JNF is Making a Difference in the Lives of Countless Israelis

This year’s theme for the Annual Campaign (formerly known as the Tu Bi’Shevat Campaign) is Restore and Remember. The campaign launch coincides with International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the holiday of Tu Bi’Shevat (New Year for Trees).

By supporting the Annual Campaign, you will help Holocaust survivors cope during their golden years and aid in restoring the Plugot forest with “bee puller” trees to attract these vital insects to the ecosystem. In addition, JNF Future, our young professionals division, is raising funds to dedicate a room in the Children’s wing of the new Glassman PTSD Centre in Jerusalem.

This year we are also offering a new opportunity to help Israel through monthly giving. Your monthly gift will allow JNF to lower our administrative costs so more funds are directed to Israel and provide more time for JNF volunteers to reach out to new donors.

To commemorate Tu Bi’Shevat, all donors that increase their gift by a minimum of $54, or become monthly donors of $10 or more, will receive a Taste of Israel package* and access to an online Taste of Israel program. In addition, monthly donors will receive a package of 6 Tree cards for their use.

Please give generously and help us Build Israel Together.

*Only donations received by January 29th are eligible to receive the Taste of Israel package.

Help Holocaust Survivors Cope During Their Golden Years

Many of the nearly 200,000 Holocaust survivors living in Israel today were children during WW2, children who suffered an unimaginable tragedy. After the war, they made every effort to rebuild their shattered lives, but not all succeeded. Many continue to struggle with their traumatic pasts. Over the past years, the number of survivors requesting support continues to grow. As the survivors age and face additional challenges their needs’ grow and their support network becomes more limited.

With your help, JNF will renovate Amcha’s Centre in Rehovot servicing Survivors with psychological and social support. This centre has become dilapidated and is unsuitable for many activities. This centre will provide a rich array of programs, that after a year of isolation due to the pandemic, have become more important than ever. Now is the time to help us honour these brave Jewish heroes and ensure their final chapters are filled with support and happiness.

Plant Trees to Attract the Bees in the Plugot Forest

This Tu Bishat, we invite you to participate in our most time-honoured tradition and help us renew the arson-balloon damaged Plugot Forest with new, “bee-puller” trees to increase the bee populations by attracting other bees to the area. Bees are central to the functioning of our entire ecosystem by fertilizing which produce 90% of the world’s food.
Located in the Northern Negev close to the city of Kiryat Gat, the Plugot Forest holds great significance in Israeli history as the site of one of the great battles during the War of Independence and includes many other heritage sites and is a wonderful recreational spot for families to spend quality time immersed in nature.

This year, plant some trees to attract the bees!

JNF Future Supports Children’s Mental Health

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an issue many Israelis live with daily, especially children. JNF Canada will be dedicating the Dr. Max z”l and Gianna Glassman PTSD and Health Centre in April 2021. This building will bring several departments of the Herzog Medical Centre that are scattered around Jerusalem under one roof.

JNF Future, JNF’s young professionals division (under age 40), has committed to raise $50,000 to dedicate a room in the Children’s Clinic and have launched the new JNF Future Ambassadors Program encouraging support for Israel by contributing on a monthly basis. To learn more click here.

A Tast of Israel in Honour of Tu Bi’Shevat

In honour of Tu Bi’Shevat this January, we welcome you to join us in celebrating the Land of Israel with our Taste of Israel Package*, including almonds, dried apricots, dried pineapple and raisins.

Increasing your gift for our Annual Campaign by $54, or opting-in to our Monthly Giving Program, you will be eligible to receive this package.
Together we will celebrate the fruits of Israel, learn about the Tu Bi’Shevat seder, and celebrate during a Canada-wide Zoom program on February 7th at 2:00 p.m.

*Packages from Kosher Food Warehouse Kosher Food Warehouse

What is Tu Bi’Shevat?

Tu Bi’Shevat, also known as ‘Rosh HaShanah La’Ilanot’, is the ‘New Year’ for the trees. The word Tu is literally the sound of the Hebrew letters that make up the date of the festival, which falls on the 15th of the month of Shevat.

This festival marks the beginning of the new season, or fruit-bearing cycle, for the earliest-blooming trees in Israel. Tu Bi’Shevat is traditionally celebrated with fruits from the land of Israel, and dedicated to the study, appreciation and remembering our connection to the environment.

Celebrations of Tu Bi’Shevat include donating money to plant trees in Israel, or locally, as well as continuing the tradition of the Tu Bi’Shevat seder.

A Tu Bi’Shevat seder is similar to the traditional Passover seder, with 4 cups of wine or grape juice and enjoyment of fruits from the trees, specifically native to Israel. The Taste of Israel Package includes some of the traditional fruits that one would consume during the seder.

JNF Montreal’s New Monthly Giving Program

In Jewish tradition, a new chodesh (hebrew for month) symbolizes a fresh start. The root of chodesh is chadash (hebrew for new), and each month brings new opportunities and hope for health and happiness.

JNF Monthly is excited to announce our new Monthly Giving Program!
Start 2021 off by donating monthly to JNF and help us carry out our core mission, supporting the land and the people of Israel, by joining our new Monthly Giving program.

By contributing each month to JNF, you can have a direct impact on the lives of Israelis. Each year, your donation can be directed of one of four funds:

· Environmental Projects such as this year’s Plugot Forest planting
· Vulnerable Projects such as this year’s renovation of the AMCHA Centre
· JNF Future Projects (for donors under 40) such as the Glassman Children’s Room
· Let JNF decide the areas of greatest need.

For a minimum donation of $10 per month you will receive a package of 6 Tree cards and/or, for January, a Taste of Israel package* in celebration of Tu Bi’Shevat, as a token of our appreciation.

Make this year a new beginning and make a difference each and every month by becoming a JNF Monthly Donor.

Thank you for your support of JNF and helping us Build Israel Together!

Have any questions about our Annual Campaign?

Contact

JNF Montreal
740-5160 Decarie Blvd.
Montreal, Quebec
H3X 2H9

Tel: (514) 934-0313
Email: montreal@jnf.ca