Jewish National Fund Celebrates 100 Years Of Success With Mission To Site Where The Organization Was Founded

Jewish National Fund
Tuesday, 4 September 2001

Hundreds of Supporters to Join JNF on "From Basel to Jerusalem" Mission

September 4, 2001 – New York, NY – On December 25, 2001 hundreds of Jewish National Fund (JNF) supporters from around the world will embark on an 11-day historical and celebratory mission to commemorate JNF's 100th Anniversary. The From Basel to Jerusalem Mission will kick-off with a visit to the site in Basel, Switzerland where JNF was founded at the Fifth Zionist Congress in 1901, where participants can retrace the roots of JNF and the Zionist dream. The group will then continue on to Israel, where they will meet with President Katsav and Prime Minister Sharon and visit sites of both historical significance and remarkable natural beauty before concluding their exciting journey on January 4, 2002.

"We urge all those who share our passion for the land of Israel to join us on this important mission," says Mission Co-Chair Evelyn Seelig. Her Co-Chair, Eva Piken Nagler adds, "It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to relive the founding of JNF 100 years ago and the march towards creating the Jewish state."

Highlights of the mission include a gala event in Basel at the hall where JNF was founded and a 100th Anniversary Gala in Israel. JNF Travel & Tours will also help travelers to sample the best that Switzerland and Israel have to offer, from the placid beauty of the Rhine River to the golden stones of Jerusalem.

The From Basel to Jerusalem Mission is just one of the highlights of the yearlong celebration in honor of JNF's 100th Anniversary. The organization has already begun reaching out with a special effort to locate those longtime supporters who have allowed JNF to preserve and protect the land of Israel over the past 100 years. JNF intends to honor these contributors and make them a part of its 100th Anniversary events and festivities.

Jewish National Fund - 100 Years at a Glance

From its inception, JNF was charged with the task of fundraising in Jewish communities around the world for the purpose of purchasing land in Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel)-creating a homeland for the Jewish people for the first time in 2,000 years. Jews everywhere collected spare change in tin "Blue Boxes" in order to make their dream of a homeland a reality. The Blue Box itself came to be seen as a symbol of Zionism, and it was distributed in Jewish communities everywhere. While JNF has been instrumental in realizing the Zionist dream, the challenge of developing and protecting the land of Israel grows every day.

As the country grew and new issues arose, JNF evolved to address Israel's most pressing needs. Over the years, the range of issues included afforestation and providing Israel with healthy green space; building infrastructure for essential new communities for Israel's growing population; building access roads for security as well as to help disperse the population; providing employment for waves of new immigrants; educating children in the U.S. and Israel about Zionism and the environment; and improving the quality of life for Israelis across the country through the building of parks and recreation areas.

As the 1990s approached, JNF also began to focus on the burgeoning water crisis in Israel, which continues to suffer through the worst drought in recorded history. Today, JNF is a major force in water resource development in Israel. The organization's 120 water projects have increased Israel's water supply by over nine percent, and its river rehabilitation programs are working to restore Israel's heavily polluted rivers and streams - returning them to the people of Israel.

Those interested in witnessing the impact of JNF's work firsthand and experiencing the glory of the Zionist dream are invited to join JNF on the once-in-a-lifetime From Basel to Jerusalem Mission.

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