfast for Israel.

3. (L-R) Bob Dubin at the Las Vegas major donor reception.

9. (L-R) Chairman of Aleh Negev–Nahalat Eran General Doron Almog and Roberta

4. (L-R) Evie Cohen, Jerome Tiniano, Vicky Kelman and Paul Gillis at the Denver Breakfast for Israel.

5. (L-R) Susan Kramer, State Senator Joyce Foster and Rabbi Steven Foster at the Denver Breakfast for Israel.

14.(L-R) Lisa Bailey in a fire truck dedicated to the memory of her husband, Los Angeles firefighter David Bailey in Jerusalem.

15.(L-R) Volunteers Joel Taubman, Beth Magerman, Hannah Wasserman, Nevin

Zucker.

Williams and Adva David at the “31 Days in May” phone-a-thon at the JNF Arizona office in Scottsdale.

10.(L-R) Ron Williams, General Doron Almog and Avnet Kleiner shared a special

16.(L-R) William Abad, Penelope Karp-Abad and Stephanie Kelman at JNFuture’s

11.(L-R standing) Alice Seltzer, Alyse Golden Berkley, Nina Paul, Terry Katz, and

17.(L-R) Sasha and Rodney Glassman at an Arizona Breakfast for Israel meeting.

moment after meeting in Costa Mesa, CA.

Sharon Bernhard; (L-R sitting) Deby Goodman, Kathy DeLiema at a JNF Sapphire

Arizona Winter Connection event at the home of Jeffrey and Randi Levine.

6. (L-R) Stefanie Davidowitz, Shayna Braunstein, Sarah Weiss and Dunia Dickey at the Society Brunch in Newport Beach, CA.

18.(L-R) Sydney Serwin and Dr. Richard Serwin at San Diego’s Love of Israel brunch.

12.(L-R) Marlies Heller, Lisa Bailey, and Sam Heller dedicated a fire truck in memory of Lisa’s husband, Los Angeles firefighter David Bailey, in Jerusalem. Executive Director Dr. Anita Friedman, and Aaron Tartakovsky at the San Francisco Breakfast for Israel. 13.(L-R) Marlies Heller, Lisa Bailey, and Sam Heller at a fire truck dedication in memory of Los Angeles firefighter David Bailey in Jerusalem.

19.(L-R) Howard Jarson, Hannah Jarson, Lauren Lizerbram, and Dr. Sol Lizerbram at

Denver Breakfast for Israel.

7. (L-R) Israeli Consul General Dr. Andy David, Jewish Family and Children’s Services

San Diego’s Love of Israel brunch.

20.(L-R) Bruce Greenhaus and Gordon Kaplan at San Diego’s Love of Israel brunch.

helping

people of

the

israel During Difficult Days JEWISH emergency NATIONAL campaign FUND

This summer thousands of missiles were launched at Israel from Gaza, putting the lives of more than four million in danger. Within hours of the escalation of the conflict, JNF was contacted by its partners in Israel and received a list of emergency needs. We immediately mobilized our resources—lay leaders and staff—and took to social media channels, the internet, phone conversations, conference calls, radio ads, two solidarity missions—you name it—to get the word out so that everyone who wanted to, could play a role in making the lives of our brothers and sisters in Israel a little better, a little safer. JNF’s Emergency Campaign raised over $6 million.

Operation protective Ensuring the Safety of American Summer Students in Israel No American High School student who signed up for the summer session at the Alexander Muss High School in Israel (AMHSI) expected a summer like this. Like the Israelis they came to know, each became accustomed to sirens sounding at the Hod Hasharon campus and learned to brave the situation in bomb shelters. Parents were kept well-informed and staff showed a great deal of sensitivity to the students’ needs. The summer proved a transformative and lasting memory for the 150 teens, one that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. “A piece of Ben was left behind in Israel. He is a different young man, wiser and older in so many ways. Thank you for taking care of my son.” — Linda Henriquez, AMHSI parent

JNF.org

JNF Sderot Indoor Recreation Center, a Place of Normalcy During the war, more than 800 people a day used the center. It provided a welcome respite for families, IDF soldiers and people with special needs from southern Israel. The mayor and Sderot’s citizens also enjoyed a standing room only concert by Israeli superstar David D’Or. The indoor playground was featured on prime time TV when Sean Hannity profiled it on FOX News. “This center has proven to be our lifeline. I don’t know what we would do without it.” — Alon Davidi, Mayor of Sderot

Mobile Bomb Shelters Provided Physical Security Many living in new communities and kibbutzim all along the border with Gaza lack homes with safety rooms. When the sirens signaled incoming rocket attacks, most had nowhere to escape to. Thanks to donors around the world, JNF placed more than 200 fortified bomb shelters in these and other communities. “A shelter is more than concrete; it’s an emotional Iron Dome that creates a sense of security. We can’t say thank you enough to our JNF friends who stood beside us so quickly and with the shelters they provided brought some peace to our families and children.” — Rabbi Eli Adler, Halutza

Bolstering Israel’s Firefighters, The Unsung Heroes From the moment Operation Protective Edge began, Israel’s Fire and Rescue Services Southern District switched into emergency mode: manpower was reassigned, and schedules and response times were altered in order for firefighters to work 24/7 to extinguish fire bursts following rockets falling in open areas and from direct missile hits. JNF donors bought five new state-of-the-art fire trucks, tons of equipment, and food for fire stations. “You have no idea what it meant for us to know we were thought of during this grueling time.” — Shiko Bar Dov, Deputy Community of Israel’s Fire and Rescue services

edge Caring for People with Special Needs Spending time in shelters is far more of a struggle for people with special needs. At JNF partner Aleh Negev, caregivers gave extra attention and worked longer hours. While Aleh Negev suffered several missile attacks, thankfully, no one was hurt.

“Thank you LOTEM and thank you amazing donors. It’s not often we see something like this. Many thanks and hugs from the depths of the heart.” — Parent of a child with special needs

JEWISH emergency NATIONAL campaign FUND

“Color Green” activities were launched by LOTEM-Making Nature Accessible, a JNF partner, in response to requests from special needs facilities in the south. Nature outings in the Jerusalem area and the north were arranged for children and adults with special needs from more than 30 facilities including camps, shelters for battered women and Aleh Negev.

In conjunction with JNF partner Nefesh B’Nefesh, more than 5,000 packages were made for IDF soldiers by participants on JNF’s July L’Chaim Solidarity Mission using only items bought from small businesses in Ofakim, an area that took an economic loss during the war. Members of the mission stood in solidarity with residents in the Gaza border towns of the Halutza region, met with officials, visited injured soldiers in hospital, volunteered at the Sderot Indoor Recreation Center, and spent much-needed money in shops hard-hit because of the war. “What an emotional day yesterday was. We started the day with the Minister of Tourism and then headed to Mt. Herzl. He said something that really struck me: “ When you stand with Israel, you stand in Israel.” — Vivian Grossman, Florida; L’Chaim Solidarity Mission I (July 2014)

Entertainment, Both in and out of Bomb Shelters

JNF partners Tnuat Tarbut, Hashomer HaChadash, Green Horizons, Western Galilee Now, and Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites (SPIHS) brought children and families to safe places up north when possible, and also brought entertainment to them. SPIHS offered free admission to 60 different historical sites throughout the country, bike rides and day trips. Western Galilee Now provided several days of relaxed touring up north with various outings. Green Horizons took kids to an amusement park and brought in arts and crafts and fun activities to border towns and Bedouin villages, and Tnuat Tarbut provided hours of fun for children hunkered down in bomb shelters in Gaza border towns. “You don’t understand how it feels to have someone who cares and gives with a full heart.” — Kinneret Bargil, head of the education department in the Bedouin village of Segev Shalom

JNF.org

Taking Care of Israel’s Elite — the IDF Soldiers

planned giving

Dabrows: charitable gift annuities are a win-win

planned giving

For the past 25 years, Louise and Alan

JNF.org

Dabrow have fostered a legacy of commitment to JNF through philanthropy and support. Years ago, they were in Be’er Sheva when it was literally a city dump and Abraham’s Well was just a gas station. Reflecting on how far the project has come, Alan said, “I have seen the beginning of the vision, and seeing what it has become is amazing. With a strong Israel, the Jewish people will survive. That has been our mantra.” When the couple, who live in Haverford, PA, married in 1988, they each brought to the marriage an affinity towards Israel. Louise had fallen in love with the people and land of Israel on an eight-week trip with the Jewish Agency when she was 19 years old, during which she met David Ben Gurion. After being invited to a JNF board meeting by Alan’s cousin, Alan Robbins, then-president of the JNF Philadelphia board, the couple was impressed by JNF’s vision.

In the early ‘90s they were part of a five-person delegation to Israel led by Zevi Kahanov, z”l. It was a trip that would ignite their strong commitment to JNF and all it does for Israel. “We both decided to get involved because we felt blessed and wanted to give back to the community in some way,” said Louise. In addition to supporting the Be’er Sheva River Park, they have made contributions to JNF’s Housing Development Fund, Timna Park and American Independence Park. At Ammunition Hill the couple dedicated a plaque in memory of Louise’s brother, Jerome Shestack, in honor of his service as a 1st Lieutenant in the Navy during WWII and their granddaughter, Talia, has a plaque on the B’nai Mitzvah Wall. Their legacy of philanthropy proudly extends to the next generation: Alan’s son Steve and daughter-inlaw Lori made a large donation to the Be’er Sheva River Park in honor of Alan’s birthday and has also contributed to the new JNF Housing Development Fund. The Dabrows are members of JNF’s Century Council and Negev Society. They both hold national executive positions: Alan is National First Vice President and Louise has been President of JNF Women for Israel for over two years. During her tenure they have created a women’s executive board, raised $12 million in the past year alone, and now boast membership of over 450 Sapphire Society members and over 100 Chai Society members. The couple chose to establish charitable gift annuities through JNF because for them, for JNF, and for Israel, it’s a “win-win” situation.

“When one buys an annuity you gain many tax advantages,” said Louise. “Anytime we can have money invested to help ourselves and Israel, it is a no-brainer. As an individual you can make a small impact, but as a collective through JNF you change the face of Israel. We are putting all our efforts into insuring that Israel stays strong through JNF.” As a result of their committed involvement, they have developed many lasting and meaningful friendships, including Be’er Sheva Mayor Ruvik Danilovich, City Manager Avishag Avtuvi, River Park Project Director Itai Freeman, KKL-JNF World Chairman Efi Stenzler, and KKL Director of Major Gifts Talia Tzour. Both Louise and Alan have participated in numerous JNF missions, as participants and as mission chairs. For the past decade, Alan has travelled to Israel with CEO Russell F. Robinson on the President’s Society Mission. Louise first led JNF’s Queen of Sheba Women’s Mission to Israel in 2007 and has gone on the trip each year since. “You get a better view of what is really going on by visiting Israel and all of JNF’s projects,” she said. “It helps cement our relationship to JNF and to Israel when we see what is being accomplished.”

