JEWISH NATIONAL FUND2015 YEAR IN REVIEW

HERITAGE SITES

ZIONIST EDUCATION & ADVOCACY

FORESTRY & GREEN INNOVATION

WATER SOLUTIONS

COMMUNITY BUILDING

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

DISABILITIES & SPECIAL NEEDS

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Thanks to you and the generations of donors who have come before, Jewish National Fund remains the preeminent leader in building Israel for the many who call our Jewish homeland home, and for those who hope to.

Our long-term vision to improve the quality of life for Israel’s residents and develop the land is what defines us, but we do so much more. In 2015 we realized many achievements due to your support. Thank you for being a valued member of the JNF family.

Today we are $325 million closer towards reaching the goals set forth in our $1 Billion Roadmap for the Next Decade. With your assistance we have taken the desert sands of Israel and built attractive and thriving communities for Israelis to live and raise families in. In addition to our work in afforestation, green innovations, and research and development, JNF is growing Northern Israel’s population and economy; expanding on our amazing successes in water solutions, that have been used to combat drought and water scarcity around the planet; and connecting thousands from the U.S. to Israel on our one-of-a-kind missions and trips.

But there is still so much more to do in a nation that is 60% desert.

As we look to the future, I am excited by the energy emanating from our young professionals. JNFuture, which is comprised of 23-40-year-olds, remains JNF’s fastest growing group and is passionate about protecting the environment, R & D, education, and innovation. Like the donors who helped establish JNF in 1901, today’s young leaders want to see the Jewish homeland survive and succeed. With JNF, they see how their own dollars are making a difference. JNF consistently receives high ratings from organizations such as Charity Navigator and Charity Watch for its financial accountability and transparency.

To carry on the important mission of Zionist education and advocacy, this year we opened the JNF Boruchin Israel Education and Advocacy Center with the purpose of increasing funding for JNF and non-JNF programs to reach broader audiences and increase Zionist advocacy in critically needed areas. Additionally, the Alexander Muss High School in Israel (AMHSI-JNF) has undergone major campus renovations and remains the best educational experience in connecting Jewish youth to Israel. To counter anti-Israel rhetoric, we have further strengthened our Positively Israel campaign to highlight the incredible work that Israel does every day to make the world better.

I am very proud of all that we accomplished and encourage you to take a look at what you helped achieve this year.

With my very best wishes,

Jeffrey E. Levine

President, Jewish National Fund

Program Allocations

60% Community Building

3% Heritage Sites

4% Research & Development

10% Water Solutions

12% Zionist Education & Advocacy

5% Disabilities & Special Needs

6% Forestry and Green Innovations

84% Programs

7% Admin

9% Donor Development & Fundraising

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COMMUNITY BUILDINGJNF enhances quality of life by building new communities and bolstering existing ones. JNF’s Blueprint Negev initiative is helping to bring hundreds of thousands of new residents to the Negev Desert and its Go North initiative is focusing on the communities of Northern Israel.

AKKOAkko hosts about 2.5 million domestic and foreign visitors per year, but due to the city’s close proximity to the center of the country, many travelers simply return home or elsewhere at the end of the day. Few take advantage of the vast expanse of natural beauty that runs east from the city’s sandy beaches and north to the green and forested border.

• JNF Western Galilee Visitor Center is being built in a 200-year-old building in Akko’s old city. The gateway to hundreds of destinations throughout

the Western Galilee, it will open in spring 2016.• JNF’s partnership with Western Galilee Now,

a consortium of tour guides and businesses, including wineries, boutique dairies, artisans and more, continued to help grow local businesses and increase employment opportunities.

BEIT SHE’AN & VALLEY OF THE SPRINGSJNF has long recognized that to bring 300,000 new residents to Northern Israel and meet the goals set in the Go North initiative, engaging programming must be offered to inspire the city’s 25-40 year-olds to lay down roots and stay in the area.

• Beit She’an Young Leadership Center is currently in the planning phase and, once completed, will overlook the scenic Valley of the Springs.

