Jewish National Fund (JNF) hosted its first annual Women for Israel (WFI) event in Northern New Jersey. The powerful evening, co-chaired by Jenna Gutmann and Debbie Rogoff, and aptly titled “The Power of Women,” was held on May 30, at RAIN in Teaneck. Guests were treated to heartfelt remarks from special guest relationship expert, TV personality and author Siggy Flicker.
Flicker was passionate and honest in her remarks, and spoke about her recent trip to Israel and her experiences in the Jewish homeland. Touching on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and the threats Israel faces on a daily basis, Flicker emphasized the work Jewish National Fund is doing to ensure a secure and prosperous future for the state of Israel. “JNF is everywhere, ensuring that Israel is strong and vibrant. From college campuses to the streets of Be’er Sheva that they helped pave, the work of this wonderful organization is second to none and I am so grateful to be here experiencing the energy of Jewish National Fund for myself.”
Event co-chair Debbi Rogoff took the stage, addressing the women about the power of their attendance and the impact of Jewish National Fund’s work. “It’s remarkable to see such a strong show of support at our annual women’s event! It’s fitting that in 2013, women contributed a little more than $11 million to our annual campaign. In just five short years, that number has ballooned to more than $24 million…an incredible 118% increase! And today you have contributed to that figure.”
Attendees of the event also heard about the tremendous work being done by Jewish National Fund on the ground daily in Israel, as well as the vision its leadership has for the future. JNF provides a unique voice in building a prosperous and secure future for the land and people of Israel. JNF strives to bring an enhanced quality of life to all of Israel’s citizens and translate these advancements to the world beyond. JNF is “greening” the desert with millions of trees, building thousands of parks across Israel, creating new communities and cities for generations of Israelis to call home, bolstering Israel’s water supply and helping develop innovative arid agriculture techniques, ensuring that no citizen is left behind by making parks and public spaces inclusive for people with disabilities and special needs and educating both young and old about the founding and importance of Israel and Zionism.
“We are so proud of the breadth and depth of our work. With our strong leadership, we hope to continue making a difference and growing our Women for Israel division in Northern New Jersey and Rockland County, so that our Jewish homeland will continue to blossom, and lives will continue to flourish,” added Northern New Jersey Director Jacqueline Yehudiel.
May was Jewish National Fund’s Women’s Month and all gifts to the Women for Israel campaign were matched, up to $1 million, thanks to Shelly Shor Gerson and Lynne Merriam.
To learn more about Jewish National Fund and how it strives to bring an enhanced quality of life to all of Israel’s citizens, contact Jacqueline Yehudiel, northern New Jersey director, at 973-593-0095, x823 or [email protected].
By Marina Brodetsky
