Jewish National Fund

The Jewish National Fund carries out project in Israel's the areas of forestry and ecology, water, security, community development, education and tourism.

Its website states, "Over the past century, the JNF family has planted over 240 million trees, built over 180 dams and reservoirs, developed over 250,000 acres of land, created more than 1,000 parks throughout Israel and educated students around the world about Israel and the environment.  Through the support of donors around the world, the JNF family was able to ensure that Israel was the only nation in the world to end the 20th century with more trees than it had at the beginning. In addition, over the past decade, JNF has increased its water resources to furnish water to more than 1.2 million Israelis.

"As a global environmental leader focusing on Israel, JNF is committed to the United Nations Millenium Developmental Goals of 2015 and its partnerships with Israel’s neighbors, improving the quality of life for all who live in the Middle East."

Jewish National Fund: Trustees

Executive Committee

 * President - Stanley M. Chesley
 * Chairman of the Board - Ronald S. Lauder
 * First Vice President - Leonard L. Kleinman, Esq.

Vice Presidents
 * Education - Robert B. Levine
 * Administration - Alan Dabrow
 * Zone/Regional Operations - Heidi Damsky
 * Government Relations - Joseph Hess
 * Marketing - Michael Jacobson
 * Campaign - Bud Levin
 * Israel Relations - W. James Schiller
 * Community Relations - Stephen Wolnek
 * Secretary - Isaac Blachor, Esq.
 * Assistant Secretary - Scott Gendell
 * Treasurer - Arthur Silber
 * Audit - Stephen Hochberg
 * College Activists - Sol Lizerbram
 * Investments - Michael J. Wechsler
 * Los Angeles Zone - David Frank
 * New York Zone - Jerry Berko

Ex-Officio
 * Terry Katz
 * Toby Mower
 * Rita H. Salfeld

Executive Officers

 * Russell F. Robinson
 * Harold Cohen
 * Mitchel Rosenzweig
 * Avinoam Binder
 * Yael Septee Kane
 * Rick Krosnick
 * Matt Bernstein
 * Rabbi Eric M. Lankin, D.Min.

Makor
"Makor (Hebrew for “source”) is a specially-trained cadre of highly-involved Jewish National Fund volunteers. We are proud leaders who are committed to the mission of the JNF, the caretaker of the land of Israel forever."
 * Charles S. Fax - Chair
 * Joel L. Leibowitz - Director
 * Ira Bartfield
 * Robert M. Benedon
 * Bernard (Bernie) Borine
 * Karen T. Cohen
 * Renee Fields
 * Rebecca H. Fischer
 * Larry Frankel
 * David Goodtree
 * Jerome K. Grossman
 * Edgar Jay House
 * Eugene Kay
 * Marc Kelman
 * Michael G. Lederman
 * Marc Leibowitz
 * David J. Margules
 * Mark Scheinfeld
 * Geri Shatz
 * Richard K. Shelter
 * Evelyn Galman Spritz
 * Melinda Wolf
 * Joseph Wolfson

World Chairman's Council
"The World Chairman's Council of Jewish National Fund is reserved for a select group of people who have demonstrated an enduring commitment to Israel and JNF. Your lifetime contribution of $1 million and above allows you to enjoy privleges reserved only for World Chairman's Council members and enables JNF to keep our promise to Israel-a promise we made more than a century ago.
 * Steven Ballmer and Connie Ballmer Seattle, WA
 * Ervin R. and Susanne Bard Los Angeles, CA
 * Jerome and Maxine Belson New York, NY
 * Jack* and Minnie Bennett Culver City, CA
 * Edward Blank New York, NY
 * Neri Bloomfield Montreal, QC
 * Daniel D. Cantor Tamarac, FL
 * Brian and Sarah Chisick Orange County, CA
 * Avrum* and Anita Chudnow Milwaukee, WI
 * Jack* and Bernice* Coleman Tarzana, CA
 * Leslie & Anna Dan Toronto, ON
 * Ben & Esther* Dayson Vancouver, BC
 * Samuel Delug Beverly Hills, CA
 * Sigmond and Helene Diamond Santa Monica, CA
 * Jarvis and Connie Doctorow Riverdale, NY
 * Alexander & Ruth Dworkin Montreal, QC
 * Rafael Feferman Forest Hills, NY
 * Monte Frankel* San Francisco, CA
 * Melvin Garb Foundation San Diego, CA
 * Gilbert and Harriett Gertner Houston, TX
 * Sam* and Anita Gordon Lafayette, CO
 * Eleanor Gorman Encino, CA
 * Laureine and David Greenbaum New York, NY
 * Alex & Genia Grossman Toronto, ON
 * David Gursky Los Angeles, CA
 * Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America New York, NY
 * Daniel Kahan Tulsa, OK
 * Frances Lee Kaufman Belmont, CA
 * Ronald and Jo Carole Lauder New York, NY
 * Joseph Lebovic Toronto, ON
 * Wolf Lebovic Toronto, ON
 * Sam Maslansky West Orange, NJ
 * Theodore* and Laura Moskowite San Jose, CA
 * Dr. Morton and Toby Mower Baltimore, MD
 * Henry* and Margaret Munzika-Shweid San Francisco, CA
 * Stephen and Sandra Muss Miami Beach, FL
 * Victor and Jane Ottenstein San Diego, CA
 * Todd and Yadira Patkin Foxboro, MA
 * Jim & Mary Pattison Vancouver, BC
 * Sara and Menachem Pressler Bloomington, IN
 * Rieger Foundation Santa Barbara, CA
 * Helen Roller* Miami, FL
 * Steve and Beverly Rubenstein New Vernon, NJ
 * Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Columbus, OH
 * The Selevan Family Jacksonville, FL
 * John T. Sereny* Toronto, ON
 * Sam & Helene Soref Foundation (Stephen and Sandra Breslauer) Houston, TX
 * Maurice Surlow* Milwaukee, WI
 * Daniel* and Evelyn Tabas Philadelphia, PA
 * Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Baltimore, MD
 * Bronka Stavsky Rabinweintraub Trust New York, NY
 * Ernest and Magda Willinger Scottsdale, AZ
 * Monroe and Peggy Patrick Wingate Sonoma, CA

Criticism

 * Sylvia Schwarz, "How Green Is the Jewish National Fund?", MRZine, May 29, 2011.
 * Yves Engler, "Nothing Charitable About JNF: The Lands of the Jewish National Fund", Counterpunch, Weekend Edition April 26-28, 2013.

Contact

 * Web: http://www.jnf.org

Related Sourcewatch

 * Green Zionist Alliance
 * Brigitte Gabriel
 * Ari Fleischer
 * Sidney L. Shipton
 * Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael
 * Baroness Deech
 * Food and Trees for Africa