• Young adults in Beit She’an and the Valley of the Springs meet throughout the year, and JNF’s

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work impacts hundreds of young people from 13 kibbutzim and two moshavim.

• A Spring Housing and Home Renovation Convention that JNF sponsored attracted young adults from the area and was attended by several hundred locals and others from outside the area interested in moving to the valley.

BE’ER SHEVAThanks to JNF’s efforts in Be’er Sheva, the desert city boasts a thriving business district with new restaurants, galleries, and shops, encouraging young families to call the city home. Private investors and the Israeli government have followed suit, investing tens of millions of dollars in residential and commercial areas.

• The Lauder Employment Center opened in early 2015 to help find, source, and grow jobs in the area. It also serves as a regional hub for municipal leaders and Bedouin tribal chiefs to collaborate.

• The River Park Playground, a new element in the Be’er Sheva River Park, allows thousands of families to enjoy outdoor activities in a space more than twice the size of NYC’s Central Park.

• Lake Complex – Expansion of the Be’er Sheva River Park includes a 90 dunam lake (approx. 22.5 acres) for recreational and sporting use.

CENTRAL ARAVAResidents of the Central Arava, an arid desert region in Southern Israel, face many challenges, including a harsh desert climate, large distances between communities, and the lack of resources available in urban centers.

• The Danielle A. and Irving J. Grossman Sapir Medical Center has raised a high standard of performance and service with lifesaving medical care for 8,000 residents in this remote region. It has also brought employment to the area, adding new paramedics and increasing the amount of professional doctors on call.

• The Sapir Command & Rescue Center, situated directly next to the Sapir Medical Center, is in final planning stages.

• The Zukim Kindergarten, dedicated in memory of Joanne B. Simches, is the third new kindergarten built in recent years and life is improving for the 14 children who previously spent their days in an old damp caravan. In total, 42 children are currently in the preschool system.

• Kibbutz Yahel Physician Housing Compound is dedicated to attracting top-quality physicians to relocate to the area and requires providing good housing. Plans for five new homes have been completed, and construction is forthcoming.

EREZ COLLEGEThe small northern town of Shlomi has been home to Erez College since 1975. Since its establishment, Shlomi has more than tripled in size, drawing students from all over the region. With the discovery of natural gas fields in the Mediterranean, a new industry is in dire need of educated and trained engineers to cultivate and manage gas exploration and distribution.

• Natural Gas Lab – A new practical mechanical engineering program is offered in the college’s state-of-the-art natural gas labs, developed through a unique partnership with JNF.

GUSH ETZIONJNF has deep roots in Gush Etzion. It is an important heritage site for the Jewish people, and the spot is sacred to those who lost their lives in the War of Independence.

• Gush Etzion Visitor Center and Museum – In the final stages of construction.

• The Three Boys’ Promenade (in memory of the three young men killed prior to Operation Protective Edge in 2014) is in the planning phase.

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HALUTZA“The future of Israel lies in the Negev,” said David Ben Gurion, and his dream to see Israel’s southern frontier developed is our reality. The Halutza region includes three towns: B’nai Nezarim, Naveh, and Shlomit. It is now home to 250 families, many of whom were evacuated from Gush Katif.

B’NAI NEZARIM• Medical Center & Dental Clinic – JNF secured a

$1.9 million grant from the Helmsley Charitable Trust to help build a regional medical center. The center and clinic are in detailed planning.

• A new JNF park and playground is operational.• Entranceway – Every town needs a beautiful

entrance road, and JNF completed one this year.• Emergency Headquarters – This new facility is

completed and fully operational.

NAVEH• Community Center/Ulpana – The new girls’

religious school is completed and operational.• Kindergarten – Serving a growing population.

SHLOMIT• Emergency Headquarters – Fully operational.• Kindergarten & Playground – In construction.• Day Care Center & Nursery – In construction.

HASHOMER HACHADASH“The New Guardians,” a JNF partner, aims to continue the historic path of the Zionist movement and strengthen the values of mutual responsibility, civic courage, and love of the land.