To learn more about JNF’s Planned Giving opportunities, contact us at 800.562.7562

in giving you receive

By Matt Bernstein, CFP, JNF Chief Planned Giving Officer Over the last several

months we were yet again compelled to witness Israel at war with neighbors whose true goal is her total destruction. Once again we heard pleas of “proportional response” from those who don’t understand the realities of the situation or don’t care. And once again we saw that the people we can truly rely on to look after Israel’s well-being are supporters like you and Jewish National Fund. During this difficult time JNF took immediate action on the ground in Israel. Through your contributions, JNF was equipped to act swiftly and decisively. We stepped forward to lead a vital relief effort and stand with Israel. While this emergency galvanized our community, our work for the land and people of Israel does not cease. In fact it makes our continuing mission more important than ever. Planned giving has been a vital component of our annual campaign, contributing millions of dollars each year. By consulting with our donors on ways to reduce their taxes or increase their income we have demonstrated that by giving to Jewish National Fund either through a bequest or one of our income-producing gift plans we can solve some financial planning issues and support JNF with the resources needed to respond to emergencies while

keeping our existing projects funded. With interest rates still at historic lows our Gift Annuity program is as popular as ever. As many of our donors know, JNF has one of the most successful Charitable Gift Annuity programs in the country. We believe our success is due to the fact that we offer very competitive annuity rates and our donors enjoy the stability of receiving a steady income check. All with the knowledge that their annuity gift will ultimately support Jewish National Fund projects in Israel. A JNF Charitable Gift Annuity is a simple agreement that offers our donors a lifetime income in exchange for their gift. There are valuable tax advantages such as taxfree income, an income tax deduction, and the avoidance of lump sum capital gains taxes if the donation is made with long-term appreciated stocks or mutual funds. Our annuities can be structured to cover one or two lives and can be designed to act like a supplemental retirement plan by deferring income for a number of years.

Here is a sampling of the single life annuity rates we currently offer: Age 65 5.5%

Age 80 7.2%

Age 70 5.8%

Age 85 8.1%

Age 75 6.4%

Age 90+ 9.5%

Here’s how it works: Ellen, 72 years old, has a $50,000 bank certificate coming due in the next month. Her bank has offered her a renewal of 0.75%. As a JNF donor she has received regular updates from our Planned Giving department about the gift annuity program. A simple phone call provided her with the following information: • At her age we can offer her an annuity with an income of 6.0% vs. 0.75%. • Her $50,000 gift would pay annual income of $3,000 vs. $375. • Her gift makes her eligible to claim a tax deduction of $17,505, saving her $5,887 in federal income taxes. $2,241 of the $3,000 income will be paid to her as tax-free income over her actuarial life expectancy of 14.5 years. After 14.5 years all of the income she receives will be considered as taxable income. • Her gift will ultimately be used to fund maintenance and upkeep for the JNF Sderot Indoor Recreational Center she visited on her last President’s Council Mission. • With the increased income and tax benefits Ellen can help herself and support Jewish National Fund at the same time. To learn how a Jewish National Fund Charitable Gift Annuity might benefit you, please call 800-562-7526 and speak with any of our Planned Giving specialists.

food & wine

Chef Atalya Ein Mor

Returns to Her Roots By: June Glazer

Bocca di Dama “My grandmother was a great cook who came from Libya, which was an Italian colony until 1947. One of her recipes is a cake called Bocca di Dama, “Lips of the Lady” in Italian, which she used to bake for special occasions.”

By age nine, Atalya Ein Mor knew she wanted to be a chef. She served her earliest creations on the same family dining room table, located on the same covered balcony and overlooking the same lush Jerusalem Forest where today she welcomes paying guests who book their reservations weeks in advance. Atalya spent four years traveling the world after completing her IDF service. She later returned to Ein Karem, the pastoral neighborhood in southwest Jerusalem where she grew up and, with some prior experience working in restaurants, fulfilled her childhood dream. Four years later, Atalya is now a professional chef of local renown. Her Friday morning brunches, open to the public with seating for 12, is a can’t miss for Ein Karem visitors from far and wide, who must reserve their table on her balcony way ahead of time. She cooks an all-natural menu—breads, quiches, dips, salads, smoked fish, fruits and pastries—and serves them buffet style from the adjoining family living room, decorated with art and antiques that are her family’s heirlooms. “People told me to go to Tel Aviv to develop my career, but Ein Karem is so charming and peaceful. I couldn’t imagine living in a big city,” she said looking out from the balcony at the hills and mountains, natural groves, and stone houses she loves.

As an outgrowth of her brunches, Atalya also hosts private seatings—elite chef meals, she calls them— and caters to groups and missions from JNF and other organizations that now make her childhood home a frequent destination stop on their itineraries. She has hosted birthday parties and small weddings too but most of her regular work revolves around private gatherings. “Cooking and hosting are my passions. I really feel it and I can’t stop doing it,” she said. Between the brunches, elite chef meals and the Bed and Breakfast she runs in a bungalow apartment situated in her garden below the house, Atalya has become a very busy woman. But she also has taken time to travel to the United States to share her food and her business philosophy. “My vision is to use food as a vehicle for communication,” she said. “I want my food to show Israel in a different light and for people to know Israelis as we really are. That’s why I was happy to have this opportunity to discuss my work and life. To explain why I chose to be in Jerusalem and why I will never leave it.” For information visit atalya.co.il or contact Atalya directly at Info@atalya.co.il.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a round cake pan. 2. Mix egg yolks in a mixer at high speed, slowly adding cup of sugar while mixing. 3. Reduce speed and add oil and lemon skin zest. 4. Add almond extract and the ground almonds. 5. In a clean bowl, whip the egg whites and add 1/4 cup sugar while mixing. 6. Fold the mixed egg yolks into the whipped egg whites. 7. Fold the yolks-and-whites egg mixture into the flour. 8. Pour batter into pan. Bake in a preheated oven for 15 minutes. 9. Cover with aluminum foil, reduce oven heat by 10 degrees, and bake for an additional 35 minutes. 10. Remove and let cool. Ice cake and decorate with seasonal fruits and nuts.

15 JNF.org

5 egg yolks 1 cup sugar 2 tbsp oil 2 tsp almond extract Zest from 1 big lemon skin 3 cups fine-ground white almonds 5 egg whites 1/4 cup sugar 3 tbsp white flour

food & wine

Ingredients:

travel & tours

Breathing Back

LIFE Into Israel travel & tours

This past summer, JNF sent two L’Chaim Solidarity missions to Israel, billed as Breathing Life Back into Israel. “Now more than ever, the people of Israel need to know that Jews around the world stand in support of our homeland and her people,” said JNF CEO Russell F. Robinson. Here are testimonials from participants on the missions who met with Israeli officials, soldiers, and residents, and heard stories of remarkable bravery and courage.

“In Be’er Sheva we walked through the halls of Soroka Medical Center and met the staff and families who were there. They expressed their great appreciation for our solidarity with Israel at a time like this. We all thanked them for maintaining their strength and commitment. We visited injured young soldiers and paid our respects to them for their commitment to protect their families and the citizens of Israel.” — Phyllis Solomon “I knew I needed to be part of the solidarity mission. It was certainly a roller coaster of emotions: Visiting a 20-year-old injured soldier while my 20-year-old son was at home studying, meeting a 21-year-old female soldier who had come home for Shabbat dinner with her family on her night off from the navy base, while my 21-year-old daughter is working before her semester abroad; sharing tears with an Israeli mother. It was a pleasure to be with such an amazing group of all ages. The most important thing we all have in common is our love for Israel. I have lived in America for almost 25 years and before that in Mexico for 22 years, but when I arrived in Israel, I felt at home.” — Margot Alfie

JNF.org

“Daily lives were put on temporary hold, a trip planned in moments, and a flurry of flights booked. The unknown ground situation made getting to Israel almost like a biblical tale. Family and friends and colleagues questioned sanity. But it stirred up the heart, the adrenaline and an inner comfort that all would be fine and it was very important to be there… and I would not change one detail, one moment, or the many tears I shed. My fourth trip with JNF in five years, with the best and most unbelievable group of people to share long days, nights, shelters, and the unknown with.” — Sheryl Buchholtz “I believe I have been to Israel about 40 times, but can’t remember a trip as meaningful as this one. To see so many Zionists put their lives on hold to come to Israel under these very tough conditions makes me so proud to be part of this group.” — Glenn Grossman

jewish

Singles take

israel

Tourism is incredibly important to the Israeli economy, so this summer, even though war was raging and many tourists shied away from visiting, a group of 24 Jewish singles traveled on the JNF-JDate Singles Trip to Israel and were met with an outpouring of genuine gratitude. “Everywhere we went, when we mentioned JNF, Israelis knew how much they were supported,” said Eve Breier, a participant from Las Vegas, NV whose only other time in Israel was on the Alexander Muss High School in Israel program almost two decades ago. “They were so appreciative of us wanting to still

be there and not be afraid. And Jewish National Fund went out of its way to make us feel secure.” This trip brought together first-timers and people who had been to Israel before, and was the first of its kind organized specifically for singles by JNF and JDate. It offered breathtaking sights, engaging history, lively culture, and delicious food at every point while underscoring the power of being Jewish and the importance of supporting Israel. Due to the conflict, some of the itinerary had to be altered, but the tone of the mission remained the same and resonated with the group: to experience Israel and understand the significance of the Jewish homeland. “Everywhere we went and everything we did was educational and fun, and was another memory we were able to make,” said Eve. “It encouraged us to reflect on ourselves, how we connect with Judaism, and what we want from Judaism and Israel. It made every aspect of the trip that much more meaningful.” The group visited the emotional 9/11 Living Memorial and Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, planted trees at the Neot Kedumim Biblical Reserve, took an exciting Jeep tour through the Golan Heights, and visited the grave of Ben Uziel in Amuka, where it is believed that if someone prays at the gravesite for a marriage partner they will meet their mate within the coming year, and welcomed Shabbat in at the Kotel. “Especially with everything going on, to see soldiers dancing and singing, and people celebrating at the Kotel was breathtaking,” said Eve. “How do

you describe that to people? You have to see it and experience it for yourself.” The next singles trip has already been scheduled for July 2015; Eve has signed on as the trip’s co-chair. She is even considering making Aliyah. “That’s how powerful my feelings are for Israel,” she explained. “I spent a week in a country where I don’t speak the language and don’t know too many people, but I am willing to give up my entire life to be part of this land that I feel so drawn to. “In the week that we were there, the group of us became friends for life. That’s what Israel can do in a week. That’s its power.” Learn more about the 2015 Singles Trip to Israel July 12-18 at jnf.org/singlestrip.

