Kiryat Shmona, Israel: January 14, 2025 – In response to the profound challenges facing Northern Israel, Jewish National Fund-USA is spearheading efforts to rehabilitate and rebuild communities devastated over the past year. On Monday, January 6, 2025, the organization held a pivotal conference at the Cultural Hall in Kiryat Shmona, where it focussed on uniting local leaders and creating mission-driven communities to forge a more resilient future for the region.
Talia Tzour Avner, Chief Israel Officer at Jewish National Fund-USA, emphasized the importance of the moment: "The profound crisis that has affected Northern Israel's communities in the past year presents us with a historic challenge – not merely to physically rehabilitate these communities, but to lead a deep process of renewed community building. We stand at a pivotal moment to reshape the social-community fabric that will guide the North for decades to come."
The conference agenda included panel discussions on the challenges local authorities face in rebuilding efforts, breakout workgroups addressing critical areas like education, community resilience, and settlement, as well as recognition of mission-driven communities for their extraordinary contributions over the past year.
"Jewish National Fund-USA has always believed that a community's true resilience is measured by its ability to face challenges, unite around a shared vision, and emerge stronger from crisis," Tzour Avner added. "This is the defining moment for mission-driven communities, which have proven to be vital social and moral anchors. We must harness their experience and knowledge to create an innovative model of community life in the North – one that integrates social commitment, economic resilience, and community strength."
The event brought together local authorities, representatives from task-oriented groups, and civil society organizations to discuss comprehensive strategies for addressing the multifaceted challenges in Northern Israel. These include strengthening education and cultural systems, fostering economic growth, and creating support frameworks tailored to the evolving needs of the region’s residents.
The conference also highlighted Jewish National Fund-USA's "Circle of Impact," a concept that emphasizes the interconnected and broader impact each of the organization's projects has on uplifting the entire land and people of Israel.
For more information, visit jnf.org/supportisrael