• Engaged 250 young men and women through transformative educational programs.

• Deployed 1,100 volunteers to safeguard the land.• Connected over 15,455 young people to the land

through agricultural volunteerism.• Protected 159,985 acres of open land in the Negev

and the Galilee.

HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUNDJNF’s revolutionary new Housing Development Fund is a $25 million revolving fund that provides bridging loans to peripheral communities to carry out basic infrastructure and start marketing residential properties. In 2015, JNF identified eight communities to implement: Yahel, Merchav Am, Kibbutz Malkiyah, Eshcher, Gesher, Sde Boker, Nachal Oz, and Ein Yahav.

MITZPE RAMONTo help improve the quality of life for Israel’s military personnel and their families, JNF is building the Essence of Life Park and Recreation Area at the Ramon Air Force Base in the Negev Desert. This includes a 7.5 acre park, amphitheater, parade ground, and walking paths for the 4,500 people living on the base.

• Essence of Life Park and Recreation Area –Permits are currently being obtained.

• For the Essence of Life Park, JNF is using cutting-edge wetlands technology to build an environmental reclamation area to recycle water without electricity. This will serve as a model that can be used in isolated areas anywhere in Israel and throughout the world. JNF is now in negotiation for use of space.

PROJECT BASEBALLJNF’s Project Baseball is focused on building state-of-the-art baseball and softball fields throughout the country while also supporting and teaching baseball and softball to Israeli youth through little leagues, summer camps, and clinics. Project Baseball gives the children of Israel an opportunity to learn life lessons while building lasting friendships.

• Binyamina Field – The new field in the Haifa area is in final stages and being prepped for use.

SDEROTResidents of Israel’s Western Negev have endured continual rocket attacks from the bordering Gaza Strip. Hardest hit is the town of Sderot—located less than one mile from Gaza—whose children have grown up with the psychological trauma that comes with living under the threat of attack.

• Since 2009, the JNF Sderot Indoor Recreation Center has brought a sense of normalcy, providing young people with a fun place to simply be kids and parents with the peace of mind that their children are playing in a safe environment. In 2015, JNF continued to provide support for annual playground operations and is making renovations to keep up with wear and tear.

• Sinai Park – JNF’s newest park in Sderot, dedicated in memory of Henry Moser(z”l) by the estate of Edna Kaye (z”l), is currently in the design stage.

8,000residents in the Arava now have access to quality medical care

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OR MOVEMENTThe OR Movement, a JNF partner, aims to realize the Negev and Galilee’s full potential in terms of population, social structure, economy, and infrastructure. The Center for Development of the Negev and Galilee provides a variety of services to current and prospective residents as well as tourists.

• In 2015, the Center helped 15,000 people seeking information on relocating to the regions, and assisted 4,000 families in the relocation process.

• Carmit began housing construction with over 20 private homes, with the goal of families moving into the community in 2016. The new Carmit Day Care Center is under construction.

• 550 Negev and Galilee jobs posted.• 80 new plots delivered in Givot Bar.• Six community projects, including a synagogue in

Retamim, playgrounds in Merchav Am and Misgav Am, a synagogue and community center in Eliav, and a bike trail in Sansana.

NEFESH B NEFESH (NBN)• By year’s end, NBN, a JNF partner, will have

brought 47,000 olim to Israel.• 8,600 lone soldiers have been serviced, under the

auspices of NBN, with an exclusive mandate from the Israel Defense Forces.

• The Bay Area JNF provided support for the July charter flight; the August charter (The Ben and Batya Klein flight) was sponsored by Northern New Jersey JNF.

• The Physician Frontiers Initiative was launched to infuse the southern and northern regions with much-needed doctors; NBN has already brought 30 physician olim to address the shortage.

• The JNF-NBN Business Networking Forum continued to strengthen and support development in the Galilee through collaboration and business cooperation.

• 407 NBN olim laid down roots in the South.• Regularly interfaced with JNFuture Israel,

collaborating to bring more than 600 NBN olim to JNF sites in the Negev.