jnfuture

JNF.org

The Arava reveals

a land of

and

milk honey By: Darryl Egnal

JEWISH NATIONAL FUND

18 JNF.org Ran Porat is a rule breaker. When someone tells him something can’t be done, he sets out to prove the opposite. When he decided he wanted to make honey in the desert, people laughed. When he said he wanted to breed bees in the Arava—the driest, hottest part of the Negev—they told him he’d never make it. He disagreed. He was young—straight out of the army—and he set out to show everyone how wrong they were. Today, the Porat Apiary is a successful family-run business with thousands of productive beehives throughout the Negev and is renowned across Israel for its unusual honey flavors. Not far from the Porat Apiary is the Kayema Farm, a place rich with the flow of milk—goats’ milk. An unusual choice for the Arava, the decision has been enormously successful. After seven years of competing with the rest of the fruit and vegetable farmers in the Central Arava, the Ofaimme family decided to try something new and different. So they brought 20 Alpine goats to Israel and acclimatized them to the desert heat. The goats have been thriving in the area for the past seven years and their milk produces special cheeses and many flavored fruit yogurts. The Porat family is one of the founding families in the Central Arava. Chacha and Hagi Porat were founding members of Moshav Ein Yahav and, while Hagi passed away in the early 90s, Chacha is still an active member of the moshav (farming community). She also plays a role in the family honey business and still manages to create beautiful and unusual art. Hagi was a successful vegetable farmer, like most of the families in the region. Ran, however, was not interested

in following in his father’s footsteps. He wanted to do something completely different, so he chose bees. He has lived up to the challenge, with plenty of patience, a love of the business and, most importantly, the help of his family: wife, Irit, Chacha and, every now and then, his brother, Ziv. “We started with five beehives in 1990 and we now have more than 2,000 throughout southern Israel,” said Irit. “We have six different types of honey: Citrus, Wildflower, Eucalyptus, Avocado, Harhavina (a purple, thorny flower called Eryngium Creticum), and a special Tamarind honey from the Tamarind tree.” The honey is distributed to major wholesalers, retailers and nature shops throughout the country. The Central Arava is not an easy place to live in. It’s far from all the major cities and towns and the weather, especially in the summer, is extremely hot. There is very little rain during the year. But the family remains. “We love it here because it’s quiet and peaceful,” said Irit. “You don’t feel the rush of city life and it’s a special place to raise children. We don’t have to worry about them like you do in the city. They can go around the moshav and the area easily and safely. “And besides, it’s meaningful to live so close to the border of Israel and to feel that we are living David Ben Gurion’s dream of settling the desert and protecting the country, like the halutzim (pioneers) of the 60’s and 70’s.” Unlike the Porat family, the Ofaimme’s are relatively new to the Central Arava—they moved from the north to Moshav Idan in 2000—but it has been an exciting and rewarding move for them. Kayema Farm is run by husband and wife team, Ynon Ofaimme and Adi Rappaport, in partnership with Ynon’s brother, Hedai, a culinary expert, who writes about food and provides recipes in Ha’aretz on a weekly basis. Wanting to do something that would be healthy and easier to keep organic and sustainable (Kayema means “sustainable” in Hebrew), they chose to breed milking goats. The goats eat the plants that are left behind after the fruit and vegetables have been harvested. The couple built a place to make the cheese and yogurt and everything grew from there. Today, they have 110 milking goats which produce 500,000 liters of milk a year. Kayema manufactures more than 20 types of boutique goat’s milk cheeses under the Ofaimme brand, as well as six different yogurts: five drinking yogurts—plain, date, peach, apricot and almond—and a plain, thick version for eating. “We are experts in French-style cheeses, what we call the ‘white mold’ cheeses like Camembert, but we also have other fresh cheeses as well,” said Adi. “All our products are based on traditional French cheeses, which we make ‘hand-made style’.” The Porat and Ofaimme successes show that while the desert may seem, at first glance, like a place that God has forsaken, the oasis of richness known as the Central Arava is, literally, a land flowing with milk and honey. To learn more about JNF’s work in Central Arava, visit jnf.org/central-arava

The

Pomelo Orchards of Kibbutz Yahel

By: Ron Bernstein

how to peel a pomelo Peeling and eating a pomelo is not a simple procedure. Most Americans have never eaten one or even paid attention to the fruit in the supermarket. There is only one way to eat a pomelo – my way. 1. Place the pomelo with the stem on top. 2. With a sharp knife, make a cut about an inch from the top in a circular motion, carefully so as not to penetrate the flesh of the fruit. 3. From the top to two inches from the bottom, slice the pomelo in five equal sizes. 4. Carefully remove the peel in one piece. 5. Separate the slices, tear off the membrane and enjoy the delicious pomelo.

19 JNF.org

drove up. The driver introduced himself as the governor of the Arava Valley from Aqaba to the Dead Sea; he had heard about the pomelos and decided to see firsthand what the excitement was all about. “As we parted ways, we agreed that the next day we would bring our families,” said Ron. “The next day Mahmoud and I met with our families. Only the fence separated us. For an hour we talked together, ate Chanukah chocolates and realized that we, in our modest way, were making peace in the Middle East.” After meeting with the Jordanian governor, Ron launched a tikkun olam project called “Partners in Pomelos for Peace.” The project, which lasted three years, was a unique way to connect with American Jewry by sending boxes of pomelos to congregations, schools, and individuals for $180 for Tu BiShvat, along with the pomelo story, a factsheet about Yahel, and instructions on how to peel pomelos. The proceeds funded projects at Yahel to promote peace and understanding between the Jewish and Arab populations in Israel, including a shelter for underprivileged children, and a 10-day summer camp that brings together Jewish, Muslim and Christian children. Today, Yahel is home to nearly 200 residents. A vibrant community located 65 kilometers north of Eilat, it boasts the largest date plantation in the region and a successful dairy herd along with its pomelo orchard. A bed-andbreakfast tourism enterprise provides another important source of tourism. In partnership with JNF, Yahel developed a recreational/educational park to serve travelers driving to and from Eilat and the Sinai all year round. The Yahel Park is a boon to the existing tourist business, attract new residents and provides opportunities for employment that have been severely lacking at Yahel. Attractions include walking paths, a lookout tower offering a view of the Arava Valley, playground facilities, gardens, a Farmers Market, and so much more.

JEWISH NATIONAL FUND

Twice a year, when standing in the pomelo orchard at Kibbutz Yahel with your eyes shut, it is difficult to imagine that you are in one of the harshest, wildest and most forbidding places on earth, the Arava Desert Valley in southern Israel. In early spring, the citrus trees are in full bloom, their fragrance intoxicating. Then, in the autumn, the luscious pomelo ripens and for four months we savor the unique taste and sweetness of the desert grown fruit. The pomelo, the largest citrus at 15-25 centimeters in diameter, was first planted in Yahel in the fall of 1981. The Yotvata agricultural experimental station had planted citrus trees for the four years prior to determine the best variety to grow. The pomelo was chosen for several reasons: it would compete well in exportation to Europe, the fruit takes up little acreage, and since Kibbutz Yahel was in the desert, the pomelo would ripen earlier. The kibbutz began with 15 acres, added an additional 15 in 1985, and by 2005 covered 35 acres. Since the first harvest in the fall of 1984, close to 25,000 metric tons of pomelos have been marketed to Israel and Europe, with a very small amount sent to the United States. At full production, the average yield of 28 tons/acre was the highest in Israel. Twenty years ago, while checking the kibbutz’s drip irrigation pipes, Ron Bernstein, who founded the kibbutz in 1977, heard a commotion just east of the orchard at the border fence with Jordan. Running over, he encountered a dozen IDF vehicles and soldiers patrolling within the orchard. The scouts had discovered footprints from Jordan into Israel that went around a number of trees and back again into Jordan. Recalls Ron: “After checking this out, I said to the commanding officer, ‘If you were patrolling in 120 degree heat and saw a thousand tons of delicious, aromatic, sweet and exotic fruit enticing you to come over and pick them, you would do the same thing: hop from your jeep, skip over the fence, pick pomelos and return to the jeep. That is exactly what the Jordanian patrol had done.’” Feeling a sense of compassion and understanding, Ron placed a crate holding 400 pounds of pomelos next to the fence with a sign in Arabic, Hebrew and English inviting Israeli and Jordanian patrols to enjoy the fruit. He refilled the crate three times a week. There were times when both Jordanian and Israeli patrols were seen taking pomelos at the same time. During Chanukah of 1995, Ron was refilling the pomelo crate along the Jordanian border when a white sedan

Good Wine in Western

Galiliee JEWISH NATIONAL FUND

20 JNF.org

SAUVIGNON BLANC STERN 2013 Made of 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes. It’s been said of this wine: “Just sit in front of the sea and eat watermelons with this wine.” Drink chilled. Suitable with fish and seafood. CABERNET SAUVIGNON RESERVE 2012 Made of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown in Calcareous soil. Suitable to drink with a great steak or a beef stew with root vegetables. SYRAH 2012 87% Syrah grapes with 17% Cabernet Sauvignon that grew in Tuval near the winery. Suitable to drink with cheeses with character or Italian dishes.

