By Jacob Kamaras
LA JOLLA, California — “You have to visit Israel to know Israel,” reflects Jacqui Schneider, Jewish National Fund-USA’s Regional President in San Diego. “It is a tiny country on the map, but once you are there, you realize that it has depth, layers, and a diversity of population, climate, and cultures. Each city has a unique and beautiful flavor. Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Akko, Kiryat Shmona, Be’er Sheva. Each like a flower in an exotic bouquet — on its own quite beautiful, but together, stunning.”
Schneider’s sentiments ring truer than ever following Israel’s 75th anniversary. She was part of a delegation of 14 San Diegans who visited Israel with JNF-USA from April 23-30 for the events surrounding the milestone, including the state ceremony for Yom Hazikaron (Remembrance Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism) at Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem. They celebrated Yom Haatzmaut (Independence Day) with a concert in Be’er Sheva and proceeded to tour a number of sites that comprise the cornerstones of JNF-USA’s stated mission to “strengthen the future and support the land and people of Israel.”
“While I had heard of the importance of Yom Hazikaron, being present when the sirens went off to initiate the moments of silence and see how seriously young and old take this commemoration was very moving,” says Robert Ganz, JNF-USA’s National Products Chair. “At the ceremony at Ammunition Hill, I saw surviving veterans of the famous 1967 war for the Old City of Jerusalem stand with their grandchildren who were presently in the IDF — reminding me of the shared sacrifice that is the essence of living in Israel.”
Another member of the San Diego delegation, Marti Eisenberg, conveys that “what struck me deeply was how much the people of Israel are engaged in mourning, remembering, and honoring those that served before them. They also respect those that continue their commitment to keeping Israel safe. Israelis take these commemorations seriously because everyone has been touched by the continuous struggle to remain in a safe and independent nation.”
Participants subsequently had the choice of two tracks for their journey into JNF-USA’s activities — the Arava and the Gaza envelope (communities within about four miles of the Gaza Strip border). The trip concluded before May’s latest wave of rocket attacks from Palestinian terrorists in Gaza and the IDF’s response, Operation Shield and Arrow.
“Israelis are lucky they have a government that will protect them,” Eisenberg says. “JNF-USA and other organizations have helped build bomb shelters and provide mental health programs to support those that suffer from these bombardments along the Gaza envelope.”
Indeed, delegation members witnessed how JNF-USA helps improve the lives of those that live in the area that directly surrounds Gaza and how they are impacted by it — including a visit to the Eshkol Resilience Center, which provides therapy to adults and children to help them overcome PTSD.
Schneider and her brother sponsored the beautification of a bomb shelter several years ago, and they visited the shelter during a previous trip to Israel in 2022. “It sits in a recreational pool area where the residents can enjoy its beauty. But that shelter is so much more,” she says. “It can be the difference between life and death. It is a very special segment of the Israeli population that possess a profound love for the land and the country, those who choose to live on the border. They say it is 95% heaven and 5% hell. They deserve our support. I’m immensely proud of the work JNF-USA does in that region.”
In the Arava, the group from San Diego visited the Arava International Center for Agriculture Training (AICAT), which provides professional agricultural training to over 1,200 students annually from 16 countries in Africa and Asia; the Vidor Visitor Center, where they saw the region’s uniquely advanced agriculture facing water and soil challenges; JNF-USA’s Kasser Joint Institute for Food, Water, and Energy Security, a partnership with the University of Arizona and farmers in the Arava Valley in support of agriculture and much-needed water solutions for farmers in the Negev and developing countries around the world; a medical center providing medical services to the 8,000 people living in the most isolated and remote region in Israel; an emergency response center; HaShomer HaChadash in Hatzeva, a youth volunteer program dedicated to safeguarding the land in the Negev and Galilee; and Zukim, the first non-agricultural community established in the Arava, which has become a blossoming village located two hours south of Sheva.
Robert Ganz and his wife Dorothy are supporters of AICAT.
“Meeting these students — and hearing them speak of their experiences and their plans to improve their countries’ food production using their new knowledge — was really inspiring,” he says.
Schneider echoes, “I was so pleased to be able to visit AICAT and absolutely impressed by the students who spoke about their experience in the program. They were so articulate and passionate about their work, the people of Israel, and their plans to return to their countries and share the knowledge. AICAT checks every box for fulfilling the Jewish commandment to be a ‘light unto the nations’ and the value of tikkun olam, making the world a better place for all people.”
Although they all came into the trip with abundant prior experience in the realm of JNF-USA’s work, participants left with newfound appreciation and insights.
“I realized that just like innovators in the U.S. who tackle problems, who have successes and setbacks, Israel is the same,” says Eisenberg. “Whether it’s politics, environmental issues, education, housing, and more, we all want to live prosperous and meaningful lives. JNF-USA is at the forefront of supporting this.”
Schneider notes that there “were several of us from JNF-USA’s San Diego Board who were on the mission and we all feel that we can represent the various giving opportunities with much more confidence.” The delegation also included JNF-USA’s San Diego-based National President Dr. Sol Lizerbram and First Lady Lauren Lizerbram.
Ganz shares that “while I am generally familiar with almost all of the different JNF-USA projects, seeing them in person — both the bricks and mortar facilities we are building and meeting the people running the programs — was really inspiring.”
“Israel is a resilient country with fantastic people,” he adds. “Headlines may scream about the difficulties it faces, but the people are doing all they can to lead productive and peaceful lives. With the help of American Jewry, they will succeed in continuing to make Israel a place which we can all be proud of.”
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Jacob Kamaras is editor and publisher of San Diego Jewish World.
Beautifully informative article. Kudos to all involved