Jewish National Fund Celebrating 100th Anniversary

Jewish National Fund
Friday, 20 April 2001

Organization Seeks to Thank Individuals Who Have Been Long-time Supporters

April 20, 2001 – New York, NY– December 2001 marks the 100th Anniversary of Jewish National Fund (JNF), and the organization is kicking off its year-long celebration with a special effort to contact its long-time supporters, particularly 10-, 25- and 50-year donors. JNF is an international non-profit organization governed by lay leadership, with over 450,000 contributors in the United States and over one million worldwide. "As part of our celebration of our 100th Anniversary, we want to locate each and every person who has helped JNF in its efforts to preserve and protect the land of Israel," states JNF President Ronald S. Lauder. JNF intends to honor these contributors and make them an integral part of the yearlong 100th Anniversary celebration.

"We are so thrilled to be celebrating our 100th Anniversary," says Russell F. Robinson, JNF executive vice president. "This momentous occasion gives us the opportunity to reflect on all that we have been able to accomplish, as well as all that remains to be done. It is also a time to thank those individuals who have supported our efforts, for without them, JNF would not be the success story that it is." Robinson continues, "JNF enabled Jews from around the world to come together to make the Zionist dream a reality. JNF's motto is Together, We Can, and our anniversary allows us to celebrate what we have been able to accomplish through our combined efforts."

JNF is encouraging individuals to share personal stories and mementos with the organization: whether it's the memory of donating spare change through a JNF Blue Box as a child, or a first trip to Israel to see firsthand the impact that JNF has had on the land. In addition to allowing JNF to celebrate its supporters, the organization hopes that these stories will enable younger generations to feel a connection to the land of Israel.

The story of Emmy and Tony award winning actor Hal Linden serves as an illustration of JNF's ability to connect its supporters to Israel and to Judaism. Linden was inspired to contact JNF almost four years ago after seeing a JNF Blue Box and reliving his childhood memories of saving his money to donate to Israel. He now serves as the organization's national spokesperson.

JNF was founded at the Fifth Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland in 1901. In December 2001, hundreds of supporters from around the world will re-visit the site in Basel where JNF was founded to show their support for JNF on the From Basel to Jerusalem Mission. The trip - taking place from December 25, 2001 through January 4, 2002 - offers individuals and families the opportunity to retrace the roots of JNF and the Zionist dream on this once-in-a-lifetime journey. After touring Switzerland, the mission will continue on to Israel, where travelers will visit the first piece of land purchased by JNF in Israel, meet with the President and Prime Minister of Israel, and much more.

From its inception, JNF was charged with the task of fundraising in Jewish communities for the purpose of purchasing land in Eretz Yisrael to create a homeland for the Jewish people. As a result, JNF's signature Blue Boxes, which were used to collect the necessary funds, are now known worldwide as a symbol of Zionism. JNF is currently the largest landowner in Israel, second only to the state. While JNF has been instrumental in realizing the Zionist dream of owning land in Israel, the challenge of developing and protecting the land grows everyday.

JNF's work can be divided into three phases. During its first 50 years, JNF was charged with the task of purchasing the land. Over the second 50 years, JNF directed its efforts to developing the land, planting over 210 million trees, building infrastructure for housing, parks and recreation areas, and helping to settle immigrants from across the globe. In the upcoming years, JNF will continue to develop the land but focus its attention on preserving the environment, conserving scarce natural resources, and continuing to find ways to alleviate Israel's chronic water shortage.

Israel is facing its worst drought in recorded history and according to Lauder, may run out of water by 2012. For the last decade, JNF has been focusing its fundraising efforts on raising the money to build dams and reservoirs, store recycled wastewater and capture rain water, all in an effort to help increase Israel's water supply. Major fundraising efforts are being carried out throughout the United States. "JNF, with the help of its loyal supporters, has been able to increase Israel's water supply by 6 percent since 1990. This is an impressive accomplishment given the obstacles we have faced, but so much more remains to be done," says Lauder.

People wishing to contact JNF can call 888-JNF-0099 to reach their closest regional office. JNF has 40 offices worldwide, and 22 regional offices in the U.S. For more information on JNF offices around the U.S., please visit www.jnf.org/map.html. Those interested in finding out about the From Basel to Jerusalem trip should contact JNF Travel and Tours at 877-JNF-TOUR.

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