High on a mountainside in the Western Galilee, nestled in the remote community of Kibbutz Tuval, Johnny Stern is living his dream. Johnny immigrated to Israel from Brazil as a child, settling with his family in the quiet seaside town of Nahariya. Post-army service, and after a few years in hotel management, he turned to a lucrative career in the chemicals industry. He moved to the urban center of the country, where he cultivated his taste for fine wine and food in some of Israel’s best restaurants. At the age of 50, Johnny started thinking about an early retirement in which he could pursue the more meaningful and enjoyable things in life. But he didn’t exactly retire. Instead, he followed a dream that he had been nurturing for many years. It started when, as an avid wine enthusiast, he participated in a wine-tasting course with one of Israel’s most noted wine critics. At the end of the course, his homemade Merlot was not well-received by the critic. Yet rather than give up, he decided to open his own winery to further perfect his craft. Ten years later, Johnny has made a name for himself as one of Israel’s most respected winemakers and the internationally recognized Stern Winery annually produces 25,000 bottles. The grapes are harvested by

hand from several vineyards located in the Galilee and the Golan. Though his own passion and hard work clearly drives the operation, Johnny is the first to acknowledge that running the winery is a group effort. Johnny has only a few full-time employees. Many of the seasonal tasks are done by the “Friends of the Winery,” a network of friends, relatives and fellow wine enthusiasts, all of whom help year-round—from harvesting the grapes to bottling, labeling, and marketing the wine. All of the wines are named after his children, grandchildren, and other family members. Johnny also has a strong connection with the families of Kibbutz Tuval. To the youth, he bestows work ethics, a sense of pride, agricultural experience, and a regular paycheck. Additionally, the agricultural branch of Kibbutz Tuval grows grapes for his wine, providing a much-needed economic boost to this small, out-of-theway community. Johnny’s collective approach extends to another of his pet projects: Western Galilee Now, a JNF-sponsored consortium of local vintners, restaurateurs, and artisans who work together to promote the region’s boutique wine, beer, food, and produce, as well as its cultural diversity and unique history. The 30 members crosspromote their products and services, and help draw people to the region to inject the local economy with increased tourism. Johnny is also an active member of Slow Food Galilee, a branch of a global organization that links the pleasure of good food, the rich history of tradition, the diversity of culture, and a concern for social-environmental issues. His hands-on work at the winery and commitment to the Western Galilee consortium are part of his vision to preserve and strengthen the treasures of the region. For Johnny, the conscious appreciation of what we eat and drink, and of where our food comes from, is an essential element of Zionism: “By giving respect to our local food, wine, and crafts we pay respect to each other, to the land, and to the country.” Johnny is happy to share a taste of the Western Galilee with people from around the world, both by exporting his wines and by inviting travelers to his visitor’s center as a starting point for exploring the region. Make sure to come thirsty and bring your appetite. Visit the Stern Winery website at stern-winery.co.il and the Western Galilee Now website at westgalil.org.il.

Israel’s By: Arielle Angel

Ali Alhawashla, Director of the Medicinal Plants Operation at Project Wadi Attir, experimenting with the development of new health-related products.

21 JNF.org

When Eti Golan, an Israeli herbalist, began studying her trade, she discovered that while European, North American, and Asian plants were well-represented in the available literature, information on the medicinal use of native Israeli plants was much harder to find. “When you learn the science of healing in Israel, most everything—the herbs and the knowledge about them— is imported. There is no specific emphasis on Israeli herbs. You really have to struggle to learn more about them, especially those from the desert,” said Eti, who is the manager of medicinal plant product development at Project Wadi Attir, a model sustainable agricultural operation led by a Bedouin community in the Negev. The project has been designed to leverage Bedouin traditional values, know-how and experience with modern-day science and cutting-edge technologies. There, Eti works alongside the Director of the Medicinal Plants Operation, Ali Alhawashla, a traditional Bedouin healer and an expert in Negev medicinal plants, who has dedicated his life to studying their characteristics and preserving knowledge of their uses. The Medicinal Plants Operation at Project Wadi Attir represents a responsibility and an opportunity to preserve endangered Bedouin knowledge—to date, a largely oral tradition—of desert herbs and natural healing remedies and to apply this knowledge towards the creation of a high-quality brand of healing products, including soaps and creams, essential oils and infusion teas. This in turn will provide economic independence for members of the Wadi Attir Cooperative while employing women and youth in the Bedouin community. To this end, Ali has continued his work gathering and consolidating data relating to traditional desert plants, as well as Bedouin agricultural practices, remedies and treatments, for compilation in his own healing guide, to be published in Arabic, Hebrew and English. Of almost 35 species of desert medicinal plants identified by Ali, 15 are intended for growth on a dedicated plot at Project Wadi Attir’s 100-acre site. Six are already thriving there, a combination of well-known herbs like sage, luiza (lemon verbena), and za’atar (Lebanese oregano), and other lesser-known varieties like wormwood, ballota and felty germander. The latter three are the result of several years of Ali’s trial-and-error experimentation with cultivation methods and strategies for these otherwise wild, native species.

For more information, please visit sustainabilitylabs.org and projectwadiattir.com.

Ali Alhawashla with Michael Ben-Eli, founder of The Sustainability Laboratory.

Medicinal plants growing on the Project Wadi Attir site.

JEWISH NATIONAL FUND

Healing Herbs

Earlier this year, the Medicinal Plants team at Project Wadi Attir oversaw the first harvest of their medicinal herbs. Once dried and put aside, they will be analyzed to effectively and uniformly extract their essential oils and apply the active ingredients for use in formulas. As the team begins to develop new products, they will also work in conjunction with the authorities to widen the scope of Negev medicinal plants used in Israeli products, with the hope of bringing something new to market, in the healing community, and the world, which has never been seen before. Eti points to matricaria aurea, a leafy desert plant with yellow flowers that has no common English name, but is related to both sunflowers and chamomile. While it’s a plant widely used in Bedouin healing, it’s not been approved for use by the Health Department simply because nobody has ever asked. This underscores the urgency and importance of the Medicinal Plant Operation’s efforts at Project Wadi Attir. “If we don’t do this now,” said Eti, “no one will ever know what we have right under our noses.” Project Wadi Attir, a joint initiative of The Sustainability Laboratory and the Hura Municipal Council, is supported by JNF as part of their Blueprint Negev Initiative. The project is also supported by researchers from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, KKL, foundations and individual donors, as well as a government consortium led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

fruitof the

desert

By: Mara Friedman JEWISH NATIONAL FUND

22 JNF.org

A lemony aroma wafts across the fields and what was once a barren desert is abloom with yellow fruit dominating the landscape as far as the eye can see. Past the last cluster of towns in the Western Negev desert, beyond the kibbutzim that dot the area, nestled in the corner between the Egyptian border and the Gaza strip, sits the town of Halutza. Surrounded by greenhouses and lush fields, Halutza is an unlikely agricultural treasure at the edge of the desert. And its etrog fields represent modern-day pioneering at its best. After the disengagement from Gaza in 2005, most of the evacuated settlers found themselves falling through the cracks of Israeli society. Many hoped to someday, somehow, recreate the tight-knit communities that they had so loved in the Gush Katif settlement bloc. With the help of JNF, some of these settlers have begun the process of rebuilding not only their communities but also the rich agricultural tradition that they began to cultivate there. One such farmer, Eliyahu Ozan, began growing etrogim in Gush Katif in Gaza years ago. His etrog venture started when a rabbi suggested that the religious communities in Israel might be interested in purchasing the citrus, which is used as a symbol of the autumn harvest during the holiday of Sukkot. Eliyahu, a father of 10 who has

farmed for 25 years and lived in Gush Katif for 20 years, took the rabbi up on his recommendation. It turned out that the desert land of Gush Katif was actually ideal for the etrog, and his business bloomed. Since the disengagement nine years ago, he has built up his etrog farm once again in the sands of Halutza. It seems nearly miraculous that such a vast expanse of desert should yield a variety of fruits and vegetable. Although Eliyahu’s etrog trees comprise only 75 dunams out of Israel’s 2,000 dunams of etrog farms, his fruit have been recognized for their high quality. In fact, about 50% of Eliyahu’s etrogim are exported all over the world. While some might see such a remote location as a disadvantage, Eliyahu sees it as only an advantage. “The sand is very good for citrus,” he said, “and being so far from other towns keeps the etrog clean and free from damage and pests.” That’s not all that makes these etrog special: “Our love for this country helps the etrogim grow.” It comes as no surprise then to find that Eliyahu’s father helped found the southern town of Netivot, where Eliyahu grew up. Making empty corners of the desert bloom may well be in Eliyahu’s blood. It is this love of the land that helps keep the community of Halutza strong in difficult times, which can happen often in a town situated so close to two volatile borders. Whether it’s migrant workers and refugees attempting to slip into Israel from Egypt; or rocket and mortar fire from Gaza, remote means anything but quiet for the town. During this summer’s war between Hamas and Gaza, Eliyahu explains they were forced to discard between 10-20 thousand etrogim, an unprecedented amount considering that in a normal year just a handful of etrogim would be thrown out. With each etrog earning

about 60 shekels ($20 US), this was an immense loss for him and his community. As the picking season runs from early July until late September, nearly the entire crop was harvested during the war, and a whole year’s efforts were hard hit. Many etrogim were lost because hired workers stopped showing up once Operation Protective Edge began in earnest and it was simply impossible to pick all the etrogim from some 3,700 trees in time. As an etrog’s value is based only on their flawlessness; any fruit that grew too large or was slightly damaged became completely worthless. Despite all of the geopolitical challenges and the logistical difficulties of Halutza’s location, Eliyahu insists that they couldn’t ask for a better situation. “The land is wonderful, the climate is perfect, being remote is only an advantage,” he concluded. So, with wars and desert landscape taken in stride, Eliyahu and the other citizens of Halutza continue to strive for those perfect fruits, which can be shipped off to Jewish communities across the globe to enjoy for Sukkot. To learn more about JNF’s work in Halutza, visit jnf.org/halutza-community

etrog jam Etrog jam has a strong and distinct flavor that will carry the spirit of Sukkot long into the year. • • • •

1 etrog 1 orange sugar water

1. Wash the etrog and orange, cut them in half lengthwise, and then slice very thinly. 2. Remove seeds. 3. Soak the fruit overnight. 4. Change the water to cover the fruit, and bring to a boil. 5. Change the water again, and bring to a boil once more. 6. Pour out the water. 7. Weigh the fruit, and add an equal weight of white sugar. 8. Cook over a low heat for about 45 minutes until the jam begins to gel.

Culinary Scene Blossoms in Historical Sarona By: Mara Friedman

JEWISH NATIONAL FUND

lemon-infused olive oil Here’s a recipe for a refreshing lemoninfused olive oil. Enjoy this Mediterranean twist on infused oils as a dipping for bread or cook with it to lend your dishes a unique flavor. pick up anything from chocolates to cheeses. Most of these products are sourced from boutique Israeli producers, offering a unique chance to taste what the various regions in the country have to offer, all in one place. There is no shortage of interesting things to do at Sarona. For those with an interest in the history of the land of Israel, the visitor’s center provides a multimedia experience taking you through the development of Sarona from 1871 to today. The complex has such a rich history that you can get lost in the photographs of the Templar families, the newspaper clippings about the land’s role in two wars, and its part in the establishment of the State of Israel. Sarona offers a special mix of history, food, and tranquility that stands out even in this bustling city. JNF partners with SPIHS on projects just like Sarona, with the mission of restoring and preserving heritage sites throughout Israel that tell the history of the birth of the land of Israel. To donate or learn more about JNF’s partnership with SPIHS, visit jnf.org/heritagesites

1. Use 1 lemon per 2 cups of olive oil. 2. Wash and dry the lemon(s) whole. Make sure they are absolutely dry. 3. Carefully peel the lemon(s). Make sure no fruit is attached to the peel. 4. Double-check that the peels are dry; no water can be in your infusion. 5. Put the peels and oil in a jar or bottle with a tight seal. 6. Leave your infusion for 2 weeks in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. 7. After 2 weeks, strain the peels out.

