By Russell Robinson
Jewish National Fund-USA
NEW YORK — 256 agonizing days. That’s how long it’s been since the atrocities of October 7. That’s how long it’s been since some 250 innocent people were taken hostage by Hamas – with 120 of them remaining captive. One hundred twenty people – sadly some confirmed dead – who are likely being kept underground, tortured, starving, not knowing if people are thinking of them or fighting to save them. One hundred twenty families – wives, children, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandparents – whose every waking minute is spent working for their release, whose anguish is unimaginable. The circle of pain is vast, and we can’t make it go away, but we can and do give a shoulder to lean on and make an impact that they can see and feel. We must never stop telling their story. We are all in this together, and our brothers and sisters in Israel feel that. So, thank you for all you do and keep doing. Here’s an update:
The Be’eri Contingent Visit
Earlier this month, we had the honor of hosting 15 survivors from Kibbutz Be’eri at several events around the U.S. They are here to fundraise for their kibbutz, and you can give to them here. Eight months in and they’re still so appreciative of people wanting to hear their stories, as heart-wrenching as it is for them to tell them. They were here for the Israel Day Parade in NYC, and as one of the Be’eri delegation members shared with me, it was such a powerful experience for them to see 125,000 people (those were the NYC police numbers—double that of last year!) out in support of Israel. It meant so much to them to see they are not alone.
And when they heard it happens every year, they were speechless. Everything we do matters. Every social post you share or like, every sign you put on your front yard, every letter you write, every dollar you give, every march you join tells the survivors of October 7: “You are not alone.” And they hear you.
During their visit, our team helped members of the delegation share their message on Fox, CBS, NBC, and NewsNation.
Despite the horrors they witnessed and the trauma they endured – and are still experiencing, the majority want to return to their home in Otef Israel (the Israel Envelope, which borders Gaza). Be’eri resident Hugo Wolaj hid in his safe room with his wife and two daughters for 20 hours on that infamous day. They heard the terrorists outside – guns, yelling in Arabic, screaming – but miraculously, their house was passed over. He wants to return to what he refers to as paradise. They want to return to life as it was on October 6, but they know there is no such thing. To get people to move home and encourage others to come, Be’eri and the other kibbutzim and moshavim must be rebuilt even better. That’s where we come in with our Build Together plan.
Help the Be’eri residents and the rest of the people of the Israel Envelope move home. See what we are doing to help make that happen at jnf.org/supportisrael.
The North
Northern Israel is ablaze. You’ve seen the pictures of eco-terrorism waged by Hezbollah’s rockets that have destroyed over 3,500 acres of buildings, agricultural land, forests, and nature reserves across northern Israel, making the region even more desolate than it was with 120,000 still evacuated from their homes for almost eight months.
Ever since the establishment of the State of Israel, civilians have never withdrawn from so much land during a military operation. For eight months, they have been living in hotels, apartments, and youth hostels throughout Israel not, knowing when they can return or how the war in the North will unfold. Today, the people of Northern Israel are experiencing a humanitarian crisis, yet the world does not know their story.
For years Jewish National Fund-USA, other organizations, foundations, and the government made major efforts to move hundreds of thousands of people to live in the North, which represents 28% of the land of Israel, yet has only 17% of the population. Places like the Greater Kiryat Shmona area, which had a population in the 1960s of 38,000, had dwindled to 24,000 before October 7. Jewish National Fund-USA’s strategic Go North plan sought to reverse that trend, aiming for population growth of 300,000. These efforts included employment, civil defense, fire and rescue, medical services, housing, tourism, small businesses, and leadership development. There was so much promise, and people started saying, “This is where I want to live.” We were turning the Upper Eastern Galilee into Israel’s food technology and culinary capital. In the Western Galilee, small businesses worked together, building strategies and increasing employment and tourism. We provided employment opportunities, water projects, over 1,000 new housing sites, and more.
We are not waiting. We must restart and reimagine Northern Israel, as populations are evacuating, and their stories go untold. We were there yesterday, we are there today, and we must show the people of the North that we believe in tomorrow. On July 15, we will start a ‘Reality to Reimagine Caravan’ to kick off our Reimagine campaign for the North.
Our Reimagine plan will bring everyone – organizations, municipalities, and people together. This is not a plan for Jewish National Fund-USA, this is a plan for the people of Northern Israel. We will assemble residents of Northern Israel, evacuees, and/or people who returned, a group representing Druze, Muslims, and Jews, to highlight the shared society that has always made the North so special, to educate the public of their suffering and today’s realities. They will be coming to the U.S. and speaking in communities across the country – to the people and the media – to share their stories and get people’s attention. Find an event near you at jnf.org/inyourarea.
Uplifting News
At Jewish National Fund-USA we work with Israel’s residents – the people on the ground who represent numerous stakeholders – to determine their needs and aspirations. As such we partner with many organizations – what we call “affiliates” – and strategize how to best get the job done, and then do it. We are proud of our work and of the successes it has brought about for our affiliates whom we work with so closely, day in and day out.
One such affiliate, Hashomer HaChadash, will be receiving Israel’s President’s award at the upcoming President’s ceremony in recognition of all the vital work they’ve been doing since October 7. Hashomer HaChadash recruited over 30,000 volunteers to work on farms across the country to cover the workers that were either called up to fight in the Israel Defense Forces or were overseas laborers who went back home. This ensured that thousands upon thousands of tons of fruits and vegetables made it to the markets and people’s homes and weren’t left to rot, thereby preventing a food crisis and keeping farmers in business. Among those volunteers were over 3,500 people who’ve gone on our volunteer missions and hundreds of our Muss High School in Israel students who were in Israel and answered the call to help. The needs continue so you can sign up for a mission now – scheduled through February, 2025. Well-deserved and well done Hashomer HaChadash!
Be Part Of A Winning Team
I have said this for many years, and I will say it again just as I did at the recent Jerusalem Post conference in New York City: No one wants to be part of a losing team. But to win, a team must play as a unit, together – b’yachad. We have put-up walls between right and left, religious and secular, Israel and the Diaspora. Our Jewish people must play as a team in this game. Abraham was not a Likud member. Moses was not a Labor member. Isaac was not Yesh Atid – they were all fighting in the game for our Jewish people.
You can be in different movements, different political parties, fraternities, sororities, or unions, but if you are in this race for the Jewish people, if you are in the game, we must all be on the same team. And if we are, we will win.
Thank you for all you do for the land and people of Israel. Please reach out to me with comments, ideas, and suggestions at ceo@jnf.org. Am Yisrael Chai – The People of Israel Live!
*
Russell Robinson is the chief executive officer of the Jewish National Fund-USA