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HERITAGE SITESCommitted to the preservation of Israel’s historical sites, JNF is proud of its long association with the Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites (SPIHS), which continues to preserve, update, and operate sites, both new and old, around the country.

• 2015 was characterized by significant growth in our Research & Information Center at the Atlit Detention Camp to document the testimonials and personal stories of the “illegal” immigrants. To date, over 70,000 names and testimonials of 130,000 have been added.

• The Ayalon Institute celebrated two big projects this year: the upgrade of the Avidar Movie Hall and the Kibbutz exhibit, which allows visitors to imagine life on the kibbutz.

• SPIHS and JNF celebrated 50,000 visitors at the new HaReut Museum, located in the Upper Galilee which commemorates the 28 Palmach heroes

from the region who sacrificed their lives during the War of Independence.

• 90 sites were updated in 2015, marking the fourth year of “Project Upgrading Heritage Sites,” which is designed to upgrade sites all around the country to make them more appealing and attractive.

• Three million people visited heritage sites, including school children, soldiers, families, and tourists from across the world.

AMMUNITION HILL – JERUSALEM• Commemoration Hall - This past Jerusalem Day, at

a ceremony that included Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a memorial hall was unveiled by Bruce K. Gould and dedicated in honor of his parents, Norman and Jean Gould.

• 2015 saw the reconstruction of trenches and planning for a new museum.

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DISABILITIES & SPECIAL NEEDSAs part of its focus on improving quality of life in Israel, JNF is dedicated to ensuring that no member of Israeli society is left behind. Through a variety of initiatives, JNF provides cutting-edge rehabilitative services, special education, and medical care for people with special needs and makes its parks, nature trails, and recreational facilities inclusive for visitors of all ability levels. In 2015, JNF launched the Task Force on Disabilities to serve as an umbrella and coordinating body to enhance the strength, fiscal viability, and effectiveness of these partnerships.

ALEH NEGEV-NAHALAT ERAN• A state-of-the-art rehabilitative village in

the Negev, Aleh Negev-Nahalat Eran offers unparalleled care for people with severe disabilities, helping them reach their potential for communication and development.

• 6,000 individual outpatient therapy sessions.

• 155 patients received permanent care.• A new medical facility is under construction and a

Residential Center is in the planning phase.• Special Education School is under construction.

RED MOUNTAIN THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTERLocated at Kibbutz Grofit, 45 minutes north of Eilat, Red Mountain Therapeutic Riding Center (RMTRC) provides weekly horseback riding therapy to nearly 200 people with physical and mental disabilities as well as emotional and behavioral issues.

• The Braverman Family Arena was completed, giving RMTRC a huge space to work during the exceptionally hot summer months. Donated by Neil Braverman and his family, the corral has a cooling system of sprinklers and lighting to accommodate therapy all day.

• Each week 200 children and adults come through the program for therapy.

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• The RMTRC Scholarship Program introduced new groups to benefit from therapeutic riding including a kindergarten, and seven children between three and four years old with autism and developmental disabilities.

LOTEM – MAKING NATURE ACCESSIBLEAll across Israel, particularly in the Galilee, LOTEM is bringing nature closer to people with special needs at its sites including JNF’s first inclusive park, Nahal HaShofet, and the ecological farm in Emek HaShalom.

• This year, LOTEM served close to 35,000 participants in its accessible hikes and educational nature activities around Israel.

• The organization saw approximately 1 million visitors to its inclusive trail in Nahal HaShofet.

• Thanks to Gloria Feldman of St. Louis, LOTEM’s ecological farm in Emek HaShalom saw huge developments, including the opening of its visitor center with training classes to better understand the obstacles that those with special needs face.

• The new baking center was dedicated, thanks to the Shear families of Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Palm Beach, and the groundbreaking of its Biblical Botanical Gardens, thanks to the

Gutmann family of New Jersey.• A new amphitheater and universally accessible

paths at Emek Hasholom were added.