JNF.org

At Sarona, a former German Templar colony, the blossoming Tel Aviv culinary scene is now seamlessly integrated with a fascinating historical site. A prime spot of Tel Aviv real estate, it was just barely protected from becoming another high rise. Instead, it has been developed into a cool, modern space by the Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites (SPIHS). It was founded in 1871 by the Templars, a Christian sect that believed in settling in and working the holy land, who farmed the Sarona area and created a blooming oasis in the largely bare area near Jaffa. Tel Aviv, which was not founded until 1909, grew alongside it. Until recently, Sarona functioned as a sort of parallel universe within the increasingly vibrant Tel Aviv. First, it served as a British Army base during World War I and II. After the British mandate ended, it transitioned to become an Israeli army base where major officials in the early years of the state kept offices. Anyone familiar with the Tel Aviv real estate market knows that keeping attractive land as a space for public enjoyment is no easy task. Yet, in 2003 the Tel Aviv municipality, at the behest of the SPIHS, agreed to dedicate the area to the creation of an innovative urban complex of high cuisine, hip cafés, trendy shops, tranquil parks and engaging playgrounds. Today, you can stroll through the flower-lined streets of Sarona and enjoy the sight of families relaxing, children playing, and people of all ages enjoying some of Tel Aviv’s most popular restaurants. One café, The Mill House, sits on the original site of the first modern olive mill in Israel. At the restaurant, you can see the original mill and enjoy a short presentation on its history as it passed through Templar, British and Israeli hands. After the presentation, you can taste eight varieties of olive oil made on Kibbutz Magal, the only olive oil that the café uses. There is even a special blend available that is only sold at Sarona. In addition to the bustling restaurant scene, Sarona is packed with artisanal shops of every sort. You can

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

L. A.

NATION CONF AL ERENCE

L. A. LOS A The B

NGELE

everl

y Hilt

on SEPT EMBER 12-15 , 2014

24 JNF.org

2 0 1 5

Jewish national Fund register now at jnf.org/nc

Achieve Your Financial Goals and Support Israel

Earn Up To 9.5% Rate* 5.5% 5.8% 6.4% 7.2% 8.1% 9.5%

*Single-life Gift Annuity

(Two-life rates are also available.)

“JNF charitable gift annuities offer us a generous income, tax advantages, and the opportunity to change the face of Israel.”

800.562.7526 jnf.org/plannedgiving

Thought about your Legacy? Terry Katz has... She named Jewish National Fund in her Will “Everyone has to make end-of-life decisions, and it is imperative that we set a standard for our children and grandchildren to protect our own people and our homeland, Israel.

Terry Katz, Bala Cynwyd, PA

I am a staunch Zionist today, having an early role model in my grandfather who hosted Golda Meir and David Ben Gurion at his Shabbat dinners. I became involved with JNF and founded JNF’s Sapphire Society, the Major Donor Society for Women. We are helping to build a new community in the Negev Desert.”

Leave your Legacy to Jewish National Fund in your will or trust. Help build a prosperous future for the land of Israel and its people, and receive recognition in Israel.

Contact a JNF Planned Giving Specialist Today!

jnf.org/plannedgiving • 800.562.7526

25 JNF.org

-Alan and Louise Dabrow, Haverford, PA

JEWISH NATIONAL FUND

Age 65 70 75 80 85 90 & Over

out & about WITH

JNf’s major donors Western JNF’s Major Donors

Shelley Dubin (Century Council, Negev Society, Sapphire Society) and Bob Dubin (Century Council, Negev Society) at the Las Vegas Breakfast for Israel.

Bobby Feldman (Century Council, President’s Society) and Helen Feldman (Century Council, President’s Society, Sapphire Society) at the Las Vegas major donor reception.

JNF.org (L-R) Michael Sosebee, JNF Regional Director Aaron Parker, Northern CA Board Co-President Dr. Alan Fisher (World Chairman’s Council, Negev Society), Northern CA Board Co-President Dr. Barbara Sommer (World Chairman’s Council, Negev Society) and Jon Levinson at the San Francisco Breakfast for Israel.

(L-R) Phyllis Gilmore (Century Council) visited a family plaque at Park Halochem with Liat Itzhak, head of the USA Department of KKL-JNF.

(L-R) Shelley Dubin (Century Council, Negev Society, Sapphire Society), Bob Dubin (Century Council, Negev Society), and Las Vegas Board President Bernice Friedman (President’s Council, Sapphire Society) at the Las Vegas Breakfast for Israel.

(L-R) Dr. Toby Mower (World Chairman’s Council, Sapphire Society), Mountain States Board President Ron Werner (President’s Society, Negev Society) and Jim Hering (Herzl Society).

(L-R) Chairman of the Board Gene Kay (President’s Society), Sandra Vinnik and Dr. Toby Mower (World Chairman’s Council, Sapphire Society) at the Denver Breakfast for Israel.

(L-R) Dr. Melinda Wolf (Century Council, President’s Society, Sapphire Society) and Dunia Dickey at the Denver Breakfast for Israel.

(L-R) Israeli Vice Consul Eyal Naor, Northern CA Board Member Dick Berman (President’s Society) and Eli Frank at the San Francisco Breakfast for Israel.

(L-R) Barry Cohn, Nathan Petrowsky and Anne Petrowsky (Sapphire Society) at the San Francisco Breakfast for Israel.

(L-R) Jeff Goodman (Century Council, Herzl Society), Deby Goodman (Century Council, Sapphire Society) and some of the Goodman’s grandchildren visited a family plaque at Park Gilboa with Hermine Mahmouzian.

(L-R) Dr. Inga Behr (Century Council, President’s Society, Sapphire Society) and JNF Spokesperson Hal Linden on the Sunshine Mission in Israel.

(L-R) Author Lisa Klug, Palm Springs Board President Sheri Borax (President’s Society, Sapphire Society), Nina Paul (Century Council, Negev Society, Sapphire Society) and Evelyn Binsky (Sapphire Society) at the JNF Women for Israel lunch in Rancho Mirage, CA.

(L-R) Evelyn Binsky (Sapphire Society), Joan Holland (Herzl Society) and Palm Springs Board President Sheri Borax (President’s Society, Sapphire Society) at the JNF Women for Israel lunch in Rancho Mirage, CA.

(L-R) Debbie Orgen-Garrett, Palm Springs Board President Sheri Borax (President’s Society, Sapphire Society), Joan Holland (Herzl Society) and Evelyn Binsky (Sapphire Society) at the JNF Women for Israel lunch in Rancho Mirage, CA.

(L-R) Judy Albert (Century Council, Negev Society, Sapphire Society) and Bev Morick at Arizona’s Breakfast for Israel.

(L-R) San Diego Board President Myra Chack Fleischer (Century Council, President’s Society, Sapphire Society), Gil Tamary, the Honorable Lynn Schenk (Herzl Society), JNF Chief Development Officer Rick Krosnick, Lauren Lizerbram (Century Council, President’s Society, Sapphire Society) and JNF National VP of College Activists Dr. Sol Lizerbram (Century Council, President’s Society) at San Diego’s Love of Israel brunch.

(L-R) Steve Rosenfield (Negev Society) and Arizona Board President Seymour Rife (President’s Society) at Arizona’s Breakfast for Israel.

(L-R) Kim Miller (Century Council, Negev Society, Sapphire Society), Gil Tamary, Caroline Miller, and JNF National Campaign VP Bill Miller (Century Council, Negev Society) at San Diego’s Love of Israel Brunch.

(L-R) Judith and Jack Lief (Century Council, Negev Society) with JNF Chief Development Officer Rick Krosnick at their home where they generously hosted San Diego’s major donor reception.

Greater New York

JNF’s Major Donors

(L-R) Arizona Board Member Randi Jablin (Sapphire Society) at American Independence Park in Israel.

27 JNF.org

(L-R) Lindsey, New York Board Member Andy (Herzl Society) and Skyler Ashwal at the JNFamily event at the Central Park Zoo.

(L-R) LOTEM nature guide Raz Rutman, JNF-LOTEM Liaison Alisa Bodner, National Assistant Secretary and Northern New Jersey Board Member Ben Gutmann (Century Council, Negev Society), Founder and Director of LOTEM Amos Ziv, KKL Director of Major Donors Talia Tzour and Long Island Board Member Alan Chalup (Herzl Society) on a visit to LOTEM.

(L-R) JNFuture NY Chair Emeritus Ben Levine, JNFuture NY Chair Jessica Levine, Dara Levine, Randi Levine (World Chairman’s Council, Negev Society, Sapphire Society), and JNF National President Jeffrey Levine (World Chairman’s Council, Negev Society) at the 7th Annual Shabbat in the Park in Manhattan.

(L-R) NY Board Member Sid Banon (Century Council, President’s Society); Louise Banon (Century Council, President’s Society); National Co-Chair, Audit Committee and NY Board Member David Greenbaum (World Chairman’s Council, Negev Society); and National Assistant Vice President, Parsons Water Fund and NY Board President Laureine Greenbaum (World Chairman’s Council, Negev Society, Circle of Sapphire) at a major donor thank you event in Manhattan.

(L-R) Rita Levy (President’s Society), AICAT Executive Director Hanni Arnon and Long Island Board Member David Levy (President’s Society) at AICAT.

Martin Franklin (Century Council, Negev Society) ran the 144km Sea to Jerusalem Ultra Marathon in Israel to raise money for a new pre-school facility in Carmit.

(L-R) JNF CEO Russell F. Robinson, Susan Gutmann (Century Council, Negev Society, Sapphire Society), National Assistant Secretary and Northern New Jersey Board Member Ben Gutmann (Century Council, Negev Society), and Dr. Kenny Fried (Century Council, Negev Society) at a Greater New York major donor BBQ in Manhattan.

(L-R) Northern New Jersey Board President Jill Janowski (Sapphire Society) and Northern New Jersey Director Jocelyn Inglis at a major donor thank you event in Manhattan.

(L-R) Long Island Board Members Aaron Jungreis and Rubin Pikus (Century Council, Negev Society) at a major donor thank you event in Manhattan.

(L-R) Long Island Board Member Sharon Pikus (Century Council, Negev Society); National Assistant Vice President, JNF Parsons Water Fund and NY Board President Laureine Greenbaum (World Chairman’s Council, Negev Society, Circle of Sapphire); and JNF Chief Operating Officer Harold Cohen at a major donor thank you event in Manhattan.

