Jewish National Fund held its first annual Community Breakfast for Israel on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Young Israel of Fort Lee, NJ. This inaugural event was attended by an excited group of Israel supporters who raised an impressive $12,000 towards the tremendous work of JNF.
Special guest speaker for the event was Israel Defense Forces Major General (Res.) Doron Almog, the founder and chairman of Aleh Negev-Nahalat Eran, a rehabilitative village in Israel’s Negev desert that provides services to the country’s most severe special needs population. General Almog captivated the audience with his address about the personal connection he has to this remarkable place.
Aleh Negev was renamed to Aleh Negev-Nahalat Eran after the passing of General Almog’s son, Eran, who was born with severe autism and developmental disabilities, and was the first resident in this special community, living there until he passed away in 2007 at the age of 23. Designed specifically for the needs of people with cognitive and physical impairments over the age of 21, Aleh Negev and its multi-faceted departments empower residents and outpatients to develop a greater degree of independence and become productive members of Israeli society. General Almog said he learned a valuable lesson from his son that fuels his current work: society is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable members.
“It was an honor for my congregation to host Jewish National Fund and General Almog during such a captivating and moving event,” said Rabbi Zev Goldberg. “General Almog’s story was inspirational and the work he does on behalf of the special needs population in Israel is extraordinary. Young Israel of Fort Lee looks forward to continuing our support of Aleh Negev.”
JNF is dedicated to ensuring that no member of Israeli society is left behind, and is proud to partner with Aleh Negev. As a part of its $1 Billion Roadmap for the Next Decade, JNF is committed to raising $50 million for disabilities and special needs programs. To learn more about JNF’s work, visit jnf.org.
By Marina Brodetsky