SPECIAL IN UNIFORMSpecial in Uniform is an innovative program that aims to integrate youth with disabilities into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and assist in preparing them for careers following army service.

• 100 young people with special needs have been given the opportunity to learn valuable skills while serving in the IDF through Special in Uniform.

• In 2015, the Special in Uniform program opened at the Eilat Navy base to accommodate participants from the southern region.

800Kpeople with disabilities served

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FORESTRY & GREEN INNOVATIONSAs an innovator in ecological development and a pioneer in forest creation and fire prevention, JNF has planted more than 250 million trees all over Israel, providing luscious belts of green covering more than 250,000 acres, and protects these areas by battling approximately 1,000 forest fires every year.

EARTH’S PROMISEJNF partner Earth’s Promise/Shvuat ha-Adamah, based in Be’er Sheva, promotes urban agriculture and economic development. They also run community gardens in Ashkelon and Arad, with a goal to build local self-reliance so that the people of the Negev can satisfy their needs by using their skills and resources.

• Received scores of students and young professionals from Caravan for Democracy, Taglit-Birthright Israel–Shorashim: Ultimate Adventure with Israelis and JNF, and Alternative Break trips

to Israel to volunteer at their farms and gardens and take part in agricultural work in the fields.

• Established gardens at high schools in Bedouin villages to grow crops native to the Bedouin community, and worked at area schools to run mini-summer camps in the gardens to provide youth with an outlet during their break.

• Held a farm-to-table event with “MasterChef Israel” star Smadi Bomba, who opened a restaurant near Ben Gurion University and specializes in Moroccan and North African cuisine.

• Started a youth-at-risk program called “Young Farmers” to bring youth who owe community service to the courts and the State to complete their service performing agricultural work.

• In conjunction with JNF-USA, JNF-UK, and KKL, Earth’s Promise began work on an Urban Agricultural Park and Urban Food Forest to

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develop previously neglected public land and invite a variety of residents to participate in Urban Agricultural projects.

• Won the prestigious Ministry of Environment’s “Environmental Prize of the Negev.”

FRIENDS OF ISRAEL FIREFIGHTERS• JNF donors dedicated six new fire trucks and

$100,000 in equipment for Israel firefighters and sponsored 400 fire scouts throughout the year.

• A new fire station in Mitzpe Ramon, donated by Penny Rosen, is in construction and is expected to be dedicated in March 2016.

GAZELLE VALLEY PARK• Hailed by environmentalists because it protects

endangered mountain gazelles, Israel’s first urban nature reserve opened this year in Jerusalem. In recognition of Helen and David Goldyk(z”l) and a gift from their estate, a new observation lookout and educational center is being planned.

SOCIETY FOR PRESERVATION OF NATURE IN ISRAEL (SPNI)

• JNF partner SPNI kicked-off “Open Spaces Month” with free events for the public all around the country, and more than 8,000 people joined to

protect Israel’s limited open spaces and wildlife.• JNF supports long-term research and protection in

coral restoration and fish farming.

TIMNA PARK• Construction on the Chudnow Timna Park Visitor

Center in the Eilot region is complete with site work in progress.

250Mtrees have been planted by JNF since its founding, creating more than 250,000 acres of green space across Israel

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RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENTJNF sponsors a network of regional agricultural R&D stations across the country where leading scientists and technicians work closely with local farmers, research institutes, and universities to increase agricultural sustainability, profitability, and stability.

AICAT INTERNATIONAL CAMPUS• 1,000 students from Vietnam, Indonesia,

East Timor, Thailand, Nepal, Laos, Myanmar, Ethiopia, and South Sudan graduated from AICAT and have brought their knowledge and love of Israel back to their countries.

• The Joint Tel Aviv University-AICAT MSc program in Plant Biology, which focuses on food safety and plant protection, now serves 21 students from both Asia and Africa, including Vietnam, Myanmar, India, Nepal, Uganda, Zambia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

• The new Zevi Kahanov classroom accommodates 55 more students who need to learn in a new and inviting teaching space.