Florida

JNF’s Major Donors

(L-R) Rick Allen (Herzl Society) and Jill Berman at the JNF Lawyers for Israel Downtown Speakers Series lunch at Carlton Fields Jorden Burt in Miami.

(L-R) Broward Board Members Estelle Mintz (Sapphire Society), Dr. Mark Gendal, Vivian Grossman (World Chairman’s Council, Negev Society, Sapphire Society), Debbie Stayman (Century Council, Negev Society, Sapphire Society), Marilynn Rothstein (Sapphire Society) and Lisa Enfield at a Broward Board meeting in Ft. Lauderdale.

(L-R) Vivian Grossman (World Chairman’s Council, Negev Society, Sapphire Society) and Mari Blumstein at Temple Dor Dorim’s Mitzvah Day in Weston.

(L-R) Laz Schneider, Lenny Suskind and Sheldon Polish (Herzl Society) at the JNF Lawyers for Israel Downtown Speakers Series lunch at Berger Singerman in Ft. Lauderdale.

(L-R) Miami-Dade Board President Ron Kriss (Herzl Society) with guest speaker Jed Babbin at the JNF Lawyers for Israel Downtown Speakers Series lunch at Carlton Fields Jorden Burt in Miami.

(L-R) Horacio Schlaen (President’s Society), Ron Kriss (Herzl Society) and KKL Shaliach Shay Salomon at a JNF Latin Division event hosted at the home of Rosalie and Horacio Schlaen in Miami.

(L-R) JNF Women for Israel Chair Debbie Meitin (Century Council, Sapphire Society) and Valerie Shapiro at a JNF Women for Israel event in Orlando.

(L-R) Orlando Board President Jim Riola (Century Council) with Israel Goodwill Ambassador Tal Brody and Jill Riola (Sapphire Society) at a major donor reception in Orlando.

(L-R) Goodwill Ambassador Tal Brody with Mark and Caryn Israel (Century Council, Negev Society) and Tiertza Brody at a Men’s Night Out hosted by the Israel’s in Orlando.

Sydelle Sonkin and Herb Siegel (Century Hank Margules (President’s Society) Council, President’s Society) at Aleh Negev and Ruth Margules (President’s Society, in Israel. Sapphire Society) at an event for major donors at Neue Galerie in New York.

(L-R) South Palm Beach Board Member Cantor Elaine Shapiro (President’s Society, Sapphire Society) and Shelly Gross at a South Palm Beach Board meeting.

(L–R, back row) Michael Lazar (Century Council, Negev Society), Martin Stein, Alan (L-R) Richard Rappaport (Century Council, Negev Society) with granddaughter Madison Feinberg, Jr., Howard DuBosar (Herzl Society), Zev Herman and Alan Mibab; (L–R, front Titus, daughter Dayna Titus (Sapphire Society, President’s Society), and JNF–Halutza row) Cantor Elaine Shapiro (Sapphire Society), Sandy Crain (Sapphire Society) and Linda Liaison Yedidya Harush during a visit to the Ayalon Institute in Israel. Selbst at a South Palm Board meeting.

28 JNF.org (L-R) JNF Israel Operations Development Officer, Ariel Kotler, with Tampa Bay Board Co-Presidents Mary Ellen Hogan (President’s Society, Sapphire Society) and Ida Raye Chernin (Century Council, Negev Society, Sapphire Society), Tampa Bay Board Co-Chairs Betsy Marcadis (President’s Society, Sapphire Society) and Mark Miller (Century Council, President’s Society) and Director of Strategic Partnerships, Nefesh B’Nefesh Doreet Freedman at a Tampa Bay Board meeting.

MIDWEST

(L-R) JNF Southeast Israel Emissary Ezra Ravins, Chicago Board Member Marcia Rubin (Sapphire Society) and Rabbi Sidney Helbraun of Temple Beth-El at the Chicago Rabbinical Roundtable.

(L-R) Chicago Board President Scott Gendell (Century Council, President’s Society), Congressman Brad Schneider, National Vice President of the Legal Committee Robert Wigoda (Century Council, President’s Society) and David Brown at the Chicago Yom Ha’atzmaut Community Celebration.

(L-R) Tree of Life™ Award Honoree and former Cincinnati mayor Mark Mallory, past Tree of Life™ Award Honoree Stan Aronoff, JNF America Ambassador to KKL and Israel Stanley M. Chesley (World Chairman’s Council, Negev Society) and past Tree of Life™ Award Honoree Father Michael J. Graham, S.J. (Herzl Society) at the Southern Ohio and Kentucky Tree of Life™ Award Dinner.

(L-R) David Gershuny (Herzl Society) accepted the Southern Ohio and Kentucky 2014 Board Member of the Year Award from Board President Ron Solomon at the Tree of Life™ Award Dinner.

(L-R) Tree of Life™ Award Dinner Special Event Co-Chairs Nina (Century Council, Negev Society, Sapphire Society) and Eddie Paul (Century Council, Negev Society), Patti and Hirsch Wise and Pam Barnett and Randy Miller at the Southern Ohio and Kentucky Tree of Life™ Award Dinner.

JNF’s Major Donors

(L-R) Major General Doron Almog and JNF Parsons Water Fund and Chicago Board Member Rob Rubin (Century Council, Negev Society) visited residents at Aleh Negev.

29 JNF.org

(L-R) Salli Rutsky, Dr. Roger and Marlene (L-R) Northern Ohio Board President Bart Bookatz (Herzl Society), Tree of Life™ Award Klein and Dick Klein (Negev Society) at the Honorees Michael and Lana Jacobson (Herzl Society), Rose and Steve Viny (Negev Society, Sapphire Society) and JNF CEO Russell F. Robinson at the Northern Ohio Tree of Northern Ohio Tree of Life™ Award Dinner. Life™ Award Dinner.

(L-R) 2014 Guardian of Israel Award Honoree James P. Wagner (Herzl Society) with his father, 1995 Guardian of Israel Award Honoree Arnold Wagner (Herzl Society), at the Guardian of Israel Award Dinner in Pittsburgh, PA.

Chuck Perlow (Century Council, Negev Society) shared his JNF story with the crowd at the Guardian of Israel Award Dinner in Pittsburgh, PA.

(L-R) Board Members Bobby Goldberg (Century Council) and Chuck Whitehill (Century Council) at the Northern Ohio Tree of Life™ Award Dinner.

James P. and Rochelle Wagner (Herzl Society) of Pittsburgh, PA visited the Carmel Forest while touring Israel with JNF.

(L-R) Breakfast Co-Chairs Gary Wolff and Iris Salsman with Israeli basketball legend Tal Brody and St. Louis Board President Dan Kweskin (Herzl Society) at the St. Louis Annual Breakfast.

(L-R) National Campaign Chairman Bill Miller (World Chairman’s Council, Negev Society), Gloria Feldman (Century Council, Negev Society) and Israeli basketball legend and guest speaker Tal Brody at the St. Louis Annual Breakfast.

(L-R) Wisconsin Board Co-Chairs Selma Zeiger (Sapphire Society) and Rusti Moffic (Sapphire Society) with Wisconsin General Campaign Chairperson Steve Lewensohn and Wisconsin Director Sidney Rivkin at an annual summer solicitation kickoff parlor meeting.

(L-R) Annual Tribute Banquet Honorees Deborah and Richard Hacker, Wisconsin Board Co-President Rusti Moffic (Sapphire Society), and Makor Member and Guest Speaker Bob Wigoda (Century Council, President’s Society) at a reception in honor of Wisconsin’s Annual Tribute Banquet honorees.

LOS ANGELES

JNF’s Major Donors

(L-R) David Frank (Century Council, President’s Society), Matt Fragner (Century Council, President’s Society), Larry Russ (Century Council, Negev Society), Michael Weiner (Century Council), Featured Speaker Stanley Gold, Eric Adler, Los Angeles Board President Mark Egerman (President’s Society) and David Chudnow (World Chairman’s Council) at the inaugural JNF Finance for Israel Speaker Series event in Los Angeles.

(L-R) Karen Halaszi, Sharon Gomperts, Judy Zweig (Century Council, President’s Society, Sapphire Society), Gina Raphael (Century Council, President’s Society, Sapphire Society), Whitney Rosenson, Dorian Goldstein, Barbara Savage (Herzl Society) and Michelle Bolotin at the first annual JNF Women for Israel brunch in Los Angeles.

(L-R) Alyse Golden Berkley (Century Council, President’s Society, Sapphire Society), Sara Cannon (Century Council, President’s Society) and Judy Zweig (Century Council, President’s Society, Sapphire Society) at the the first annual JNF Women for Israel brunch in Los Angeles.

(L-R) JNF Chief Development Officer Rick Krosnick with National Assistant VP of Government Relations Baruch Fellner (Century Council, Negev Society) at a parlor meeting in Washington, DC.

(L-R) Jeffrey, Phyllis, and Lennie Attman (Century Council, Negev Society) at a major donor reception at the Neue Galerie in New York.

Mid-Atlantic

30 JNF.org (L-R) Regional Director Stuart DiamantCohen with Dr. Jonathan Adelman and Dr. Chet Stein (Century Council, President’s Society) at the DC JNF community breakfast.

(L-R) Ellen Benowitz (Sapphire Society), Gail Kushner (Century Council, Sapphire Society) and Gary Kushner (Century Council, President’s Society) on the Culinary, Wine, and Arts Mission.

(L-R) JNF Chief Israel Advocacy and Leadership Officer Yael Septee Kane, Jerry and Susan Grossman (World Chairman’s Council) and National Campaign Director Diane Scar at a major donor reception in Manhattan.

(L-R) Ofir Fisher, Jayne Klein (World Chairman’s Council, Circle of Sapphire) and Nanci Seff (Century Council, Circle of Sapphire) with members of the Merchav Am community at the dedication of the new Merchav Am community center.

Southern

(L-R) National Campaign Director Diane Scar, Dr. Irving Taylor (World Chairman’s Council) and Susie Levene (President’s Society, Sapphire Society) at a recent Doctors for Israel event in Baltimore.

(L-R) JNF National Board members Ira Bartfield (Century Council, President’s Society) and Ken Krupsky (Negev Society) at the Washington, DC community breakfast.

Bill and Jean Rosenbluth (Herzl Society) at (L-R) Richard Kopelman (Herzl Society) and Luci Sunshine (Herzl Society) in front of a a JNF reception following a performance quilt she made with Shalom Quilters for Eli Mansbach at Atlanta’s annual Hirsch of “Golda’s Balcony” in Washington, DC. JNF’s Sderot Indoor Recreation Center. Breakfast.

