Jewish National Fund's Lay Leaders Commit $5.5 Million to Help Alleviate Water Crisis in Israel

Jewish National Fund
Wednesday, 15 November 2000

JNF Hosts Annual National Leadership Conference, November 12-13 to Kick-Off "Just Add Water" Campaign

November 15, 2000 – New York, NY – Jewish National Fund's (JNF) lay leaders kicked-off the organization's "Just Add Water" campaign at JNF's annual National Leadership Conference, by committing an unprecedented $5.5 million towards alleviating the water crisis in Israel. The campaign, which is being supported by national advertisements featuring JNF President Ronald S. Lauder, began on October 1, when JNF asked its top lay leaders to make their personal monetary commitments to the campaign. The result was an outstanding number of contributions.

The Leadership Conference brought together 260 JNF lay leaders/volunteers and leadership from parent-company Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL), and special guest speakers in Manhattan's Park East Synagogue for two days of meetings, discussion groups and workshops. The conference led off with a presentation and call to action by Mr. Lauder. His remarks included key statements about how the worst drought in recorded Israeli history is impacting the peace process and Israeli citizens' quality of life and what the group of leaders can do as partners with the people of Israel. Later that afternoon, former interior minister of Israel, Natan Sharansky offered his views on the volatile situation in the Middle East, the support of American Jewry and his own personal experiences. Attendees then broke off into workshops to brainstorm ways about how they can implement JNF's current campaigns.

Later that evening, the attendees enjoyed dinner at New York City's famed Windows on the World Restaurant and were treated to a Broadway medley by JNF Spokesperson Hal Linden and a keynote speech by JNF-KKL World Chairman, Yehiel Leket. The conference concluded with an address by JNF Executive Vice President Russell F. Robinson who said, "Jewish National Fund is Zionism in the new century - for the land, for the people, direct and personal. And the foundation of JNF, and indeed of Israel itself, is support from Jews around the world like yourselves. Your passion and devotion to the cause inspire us all to continue to build a safe and prosperous Israel."

Currently, JNF is focusing their fund raising efforts on alleviating the continual water shortage in Israel through its "Just Add Water" campaign and will be utilizing its lay leaders to deliver that message to their respective communities. The goal of the campaign is to increase awareness of Israel's current water shortage as well as to generate the funds necessary to help alleviate the shortage by building water reservoirs, utilizing salty and recycled water for agriculture, and cleaning polluted rivers and streams. According to JNF's National Vice President of Campaign and conference co-chair, Robert B. Levine, "Shortage of water is the most crucial environmental problem facing Israel today, and new solutions must be found and applied to address the dwindling water supply. JNF is at the forefront of meeting this challenge while resources continue to decrease due to drought, overuse and population growth."

For more information, or to contact Jewish National Fund, see their website at: www.jnf.org