Women for Israel
Immediately after October 7, Jewish National Fund-USA sprang into action by helping tens of thousands of Israelis evacuate their communities along the border with Gaza (the Israel Envelope) as well as from the southern city of Sderot.
“We knew them, and they knew us,” Jewish National Fund-USA CEO Russell F. Robinson said of the evacuees in the south. “We have been working with them for decades, building up the region, creating beautiful lives. They have become family to us, to our partners, and to people like Betsy Fischer.”
Fischer, Chair of Jewish National Fund-USA’s Rebuild the Envelope Task Force, recently made a new $1 million gift with her husband Peter to accelerate efforts to rebuild southern Israel. The family’s gift will fund a new regional sports complex that will include soccer, lacrosse, and track and field facilities, will host large events for the community, and be a place that everyone can take pride in.
“We need to do what we can to help the area’s residents heal and stand resilient,” she said. “That is more important to the community there than ever before.”
According to Robinson, Betsy arrived at his office nine years ago, having just completed her term as Jewish National Fund-USA’s South Jersey Board president. She sat down and declared, “I want to do something that will make a real difference.”
Robinson informed her of the need to build a task force, which would entail visiting the Israel Envelope, studying the needs there, conferring with the residents, coming up with recommendations, and fundraising to meet the needs.
“Anyone else would have turned away and run,” recalled Robinson, “and yet Betsy was on the ground within a week. She puts in her money, she puts in her heart, she puts in her advocacy, her career, her passion. To be emotionally and strategically involved and engaged…That’s leadership.”
The task force formed by Fischer began by studying how to impact population growth in Sderot and the region. After October 7, it is now focused on rebuilding and revitalizing the entire Israel Envelope.
“We joke that when a person sneezes there, someone in our task force says, ‘G-d bless you,’” Betsy quipped. “That’s how close we all are.”
With various non-profit organizations stepping up for Israel at this moment, Betsy says that Jewish National Fund-USA sets itself apart by “allowing partners to be exceptionally hands-on in supporting Israel.” This is evident in projects like its GrooveTech in Israel’s southern Eshkol region, inspired by the Groove Lounge, a local business that Betsy owned in New Jersey. GrooveTech is a state-of-the-art, indoor experiential and innovative learning center providing a welcoming space where kids can thrive during and after school hours. The center’s two stories house virtual reality rooms, a planetarium, science and robotics spaces, art workshops, a master chef kitchen, a vertical farm, and general social and gathering spots.
“From conception to construction to completion, we’re there,” Betsy said, noting that her task force members have had the opportunity to hang mezuzahs on the doors at facilities built by their efforts.
Robinson largely credits individuals like Betsy with investing the time and effort it takes to build relationships. According to Robinson, “I have always felt the optimism of tomorrow because of the people who are doing something – because of the Betsy Fischers.”
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