(Courtesy of JNF) Recently, nearly 450 tri-state community members ages 22-40 united at the Central Park Zoo for Jewish National Fund-USA’s 15th annual JNFuture “Shabbat in the Park.”
One of the largest philanthropic events for pro-Israel young professionals in the northeast, the event gave young philanthropists the opportunity to unite in solidarity with the people of Israel while learning about how the organization is supporting Israel’s resilience and rebuilding efforts in the wake of the October 7 terrorist attacks.
Co-chaired by Sierra Stone and Alex Szikla and featuring a delicious Shabbat dinner and a special sea lion show, the event was also attended by members of a delegation from Kibbutz Be’eri, which lost one-in-10 people during the October 7 massacre. The kibbutz members have been traveling throughout the United States and Canada to raise awareness about the realities on the ground in Israel. Jewish National Fund-USA has raised nearly $2.2 million to support Kibbutz Be’eri’s community and infrastructure rehabilitation.
Additionally, local lay leaders discussed Jewish National Fund-USA’s Israel Resilience Campaign, which has raised $60 million since October 7, 2023, supporting the evacuation and relocation of tens of thousands of residents in Israel’s south while providing thousands more with housing, food, clothing, and other supplies. The campaign includes the organization’s Build Together plan, a bold, strategic initiative to rebuild the Israel Envelope communities—cleaning up the region, designing and constructing new homes, and helping small businesses reopen, all while supporting the immediate and long-term security needs, physical and mental health requirements, and resilience efforts to create a welcoming environment for evacuees to return home.
“I am deeply inspired by the work of Jewish National Fund-USA and our collective strength,” added Event Co-chair Sierra Stone. “The Jewish People have faced adversity throughout history, but our spirit and resilience have always shone through. We are a testament to the enduring power of our heritage, and we celebrate that unity and strength.”
Attendees were also invited to attend Jewish National Fund-USA’s Global Conference for Israel in Dallas this fall, taking place from Thursday, November 14 to Sunday, November 17 (jnf.org/gc).
Jewish National Fund-USA’s fastest-growing demographic, JNFuture is the organization’s community of young professionals ages 22-40. To learn more visit jnf.org/jnfuture.
To support the residents of Kibbutz Be’eri, visit jnf.org/beeri. For more information about Jewish National Fund-USA or to learn about upcoming events in New York, visit jnf.org or contact Sophie Rubin at [email protected] or 212.879.9305 x504.
