Student Project: JNF-USA

About JNF

What is JNF?

JNF is a not-for-profit organization and United Nations NGO (non-governmental organization) that gives all generations of Jews a unique voice in building a prosperous future for the land of Israel and its people.

When was JNF established?

Jewish National Fund-Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL-JNF) was founded at the Fifth Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland on December 29, 1901. In the United States, JNF was established in 1926. While we work very closely with KKL-JNF in Israel, we have no role in the management of KKL-JNF. JNF in the U.S. is

managed by a board of directors who represent a broad spectrum of Jewry from across America and projects are donor designated to the specific work JNF focuses on.

Why was JNF created?

Jewish National Fund 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 embodies both heart and action; our work is varied in scope but singular in benefit. JNF strives to bring an enhanced quality of life to all of

srael’s residents and translate these advancements to the world beyond. JNF is “greening” the desert with millions of trees, building thousands of parks across Israel, 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 the single largest provider of Zionist programs in the U.S. Its work is divided into seven program areas: Forestry & Green Innovations, Water Solutions, Community Building, Zionist Education & Advocacy, Research & Development, Heritage Sites, and Disabilities and Special Needs.

Ein Gedi, Israel. Robert Bye, June 3, 2016, Unsplash.

JNF’s Impact

JNF strives 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 across Israel, 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 the single largest provider of Zionist programs in the U.S. Its work is divided into seven program areas: Forestry & Green Innovations, Water Solutions, Community Building, Zionist Education & Advocacy, Research & Development, Heritage Sites, and Disabilities & Special Needs.

Since 1901, JNF has:

Planted more than 250 million trees.

Developed over 250,000 acres of land

Provided the infrastructure for over 1,000 communities

Built over 250 resevoirs and damns

Created more than 2,000 parks

Building Communities

JNF’s role in developing communities in Israel

Over time, JNF has played a central role in developing hundreds of communities in Israel, including the bustling metropolis of Tel Aviv. Today, we’re still dreaming big. With 90% of Israel’s population concentrated in the Tel Aviv- Haifa-Jerusalem Corridor, the rest of the country is left largely uninhabited. This is why population growth and regional economic development in Israel’s northern and southern regions form the backbone of our Go North and Blueprint Negev strategies. Our goal is to realize the full potential of the Galilee and Negev as rich centers of agriculture, tourism and technology development. By motivating scores of Israelis in overcrowded cities—and thousands of Americans—to move to the Negev and Galilee, we are in the process of dramatically changing Israel’s landscape. Now, once barren lands are prospering through a combination of visionary programs and partnerships that focus strategically on immigration growth, infrastructure development, faster housing starts, career training & employment services, and ensuring green spaces and recreation sites for families.

Northern Israel, known as the Galilee, has long been recognized for its great potential. The majority of Israel’s natural water resources and abundant forests are in the Galilee, and its gorgeous scenery, climate, rich history and culture attract millions of domestic and foreign tourists every year. But despite the region’s plethora of assets, it remains underdeveloped and falls short of its economic potential. Jewish National Fund’s Go North initiative is revitalizing this region, with the goal of bringing 300,000 new residents to the area and supporting them with critical modern infrastructure, increased tourism, and opportunities for education and employment. The Go North strategic initiative to strengthen and grow the region is vital for the long-term strength and prosperity of our Jewish homeland.

Galilee

Galilee, Israel. Shalev Cohen, May 4, 2020, Unsplash.

Tverya, Israel. Thalia Tran, November 5, 2018, Unsplash.

The Negev Desert

The Negev Desert represents 60% of Israel’s landmass but is home to just 8% of the population. Jewish National Fund’s major initiative to revitalize this underdeveloped region is called Blueprint Negev. This interdisciplinary, internationally recognized campaign is improving quality of life for all residents of Southern Israel and encouraging a population shift away from crowded, expensive central Israel. Our goal is to double the population’s size by bringing 500,000 new residents to the Negev. In order to do this, we are playing a major role in community development across this region, building parks, playgrounds, and youth centers; providing employment and education opportunities; promoting tourism; improving transportation; and building water and agricultural infrastructure. Today, Be’er Sheva and the surrounding communities are blooming in a once barren desert.