“Almost all my classmates from Nepal lost their homes in the earthquake. Because of JNF and AICAT, we’re getting the knowledge and experience we need to rebuild our country.”

— Binod Ghimire, an AICAT student from Nepal

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ARAVA INSTITUTE• In October, the Arava Institute and the Dead-

Sea & Arava Science Center held a joint public conference on Water for Human Use in the Arava Desert, including a lecture on desalination.

• The Institute’s Center for Transboundary Water Management (CTWM) was among the hosts of an international conference on Critical Issues in Water Policy and Technology in the 21st Century as a prelude to the Water, Technology and Environmental Control (WATEC) in Tel Aviv.

• The Institute unveiled the new Renewable Energy Workshop, established as a facility researching solar panels and more. The Renewable Energy Workshop was made possible by generous support from Robert and Carol Deutsch, Aaron Blynn, Daniel Dunn, and Amy Gordon.

• The Israel Ride, which took place from October 27 through November 3, raised over $600,000 for the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies and their partner, Hazon.

“I am proud of our partnership with JNF. Together we can ensure Israel remains a water superpower for the benefit of the region and the world.”

— Clive Lipchin, Phd, Director, Center for Transboundary Water Management

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WATER SOLUTIONSJNF has bolstered Israel’s water economy by developing alternative water sources, saving the economy millions, advancing Israeli agriculture, and improving water quality. JNF has built over 250 reservoirs, raising the amount of recycled water in Israel to over 85%, and today is focusing on river rehabilitation, education, water purification, and research and development. The JNF National Water Task Force had major accomplishments in 2015:

• To share Israel’s technological advancements and amazing accomplishments in water resources with the U.S., JNF has launched a series of Water Summits to discuss global water issues and Israel’s successes in water technology with Seth M. Siegel, author of Let There Be Water: Israel’s Solution for a Water-Starved World. Water Summits have already been held in Chicago, Boston, Austin, and San Diego and will be held in Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Albany,

Washington DC, New York, and Phoenix in 2016.• Project Wadi Attir, the groundbreaking initiative

of a Bedouin community in the Negev desert, that demonstrates an approach to sustainable desert agriculture leveraging Bedouin traditional values, know-how and experience with modern-day science and cutting edge technologies is in full gear. The project includes a Visitor, Training and Education Center with a focus on ecology, sustainability innovation, and entrepreneurship. The project site will be supported by an integrated infrastructure of green technologies, including a soil enhancement program; solar energy and bio-gas production; the production of compost from organic waste; advanced irrigation management; and wastewater treatment and recycling.

• In 2015, ongoing research using the impressive MYWAS (Multi-Year Water Allocation System) for Israel Project continued. MYWAS is a powerful

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economics tool that maximizes the benefits of water for the entire Israeli water sector. It provides guidance as to which projects should be built, in what order, at what time, and to what scale. It also helps track storage, aquifer management, water policies, and the costs to implement them.

• Ten more schools were added to the Rainwater Harvesting Program, and today there are collection systems in full operation in 36 schools throughout Israel with plans in place to integrate the program into 10 schools every year going forward. The system collects rain water from schools’ roofs and gutters using multiple pumps and directs it into giant containers. From there the water is streamed to the restrooms and gardens in the schools. This recycled water makes up 80% of the schools’ yearly water usage–approximately 26,420 gallons per year. Green Horizons, a JNF partner, is responsible for locating and installing the systems, as well as instructing the water patrol on operation and maintenance, and educating students on its importance.

• Research commenced on the restoration of the Besor-Hebron-Be’er Sheva Watershed, a trans-boundary project that includes areas of Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza and brings together parties from both Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

The next phase of this project is to install on-site wastewater treatment solutions for the Bedouin community of Um Batin in the watershed that lacks sewage infrastructure and currently discharges sewage into the watershed. The aim is to provide a quantitative reduction in the amount of sewage flowing within the Hebron and Be’er Sheva streams and to improve the environment and the quality of life of the residents.