(L-R) Comedian Joel Chasnoff, JNF National Women for Israel speaker Nina Paul (Century Council, Negev Society, Sapphire Society) and JNF Israel Emissary to the Southeast Ezra Ravins at a Women for Israel luncheon in Marietta, GA.

NORTHEAST

(L-R) Cheryl Hersh, Dr. Stanley Hersh, Florence Hersh, and Deborah Hersh celebrated Stan’s second Bar Mitzvah in Waco, TX.

(L-R) Joel Leibowitz and CNJ Board President and Makor Member Mark Rattner (Century Council, President’s Society) at a Yom Ha’atzmaut concert.

(L-R) Event Sponsor William Rubenstein (Century Council, President’s Society), CNJ Director Heidi Kuperman, CNJ Board member Andrew Rubenstein (Century Council, Negev Society), and Joel Leibowitz at the Annual JNF Saul Leighton Golf Classic.

CNJ JNF Women for Israel co-chair and CNJ Board Member Barbara Israel Bortniker (Century Council, President’s Society, Circle of Sapphire), and David Bortniker (Century Council, President’s Society) at the CNJ Board BBQ.

(L-R) Robert Kitchenoff (Herzl Society), actor Paul Reiser, and Joseph Wolfson (Century Council, President’s Society) at a major donors breakfast outside of Philadelphia.

JNF’s Major Donors

(L-R) Raquel Schuster (Sapphire Society) and KKL-JNF Director Talia Tzour enjoyed an Israeli cooking event at Raquel’s home benefiting JNF’s Women for Israel campaign.

31 JNF.org

(L-R) Robert and Nancy Fox (Century Council, President’s Society) and actor Paul Reiser at a major donors breakfast outside of Philadelphia.

(L-R) Rob and Caroline Zuritksy (Century Council, Negev Society) with actor Paul Reiser at a major donors breakfast outside of Philadelphia.

(L-R) Dr. Robert Benedon (Century Council, President’s Society), Helene Blumenfeld (Negev Society, Sapphire Society), Pam Benedon (President’s Society, Sapphire Society), Dr. Roy Levinson and Eva and Marv Schlanger (Century Council, Negev Society) during a phone-a-thon for the JNF’s Operation Protective Edge Emergency Campaign.

(L-R) Judy Galler (Sapphire Society), Louise Dabrow (Century Council, Negev Society) and Nina Paul (Century Council, Negev Society, Sapphire Society) at Jump N Jive with JNF Live in Margate, NJ.

(L-R) Peter Fischer (Century Council, Negev Society) presented a Blue Box Holder to Dr. Robert Benedon (Century Council, President’s Society).

(L-R) Richard Slifka (Century Council, Negev Society), Avi and Noreen Goldwasser, Michael Blank (Century Council, President’s Society), Rosalyn Slifka (Century Council, Negev Society), and Aaron Blank at the New England Golf Tournament and Tribute Dinner.

(L-R) Director Sara Hefez, Sapphire Society Members Elaine Elovitz (Century Council), Judith Sydney, Sara Wilstein, Davida Stocklan, and Susan Tatelman (Century Council, Negev Society), National Campaign Director Sharon Freedman, Roberta Greenberg, JNF Israel Operations Development Officer Ariel Kotler, Judi Elovitz Greenberg and Sandy Davis (Century Council, President’s Society) at a Boston JNF Women for Israel luncheon.

(L-R) Yadira Patkin (World Chairman’s Council, Circle of Sapphire), New England Executive Board Member Todd Patkin (World Chairman’s Council), and Boston President and Honoree Michael Blank (Century Council, President’s Society) at the New England Golf Tournament and Tribute Dinner.

(L-R) Mission Co-Chair and Boston President Michael Blank (Century Council, President’s Society); former Be’er Sheva River Park Project Manager Itai Freeman; Mission Co-Chair, New England President and JNF Lawyers for Israel Chair Larry Cohen (Century Council, President’s Society); and Suzanne Lacognata at Abraham’s Well in Be’er Sheva on the Spirit of Israel Mission.

NEW ENGLAND

(L-R) Guest speaker, National Board Member and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Joe Hess (Century Council), New England Board Member Lee Aronson (Century Council, Circle of Sapphire), Bunny Aronson (Sapphire Society), and hosts Risa Aronson (President’s Society, Sapphire Society) and New England Board Member Steven Aronson (President’s Society) at a Boston parlor meeting.

Janet and Andrew Pasakarnis (Negev Society) of Yarmouth, ME with their new Tiffany Blue Box, presented to them for becoming JNF Planned Giving Annuitants.

Learning Through Working the Land By: Darryl Egnal When Kissana Phonsadet told his

JEWISH NATIONAL FUND

32 JNF.org

parents that he wanted to attend the Arava International Center for Agriculture Training (AICAT), they didn’t want him to go. But he insisted that he wanted to learn about agriculture in Israel. Four years later, he is a wonderful ambassador for Israel in Thailand and arrived recently for the fourth time with 110 students. “At university, we learned about agriculture and aquaculture, but not how to start a business,” Phonsadet said. “At AICAT, they taught us the business of agriculture; how to start a business if you have an idea. AICAT taught us about entrepreneurship. Now, as an instructor, it’s great seeing new students learning and growing, and leaving with new ideas and plenty of motivation.” Begun 20 years ago with 25 students from Thailand, today AICAT educates about 1,100 students every year. More than 5,000 students have graduated from AICAT over the past two decades. This year, AICAT has one group from Ethiopia and South Sudan; the rest are from Asian countries including Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Tibetans from the exile community in India. “The program helps Israel build relationships,” said Hanni Arnon, director of AICAT. “The students fall in love with the country and its people, and then share this great feeling with the world. Additionally, AICAT provides jobs, which helps the Arava economy, and gives farmers much-needed assistance with their crops.”

AICAT offers agricultural students from universities in various developing countries a unique and high quality professional training and practical implementation program, which imparts professional know-how and develops skills through hands-on practical training. Situated in Sapir in the Central Arava, students live with local residents on their farms in the different moshavim (farming communities) in the area for a full agricultural season, which is 10 months. Said Arnon, “Our goal is to develop and train successful graduates who take the agribusiness they’ve learned in Israel and apply it in their home countries. “In the Asian countries, it’s all green; they have a lot of water and a very different climate,” she said. “They come here and they are amazed to see the desert. They see that despite the harsh conditions, there is modern, hightech and advanced agriculture as well as an abundance of fruit and vegetables growing throughout the desert.” “This is the farming of high-tech,” observed Phonsadet. “The technology of the Arava makes farming easy, easy to control, easy to do many things; we can look at how the technology can help a lot for agriculture when we compare to our country.” Asked how AICAT helps to teach Asians about desert agriculture when their conditions are so different, Arnon said, “We don’t tell them how to use; we teach them how to think. If we teach them about water management, or if we talk about what a plant needs, it doesn’t matter if we’re referring to peppers or the vegetables indigenous to

their countries. They take what they learn and apply that knowledge. We also teach them about the agribusiness because it’s not enough to just grow. You can be a very good farmer, you can grow very good products, but if you don’t know how to take them to market, it will not work.”

AICAT students.

The curriculum includes economics, agriculture, production economics, financial analyzing, postharvest activities, aquaculture, vegetable growing, flower growing, plant protection, business methods, entrepreneurship, and computer competence. “The first settlers who arrived in the Arava tried to grow many things,” said Arnon. “Today, only peppers, eggplants, tomatoes and a few other fruit and vegetables are grown. Many different types were tried—and failed. That’s what we want them to understand. They have to learn to think out of the box, to see challenges, not problems. When you see something as a challenge, you have motivation to find a solution.” For more information on the AICAT and JNF’s work in the Central Arava, visit jnf.org/central-arava

#PoweredbyJNF

We’ve all had that conversation, the one where we explain to friends, family, and colleagues that Jewish National Fund is more than “just trees.” Despite our best efforts, many of us continue to find it a challenge to make the world aware of the widerange of projects that JNF supports. Enter the Jewish National Fund Social Media Executive Committee. This group of social media and marketing professionals just returned from an invigorating JNFsponsored mission to Israel. Our aim: to tell the story, the whole story, of Jewish National Fund and the countless people it touches, in areas like ecology, social welfare,

security, education, and historical preservation. The handpicked professionals from around the country spent five days traveling Israel from north to south and east to west, sometimes visiting five JNFsponsored projects in one day. We stopped at the Alexander Muss High School in Israel campus and saw a bomb shelter that had been turned into a lively music room. We visited the LOTEM nature preserve and met Raz, a 20-year-old soldier in a wheelchair who leads nature tours for people with disabilities along accessible hiking trails there. We woke early to greet a Nefesh B’Nefesh flight of 330 emotional new immigrants at Ben Gurion Airport, and then headed straight to the Negev desert to see how JNF is helping Bedouins create a groundbreaking sustainable-agriculture community in Wadi Attir. Occasionally, we even got a few hours of sleep. The brainchild of JNF Broward County Board President Vivian Grossman, this committee recognizes the unique opportunity to educate potential JNF supporters about the scope of the organization’s work strategically and purposefully through social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Members of the

committee—all volunteers—are giving their time and creative energy to help Jewish National Fund create a campaign that will raise awareness about JNF’s work, attract new supporters, and hopefully raise funds. With each place the team members visited, and with each Israeli they met who is directly affected by JNF’s work, the participants took notes and photos and began to build a far-reaching social media strategy that was just introduced at this year’s national conference in Los Angeles. The goal is to engage all of JNF’s supporters and partners, and everyone who travels to Israel with or without JNF, to help tell JNF’s many stories using social media. How can anyone possibly convey the breadth of JNF’s work in 140-character tweets? Or Facebook posts? Or Instagram photos? Creatively and with passion. Stay tuned. Tag #PoweredbyJNF and #LoveGrowsInIsrael when you’re talking about JNF on social media. For more information, contact Miriam Braun at mbraun@jnf.org or 212.879.9305 x228.

New Olim Honored with Special Bonei Zion Prizes For the very first time, a special prize

JNF’s donor societies are reserved for major donors who have demonstrated an enduring commitment to Israel and JNF. Society members receive exclusive privileges and services.

Contributions to Jewish National Fund of $5,000 and above are recognized with a plaque with your name on it on a central dedicatory wall in the heart of American Independence Park (AIP) located outside of Jerusalem in the Judean Hills. Join us today and help build a prosperous future for the land of Israel and its people. To join the President’s Society Mission October 26-30, contact Glen Schwartz at gschwartz@jnf.org or 561.447.9733 x880.