Housing Development Fund

Affordable housing, with access to good schools, jobs, and community, is central to our goal of establishing new neighborhoods in the north and south. The Housing Development Fund provides targeted funding for physical infrastructure which is needed to commence the home building process. Under Israeli municipal regulations, physical infrastructure can only be developed after all the lots in a community are purchased and financed, which can lead to delays of up to five years. The Housing Development Fund provides loans to communities, lending them the capital necessary for ground infrastructure to be completed. This initiative is imperative to investing in the Negev and Galilee by speeding up the process of home ownership. To date, the Housing Development Fund has supported over 1,340 lots. Over 932 lots are under expansion in the south, with another 408 under expansion in the Galilee. These new housing developments will provide homes for new families, immigrants, olim, military veterans, and seniors - all groups in need of affordable housing outside of crowded urban areas.

Skyline of Be’er Sheva, Israel. Levi Meir Clancy April 5, 2022.

Neighborhood in the Negev Desert funded by JNF’s Housing Development Fund. JNF.com.

Creating an Inclusive Community

Improving Israeli’s Quality of Life

As part of our focus on improving the quality of life in Israel for all its citizens, Jewish National Fund is ensuring that no member of Israeli society is left behind. The fact that nearly 13% of Israel’s citizens are considered physically or mentally challenged is an opportunity for us to live our values. We believe passionately that the inclusion of people with disabilities and special needs should be woven tightly into the fabric of Jewish life. All the more so in Israel.

That is why, as Israel continues to grow beyond its bustling Tel Aviv-Haifa-Jerusalem Corridor, our focus on services for people with disabilities and special needs is strategically located in the Negev and Galilee. Through a variety of initiatives and partnerships, JNF is providing state-of-the-art rehabilitative services, special education and medical care in areas where they were previously unavailable. Beyond the medical, we are also ensuring that recreational facilities, including forests, parks, picnic areas, playgrounds and nature trails, are inclusive for visitors of all ability levels.

Rehabilitative Services

Jewish National Fund provides unparalleled rehabilitative services, medical care, and special education for people with severe disabilities, helping them reach their potential for communication and development.

At ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran (formerly ALEH Negev-Nahalat Eran), a world class rehabilitative village located in the heart of the Negev, we empower residents and outpatients to develop a greater degree of independence and

become productive members of Israeli society. ADI Negev has set a new benchmark in the fields of special education and rehabilitative services and is being closely studied by experts from around the world.

Idan Fishslevich, a 22-year-old with ASD who was made a flight attendant for a day, at Ben Gurion Airport before boarding the plane, February 20, 2023. (Tobias Siegal/Times of Israel)

Equal Opportunities Making Israel Accessible

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) goes beyond ensuring the security of Israel; it provides those who serve with valuable professional and social life skills. Serving in the IDF is an integral part of life for young Israelis and is why Jewish National Fund works with Special in Uniform to give youth with disabilities the opportunity to integrate into the IDF. The program was founded to give everyone a right to fulfill their potential and be accepted into society, regardless of any disability. After an initial assessment, participants attend a 3-month life skills and occupational training program to help them integrate into their bases and function independently. They also take part in a four-day military training course before being assigned to bases across Israel where they take on jobs ranging from preparing protective kits to culinary work. Special in Uniform goes beyond the walls of IDF bases, helping its graduates integrate into the workforce and Israeli society in meaningful ways.

Hiking is a national pastime in Israel and unites all who participate. Jewish National Fund understands the vital role that hiking plays in Israelis’ lives, and the immeasurable impact making nature accessible has, not just on the individual with a special need but on their family and the community as well. In partnership with LOTEM, we offer field trips, accessible hikes, and creative workshops in nature for people of all ages with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities.