300Mcubic meters of water added to Israel’s water supply each year because of JNF

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ZIONIST EDUCATION & ADVOCACYJNF is the single largest provider of Zionist engagement programs in the U.S. and offers myriad ways to connect young Americans to Israel. Its Israel education and advocacy programs that start in kindergarten and continue through college life engage, educate, and help students foster a greater connection and commitment to both the land and people of Israel.

• Over 200 college students joined JNF at the College Summit at National Conference in Chicago. Students from across the U.S. came together to show their support for Israel, learn about JNF, and engage with JNF donors, lay leaders, and advocates for Israel.

• The first cadre of 17 JNF Campus Fellows had a successful year representing JNF, advocating for Israel on their campuses, planning Positively Israel and Tu BiShvat programs, and recruiting teams for Alternative Break in Israel. Countering the rise

of anti-Israel activity on college campuses, JNF Campus Fellows are educating their communities and the program continues with 20 new fellows working on campuses this year.

• JNF’s Alexander Muss High School in Israel (AMHSI-JNF), the premier travel abroad program for high school students that combines a college-level curriculum with an enriching cultural immersion in Israel, saw many notable achievements in 2015: Five school sessions and 16 day school/community trips; 976 total students (a net increase of 49 from 2014); 16 day school and community partners (including three Australian); Students from Chile, Peru, France, Australia, New Zealand; Full renovation of dorms, admin building and new mini-dorm; First two Impact Fellowship programs (Arizona and Atlanta); Eight new hires: Head of School, four Directors of Admissions, National Director of Admissions, Israel Continuum

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Coordinator, Co-Executive Assistant; Israel Studies curriculum upgraded with Kenneth Stein, Professor and head of the Institute for the Study of Modern Israel at Emory University.

• Together with United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism, a pilot program for 10 synagogues from across the country was launched to engage synagogues in Israel education, promote travel to Israel, and to raise awareness and support the work of JNF in Israel. These synagogues held JNF Shabbats with guest speakers from JNF, recruited high school and college students for trips to Israel, and raised over $80,000.

• JNF’s first-ever Summer Camp Caravan brought Israel educational activities to 4,000 campers at summer camps in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and New York. The summer caravan was developed in conjunction with JNF’s partners KKL, Green Horizons, and AMHSI-JNF.

• JNF B’nai Mitzvah Projects have been taking place with much creativity around the country. To highlight a few, Hannah Slavsky raised $3,400 for Adopt an Israeli Firefighter; Michael Comisky of Philadelphia held a Baseball Bonanza which included skills competitions, lunch, prizes, and a Silent Auction to raise $6,900 for Project Baseball; and Peri and Alana from Closter, NJ created Play for Peace and raised $3,900 for the JNF Sderot Indoor Recreation Center.

• 120 college students participated in Alternative Break trips, raising $200,000 for the projects they worked on in Northern and Southern Israel.

• JNF sent 1,200 young adults to Israel for a free 10-

day trip on Taglit-Birthright Israel with Shorashim.• 32 elite college students participated in JNF’s third

Caravan “Common Ground” Student Leadership Mission to Israel, a highly-selective 10-day program for top student leaders of all faiths who have never visited Israel. Sponsored by Joan and Sam Ginsburg and the Milton and Beatrice Shapiro JNF Scholarship Fund, this important educational experience includes touring; meeting political, cultural, and community leaders; and exploring Israel’s diverse democracy.

• In the spring, 15 academics from colleges and universities around the U.S. participated in the sixth annual Faculty Fellowship Summer Institute in Israel, supported by Monroe and Peggy Wingate. Sponsored by JNF, the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Media Watch International, the program links scholars from diverse disciplines with their Israeli counterparts to change the conversation about Israel once they return to their campuses. Over 60 fellows have participated in the program since its inception.