For more information on Nefesh B’Nefesh, contact Yael Katsman at yael@nbn.org.il or 212.203.0096

Create a LASTING Legacy • charitable gift annuities • charitable remainder trusts • charitable lead trusts • life insurance • endowments • donor advised funds • bequests Membership benefits include: • Name recognition in the Book of Life, on permanent display at JNF headquarters in NY • A custom-designed Gould Legacy Society pin • Invitations to special events and lectures • A limited edition JNF Blue Box designed by Tiffany & Co. (for legacy gifts of $50,000 and above) • Recognition in Israel

To learn more, contact our Planned Giving Specialists at 800.562.7526 or plannedgiving@jnf.org

33 JNF.org

Award recipients.

literate world, cartoons are becoming more and more powerful,” Kirschen said. “Dry Bones no longer critiques Israeli society; it speaks to the outside world about Israel and has morphed into a voice of Zionism.” The high-profile selection committee, which included JNF CEO Russell F. Robinson, former Ambassador Yehuda Avner, former IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, Israeli diplomat Colette Avital and former Ambassador to the UN Gabriella Shalev, had the task of choosing from a highly competitive field of hundreds of qualified entrants. The recipients, who were each awarded a $10,000 prize, represent extraordinary contributions to Israel from a wide variety of fields. “With the myriad of invaluable contributions that Anglos continue to make every day to Israel, this prize allows us at Nefesh B’Nefesh to show the global Jewish community how much potential exists to contribute to the Jewish State,” said Co-Founder and Executive Director Rabbi Yehoshua Fass. “These prizes also serve to send a potent message to the local Israeli public about the added value Western immigrants offer, who bring their vision and talent, and their very future to the Jewish people and the Jewish State.” n

JEWISH NATIONAL FUND

has been awarded to a group of extraordinary olim (new immigrants) from English-speaking countries who have made unique, transformative and enduring contributions to the people and land of Israel. This past spring, the inaugural Nefesh B’Nefesh Bonei Zion Prizes were awarded at a ceremony in the Knesset hosted by the Speaker of the House MK Yuli (Yoel) Edelstein. “Since its establishment, the State of Israel has absorbed millions of immigrants who speak various languages and have rich cultural backgrounds,” said Edelstein.

“It is impossible to imagine Israeli society without the involvement of its Anglo olim in every sphere.” The new awards are an initiative of Nefesh B’Nefesh, which partners with the Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael and JNF USA to bring thousands of olim from North America to live in Israel. Professor Jeffrey Hausdorff, director of the Neurodynamics and Gait Research Laboratory at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, said, “I am honored to represent the contributions of olim in the fields of science and medicine.” Hausdorff, who made aliyah in 2000, is making award-winning clinical advances in mobility, cognitive function and the quality of life for Israelis. “Newcomers to the field from other countries are able to bring to Israel different perspectives and backgrounds, along with trainings and skills that complement the ones we have in Israel’s professionals,” he said. Yaakov Kirschen, the creator of the Dry Bones comic strip who made aliyah in 1972, was proud to receive the Bonei Zion award. “I came to this country following the Six Day War to help rebuild it and for 40 years I have defended the Jewish people against ongoing, horrific attacks,” he said. His illustrations present a satirical—and quintessentially Zionist—view of Israel to the world, building bridges and strengthening Diaspora bonds with Israel. “In this post-

zionist education & Advocacy

400 4,000 4 000 00 0 120 1 2 20 0 50 5 0 135 1 13 3 30 3 09 920 116 11 16 834 83 8 34 school Year by the Numbers

4,000

Over

Zionist education & advocacy

TreeS planted through

Tu Bishvat in the Schools

120

school

ProgrAMS

Campus Programs & Positively Israel

JNF.org

evenTS

135

30 cArAvAn For DeMocrAcy Participants

116

Rabbis for Israel

MeMBerS

920 STUDenTS

AMHSI

Alternative Spring Break

PArTiciPAnTS

834

JNF

TAgliT-BirTHrigHT participants

Highlights from the Past Year Community-wide Yom Ha’atzmaut Celebration in Chicago Government Relations Briefing on Water at the United Nations, NYC

JNF Westchester B’nai Mitzvah boys on “The Today Show” during Celebrate Israel Parade

education@jnf.org

LOVED BIRTHRIGHT AND CAN’T WAIT TO GO BACK? Alternative Spring Break to Israel is the trip for you! Experience Israel like never before. Get back and give back with JNF. Free after minimum fundraising goal is met. Open to Jewish young adults, ages 18-30. Trips depart February 28, March 7, 14, and 22*, 2015. Trip options to Northern or Southern Israel.

FREE week-long

*Los Angeles departure only

volunteer experience! For more information, visit jnf.org/break, email break@jnf.org or call 212.879.9305 x245. Find us at facebook.com/JNF.ASB and @JNFASB.

1 9 7 2

Since 1972 Alexander Muss High School in Israel (AMHSI) has brought over 24,000 Jewish high schoolers from across the globe to Israel for the experience of a lifetime. Designed to be part academic and part adventure, the courses prepare teens for college and beyond as they receive an in-depth education, international academic experience, college credits, and take in the spirit of the Jewish nation.

EXPLORE. DREAM BIG. DISCOVER YOUR IDENTITY. STUDY IN ISRAEL.

Programs

Departure Date

Return Date

Early Bird Deadline

4-Month Semester

amhsi.org • 800.327.5980 jnf.org/supportamhsi

35 JNF.org

Summer 2014 was both just like every other summer at AMHSI and unlike any other summer. It was business Spring Semester 2015 Jan 25, 2015 May 29, 2015 Sept 24, 2015 as usual, as students learned about 4,000 years of history, traveled the country, had spiritual and emotional Fall Semester 2015 Aug 25, 2015 Dec 31, 2015 Feb 25, 2015 visits to the Kotel, Masada, the Golan Heights and many other places and bonded with their peers on campus. 8-Week School Year However, as war broke out with Gaza in early July, AMHSI students found themselves witnesses to history Dec Session 2014 Dec 2, 2014 Jan 27, 2015 Aug 25, 2014 Feb 3, 2015 March 31, 2015 Aug 3, 2014 Feb Session 2015 unfolding right before their eyes. Dec 1, 2015 Jan 26, 2015 June 1, 2015 Dec Session 2015 “AMHSI staff took every precaution to ensure the safety of our students,” said Rabbi Philip Nadel, Head of 6-Week Summer School at AMHSI. “And the outpouring of encouragement from parents, alumni and supporters was a huge boost of June 16, 2015 July 29, 2015 Dec 16, 2014 Summer I 2015 morale and inspiration for our staff and student body.” One parent wrote: “As an alumnus of AMHSI, I have 100% Miami Summer June 16, 2015 July 29, 2015 Dec 16, 2014 Session 2015 confidence in the program, on every level. I am grateful that my son is where he is at this particular moment in time. The lives of these students are being shaped as we speak. Like it did with all of our lives, the students are Combined Program April 12, 2015 June 9, 2015 Oct 12, 2014 AMHSI & March of learning and living history with the very best. My parents believed in AMHSI 24 years ago, as I do today.” the Living in Poland AMHSI students and staff helped raise $2,000 in a one-day drive for food and supplies which they packed and sent to IDF soldiers serving in Gaza. The drive was the students’ idea. “We wanted to thank them for keeping us safe here in Israel,” said Shayna Hawlett, a student from Orange County, CA. “This is a very small contribution on our part, which cannot even be compared to their courage and heroism.” Using the reality of the situation on the ground, AMHSI created further opportunities for students to record their experiences: the school brought in journalists from international TV and radio stations, and online publications to interview the students and their parents. One student wrote: “Sometimes the focus of learning shifted from past history to us making history. It really enhanced what the program was trying to teach us: independence, responsibility, and advocacy. These experiences have really helped me understand Israel’s past, present, and future and it has been included in my discovery of how I see myself fitting into the Jewish nation of Israel.” “Coming to AMHSI was easily one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself,” said Robbi Coltune from Cooper City, FL. “Every tiyul (trip) we went on made me feel that much closer to Israel. Turning the corner and seeing the Kotel for the first time brought up so many different emotions for me that I had never felt in my life. On top of Masada, we all screamed our Hebrew names and heard the echo. Being in Israel changed me as a person in ways that I can’t even explain. Being here changed my outlook on Judaism and made me feel even more proud than before to be Jewish.”

alexander muss high school in israel

S I N C E

and fun Alexander Muss High School An Academic Adventure For High School Students in Israel IN ISRAEL

SPIRIT OF ISRAEL MISSIONS November 13 - 20, 2014 & May 11 - 19, 2015 Embark on a unique journey through Israel as you explore the country from the Negev to the North.

Doctors for Israel Mission November 30 - December 4, 2014 Join healthcare professionals on a unique mission to Israel for a special look at Israel’s healthcare industry.

Israel through a Photographic Lens Mission March 12 - 19, 2015 Join fellow photography lovers and share your passion for Israel through the creative outlet of photography.

JEWISH NATIONAL FUND

Queen of Sheba: Women for Israel Mission March 15 - 22, 2015 Enjoy a unique and unforgettable trip to Israel for women only. No husbands, no boyfriends, just women experiencing Israel through the eyes of our Israeli sisters.

Culinary, Wine and Arts Mission March 20 - 28, 2015 Optional Pre-mission to Tuscany: March 16 - 20 Explore Israel’s food, wine and culinary scene while experiencing Israel’s arts and cultural institutions.

PRESIDENT’S AND NEGEV SOCIETIES MISSION April 26 - 30, 2015

JNF.org

PLUS: Optional extension for Negev Society Members: April 30 - May 2, 2015 Exclusive annual mission for member’s of JNF’s President’s and Negev Societies.

SUNSHINE Mission May 27 - June 4, 2015 Travel from ancient times to modern Israel on a unique journey for active adults ages 55+ with JNF national spokesperson Hal Linden.

SINGLES TRIP TO ISRAEL July 12 - 18, 2015 Join other Jewish singles and experience the sights, sounds, flavors and spirit of Israel with other Jewish singles on an unforgettable journey. For ages 30-45.

LAWYERS FOR ISRAEL MISSION November 1 - 5, 2015 Join JNF’s first “Law & Order” mission for a unique look inside Israel’s justice system.

S P ECI A L P ROGR A M S A N D T O U R S JNF DAY TOUR – EVERY WEDNESDAY Only have a day? See the Northern Negev and JNF projects—a new and unique Israel experience. $50, lunch included. Departs from Jerusalem every Wednesday. jnf.org/bustour

CAARI: Canadian American Active Retirees in Israel January 12 - February 25, 2015 A 2-7 week program for active retirees, which combines community service and traditional sightseeing throughout Israel.

PLUS: Family trips, B’nai Mitzvah trips, Group tours, Tree Planting, and more.

For more information, contact 877.JNF.TOUR (563.8687) or visit jnf.org/travel