Growing up in a proudly Jewish and Zionist household, I have vivid memories of the KKL-JNF Blue Box, in which we placed coins to go towards purchasing land and planting trees in the Jewish homeland.
And, being a huge Zionist AND pop culture enthusiast, I have been more than aware of the plethora of Hollywood and other celebrities who have taken part in KKL-JNF’s tree planting over the years, some of whom appear below.
Little did I know, but this enterprise had been going on since 1901, a mere four years after the First Zionist Congress and 47 years before the establishment of the modern state of Israel.
The tree planting project has not just been about planting trees. It has always been about more than that. Before 1948, the main focus areas were inspiring and rallying the Diaspora around a common goal (the establishment of a Jewish homeland), and building settlements and lookout areas. After the State’s establishment, the program has expanded its goals; whether it be imparting a love of Israel and its nature, building bridges between Jewish communities in Israel and around the world, conserving Israel’s environmental resources while encouraging responsible community development, keeping desertification at bay, and combatting climate change.
In other words, as Israel has grown and circumstances have changed, so has KKL-JNF’s role and mission.
In the most recent example of this, following Hamas’ October 7th attacks, KKL-JNF have again broadened their mission to include vital war relief for border communities, reflecting their commitment to the nation’s well-being. But once again, it is not just about war relief. Their goals also include reforesting the nation, fortifying its lands and borders, and enhancing the overall environment, all things that disseminate a message of hope and reconstruction, a message we truly need during these difficult times.
It is for these reasons that I am proud to get behind this important campaign. Please join me by clicking on the below:
