Jewish National Fund i n R eview JNF 2011 Year (JNF) Year in Review 2011 Highlights and Accomplishments

Blueprint

Over the past year, much progress has been made in JNF’s Blueprint Negev campaign, a far-reaching and visionary plan to transform the Negev Desert—which represents 60% of ’s land mass but houses only 8% of its population—into an attractive place for a new generation of Israelis to call home. New communities are offering an alternative to Israel’s crowded and expensive center, while existing Negev cities that have suffered for decades from high unemployment and stagnant population growth are being revitalized.

New Negev Communities

• The new communities of the Halutza region, founded in 2005 by Gush Katif evacuees, are developing at an incredible pace with JNF’s assistance. Located in a remote corner of the northwest Negev, Halutza was nothing but barren sand dunes just a short time ago. Today, more than 200 families live in Halutza’s first two towns, Naveh and Bnei Netzarim, and a third town, Shlomit, will soon be established. In 2011:

• A new beit midrash (house of study) and kindergarten were built in Naveh, funded by JNF through the generosity of Sheldon and Freda Robinson and Sheryl and Ernest Elias, respectively. The kindergarten will soon welcome 50 children and the beit midrash will provide a space for learning in the community.

• A central park was completed in Naveh, donated by Sol Siegal The new beit midrash in Naveh and the Cleveland community.

• Plans were formulated for a park and playground in Bnei Netzarim, adopted by donors from Boston and Albany.

• The new community of Carmit in the northern Negev is developing rapidly. Groundwork is underway on the first 260 housing sites, and construction on a synagogue funded by Robert and Shirley Levitt is nearing completion. Carmit has been designed to attract a diverse population—new immigrants and native Israelis, religious and secular—to strengthen the economic and social fabric of the Negev and create a progressive community. After its final phase of development, Carmit will be home to 2,500 families. An aerial view of Carmit under construction • The JNF-funded section of Wingate Park, a 15-acre park in the center of the Givot Bar, was completed.

• Ground was broken on the Merchav Am community center, funded by Andy and Jayne Klein, the Ben and Esther Rosenbloom Foundation, the Harry and Harriet Grandis Family Foundation, and the estates of Frank and Zelda B. Silverman.

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• A new kindergarten opened its doors in Zuqim, funded by JNF’s Sapphire Society.

Development Towns

• Construction began on a professional skate park in Arad, where there are Children outside of Zuqim’s new kindergarten few recreational activities available for young people. Skateboarding has en- joyed a surge in popularity among Israeli youth over the last decade, and after repeated appeals by local teens, Arad’s Artist’s rendering of skate park in Arad leadership decided to establish a skate park similar to those recently built in nearby and . The park, which will be completed soon, is still available for naming. Central Arava

• JNF donated funds to purchase a new 4x4 rescue vehicle and command cart for the Arava Rescue Unit, a civilian volunteer group that provides emergency response in the Central Arava. Volunteers previously relied on a 12-year-old pickup truck to access emergency sites deep within the desert; the new vehicle is specially designed to traverse unmarked roads and obstructed terrain.

• JNF began the detailed planning phase for the Central Arava Medical Center, a state-of-the-art facility that will bring the medical services of this peripheral region (whose closest hospital is 90 minutes away) up to par with those of Israel’s population centers. The medical center is being supported by a lead gift from the estate of Danielle A. Grossman and Irving J. Grossman as well as through the vision and Ezra Ravins, mayor of the Central generosity of Barbara Sommer and Alan Fisher. JNF has established Arava Regional Council, at the site a task force, comprised of lay leaders from around the country, to of the new medical center explore the various needs of the Central Arava and determine the most effective ways to provide assistance.

Collaboration with the Bedouin community of the Negev

• After four years of intensive planning, a groundbreaking ceremony was held in December for Project Wadi Attir, an initiative of a Bedouin community in the Negev to establish a sustainable desert farming operation integrating social, environmental, technological and economic considerations. It is designed to leverage traditional Bedouin values, aspirations, and experience with sustainability principles, modern-day science and cutting-edge technologies. The project showcases a breakthrough model of sustainability practices in an arid environment, replicable locally as well as in other regions. JNF’s support of Project Wadi Attir—a joint initiative of the Bedouin municipality of and the Sustainability Laboratory—is part of the Blueprint Negev campaign to improve quality of life for all of the Negev’s residents and transform the region into a strong, prosperous part of Israel. JNF has set a $3 million fundraising goal for Project Wadi Attir, and we has received a commitment for a $500,000 matching grant. Harvey Hertz and JNF CEO Russell F. Robinson dedicate the new ceremonial Tourism and Recreation tree planting center at Neot Kedumim • Thanks to a generous donation from Harvey Hertz of St. Pete Beach, FL, JNF inaugurated the Harvey Hertz Ceremonial Tree Planting Center at Neot Kedumim, the world’s only biblical landscape reserve. Located just 10 minutes from Ben-Gurion Airport and 20 minutes from Jerusalem, the center offers

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visitors to Israel the opportunity to plant saplings that will later be transferred to sites throughout the country. Planters receive a special tree planter’s prayer and a commemorative certificate mailed to their homes.