• Through the Positively Israel campaign, JNF raised awareness on 90 college campuses this year about how Israel is making the world a better place. Speakers included Gideon Meir, Former Israeli Ambassador to Italy; Ari Sprung, developer of the Red Alert App; Jonathan Adelman, Asian/Israel relations expert; and Ido Aharoni, Israeli Consul General to the U.S. Other campuses screened movies or held Israel Innovations Fairs.

• JNF engaged 400 elementary schools and 50 college campuses with JNF Tu BiShvat programs.

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AFFINITY GROUPS & SOCIETIES• JNFuture, JNF’s young professional group ages

23-40, had an amazing year. It now has over 600 members in more than 15 chapters across the U.S.

• This summer, 28 JNFuture members attended the annual JNFuture Leadership Institute Mission in Israel (JLIM), making it the largest JLIM ever.

• More than 100 JNFuture members attended JNF’s National Conference in Chicago.

• 33 people participated in the first JNFuture volunteer trip this winter in the Negev.

• JNF’s Lawyers for Israel (LFI) has grown to over 500 members in 30 states. JNF is working hard to provide CLE credits at many of its programs, an important aspect to growing LFI.

• LFI held its first-ever Law and Justice Tour to Israel in November. There were 31 participants from across the country who joined JNF for an unforgettable five-day tour of Israel. A mix of law enforcement, judges, and lawyers participated.

The trip incorporated visits to JNF partners and projects, as well as a jam-packed schedule of law-related speakers and site visits. The next Law and Justice tour will be in February 2016.

• In 2015, JNF’s Women for Israel (WFI) group saw the highest number of women joining the Sapphire Society, numbering approximately 550. JNF also recorded the largest amount of members of the Chai Society, with nearly 300. The next Queen of Sheba Mission for women will be in November 2016.

• JNF’s Doctors for Israel (DFI) has grown to over 450 members in 25 states. This year, DFI offered a number of exciting programs, ranging from a fascinating look at the developing field of allergies and how Israel is playing a huge role in the sector. We are very excited to be offering a second DFI trip to Israel in February 2016.

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PLANNED GIVING• Planned Giving is an integral part of the JNF

campaign. In total, planned giving investments for fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, JNF bequest income was over $67.2 million, and gift annuity income was $4.9 million.

• In 2015, JNF created a significant endowment fund for the sole purpose of Israel Advocacy and Education. The JNF Boruchin Israel Education and Advocacy Center was seeded with $100 million dollars from the estate of John and Dora Boruchin from California. Its purpose is to fight the disinformation about Israel and create programs and partnerships for Positively Israel. This fund has been heralded as a significant step in fighting the anti-Israel movement and anti-Semitism.

• JNF Planned Giving professionals engaged with donors in serious and sophisticated gift planning to yield extraordinary results. Through JNF’s

Planned Giving opportunities, JNF offers donors numerous options and techniques that can help increase their income, save taxes, and in some cases provide for heirs, while also providing significant support for the land and people of Israel and JNF. The most popular investments donors make include Charitable Remainder Trusts, Donor Advised Funds, Endowment Funds, and Gift Planning with IRAs and other retirement plans.

JEWISH NATIONAL FUND gives all generations of Jews a unique voice in

building a prosperous future for the land of Israel and its people.

JEWISH NATIONAL FUND (JNF) began in 1901 as a dream and vision to reestablish a

homeland in Israel for Jewish people everywhere. Jews the world over collected coins in

iconic JNF Blue Boxes, purchasing land and planting trees until ultimately, their dream

of a Jewish homeland was a reality. Today, JNF continues to give all generations a

unique voice in building and ensuring the prosperity of the land of Israel through their

generosity and partnership with the people of Israel.

JNF is registered as a 501(c)(3) charity that prides itself on its financial accountability,

transparency policies, and that its contributions are donor-designated to specific

projects and program areas in Israel. JNF consistently receives high marks from third-

party monitoring agencies such as Charity Navigator and Charity Watch; it also meets

all standards of the Better Business Bureau. Once again JNF is proud to announce

that it received an overall 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, the highest ranking

achievable under its rating system.

jnf.org • 800.JNF.0099

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