All of these activities have been adapted to the needs of its participants to maximize the learning experience of each individual: people with visual impairments are able to use three-dimensional models and read explanations in Braille; children on the autism spectrum are provided with illustrated communication tables; and those who use wheelchairs are taken to accessible nature sites, including Jewish National Fund’s first inclusive park, Nahal HaShofet.

Top Left: Special needs Israelis provided with the opportunity to serve in the IDF. JNF.com; Top Right: JNF provides therapeutic horseback riding to nearly 200 children and adults with physical and mental disabilities as well as emotional and behavioral issues. JNF.com; Bottom Right: A group of people on a trip benefitting from JNF’s partnership with LOTEM. JNF.com

Forestry Initiatives

Since our founding in 1901, we’ve planted an incredible 250 million trees in Israel. And the results have been transformative and breathtaking. Once a desert-nation, today Israel has blossomed into a garden oasis.

Covering over 250,000 acres, Jewish National Fund forests provide an invaluable green canopy for both the people of Israel and the roughly 2,241 different species of animals and birds who call it home. From the mighty oak and the almond, to the cypress and the exotic Atlantic cedar, every tree makes a difference, every tree connects to the future, and every tree calls out, “Am Yisrael Chai”.

Today, we must grapple with the challenge of balancing the phenomenal growth and development Israel has experienced in the last decade with the maintenance of an ecologically sound environment. That’s why our role as guardian of the land has become ever more critical and includes firefighting and fire prevention, soil conservation, combating desertification, and developing agricultural infrastructure.

Forestry Development

Amazingly, Israel is only one of a few countries in the world that entered the 21st century with a net gain in its number of trees. But Israel was not blessed with natural forests; its forests are all hand-planted. Jewish National Fund has planted more than 260 million trees all over Israel, providing luscious belts of green covering more than 250,000 acres. JNF’s national forest development work creates “green lungs” around congested towns and cities, and provides recreation and respite for all Israelis. JNF foresters work hard at ensuring their environmental soundness, and in addition to focusing on diversification, are at it every day, cleaning, pruning, and allowing for the natural regenerative process healthy forests practice.

Top: JNF volunteers planting trees in Israel. JNF.com;

Bottom: KKL workers plant trees in the sandy soil of Kibbutz Mefalsim, located in the northwest Negev desert near to the Gaza border, in August, 2022. The trees are planted to hide the kibbutz from the view of rocket launchers in the Gaza Strip close by. (KKL)

Preserving Israel’s Heritage Sites

Jewish National Fund is committed to making sure that the history of the land and people of Israel is preserved for today’s generation and those to come. Our work enables us to share the real life struggles for Israel’s independence with Israelis and tourists alike. Thanks to JNF’s generous donors, more than 150 heritage sites around the country are open to the public, and we continue to identify important sites and work closely to develop them into interesting visiting experiences. These heritage sites—some dating back to ancient times, some to Israel’s rebirth during the first Zionist settlement in the 1800’s and others to its 1948 War of Independence—are powerful symbols that inspire our nation and deserve our unwavering attention.

Jewish

The 9/11 Living Memorial, located in Jerusalem’s Arazim Park, commemorates the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and stands as a reminder of shared loss and a call for collective understanding. The monument, which was dedicated by Jewish National Fund on November 12, 2009, is one of the first major international memorials to the victims of the attacks and the only site outside of New York that lists the names of the nearly 3,000 men, women, and children who perished.

National Fund, along with the Municipality of Jerusalem and the Government of Israel, is assisting in the development and renovation of the Ammunition Hill Memorial site. The restored site portrays the siege of Jerusalem in the ‘67 War and serves as an educational center of the battles waged there.

The Tel Hai Museum is devoted to the dramatic events of 1920, when Tel-Hai and some other Jewish settlements in the Upper Galilee were cut off from the central part of the country and attacked.

The Women of Valor Center is a testament to the brave women who sacrificed everything to secure the future of Israel, during the Battle of Nitzanim during the War of Independence.

Jewish National Fund USA