• Paradiso Arava moved from the drawing board to the construction phase in 2011 and is now nearing completion. The five-acre tourist complex at the entrance to Yahel—made possible by a lead gift from Jack Freeman of Orlando, FL—will include restaurants, shops, a farmer’s market with local produce, and a park with a small lake. The complex, located just off of the main highway, will attract travelers driving to and from Eilat. It will create jobs for kibbutz Paradiso Arava under construction members and local residents and have a major impact on the Arava’s economy.

• Detailed planning began for the Chudnow Visitor Center at the entrance to Timna Park. The new center will enhance the visitor experience and increase attendance at this scenic red rock valley in the Arava Desert, home to ancient copper mines and stunning geological formations. With the support of the Chudnow family, JNF has played a significant role in transforming Timna into a major tourist attraction, with a man- made lake, interactive museum, and a variety of educational Timna Park and recreational activities. The visitor center is the next step in this process.

• JNF unveiled 11 bicycle trails around the southern Arava.

Operation Carmel Renewal

When tragedy struck the Carmel region in December 2010, JNF donors responded immediately and generously. In the year following the devastating Carmel forest fire, the worst natural disaster in Israeli history, JNF’s Operation Carmel Renewal (OCR) raised more than $7.5 million to rehabilitate the burnt landscape of the Carmel, purchase new firefighting equipment and trucks, and re-green affected communities. Wildflowers emerge from the • Foresters have spent the past year clearing burnt vegetation, Carmel’s burnt soil rehabilitating surviving trees, and working to prevent soil erosion in the Carmel forest. New foliage and wildflowers have begun to emerge against the backdrop of burnt trees, but even with these early signs of life, true restoration of the Carmel will take many years. As the ecosystem gradually rehabilitates itself, foresters are closely monitoring and managing the natural regeneration process, intervening when necessary to promote biodiversity and forest health. In addition to thinning areas of dense regrowth, they will eventually plant native trees in recreation spots and where natural regeneration fails to occur.

• As the U.S. fundraising arm of Friends of Israel Firefighters, JNF provides Israel’s Fire and Rescue Services with new safety equipment, firefighting supplies, and trucks. Since the Carmel fire, JNF donors have purchased 25 new fire trucks and $1.5 million worth of firefighting gear. Contributions to OCR are also being used to support the firefighting activities of JNF foresters, purchase special forest fire trucks, and install early detection systems and fire hydrants in the Carmel forest. A JNF-donated fire truck

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• JNF is creating buffer zones between the Carmel forest and surrounding residential communities to help slow the spread of future fires, as well as improving forest access roads that allow fire trucks to reach the forest and are used to evacuate residents in emergencies. In addition, plans are being developed for parks and green spaces in communities that were affected by the fire, including theYemin Orde Youth Village, the Druze village of Ussifiya, and the Ein Hod artist’s colony.

• Plans are being developed to create hiking trails, scenic roads, picnic areas, and recreation sites to replace those destroyed by the fire. In addition, a lodging complex in the forest for hikers and volunteers is on the drawing board.

Israel Advocacy and Education

• Three hundred twenty 18-30-year-olds volunteered in Israel on JNF’s Alternative Winter and Spring Break trips. To be eligible, participants must raise at least $1,100 in support of either Blueprint Negev or Operation Carmel Renewal using an online fundraising tool to reach out to family and friends. The trip is then subsidized by JNF donors. In total, participants raised $400,000. Alternative Break participants volunteer at a soup kitchen • Four hundred twenty-nine students funded their trips to Israel through JNF’s Plant Your Way to Israel program. Participants raise money for JNF’s forestry projects, and half of each donation (minimum of $36) goes to JNF while the other half is placed in a special account. After raising a minimum of $360, participants can redeem their money for any trip to Israel. This year the program brought in $210,000.

Support for People with Special Needs

• JNF continued its support of Lotem Integrated Nature Studies, which brings people with special needs closer to nature.

• JNF continued to fund scholarships to the Red Mountain Therapeutic Riding Center at Kibbutz Grofit.

• The central family garden was dedicated at Aleh Negev, a state-of-the-art rehabilitative village that offers unparalleled medical care and vocational training to people with severe disabilities. The garden, a tranquil and inviting place for residents to spend time with visiting family members, includes water and musical elements and a variety of plants and flowers Therapeutic horseback riding at Kibbutz Grofit to optimize sensory stimulation. JNF continued to sponsor innovative programs and treatments at Aleh Negev to help residents realize their potential for communication and development.

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