Become a Partner in the Digital Content Initiative
In preparation for your arrival in Israel, the Overseas Department of the Education and Community Division are proud to invite you to join an initiative that enables educators to share content about our heritage and history in a way that is relevant to students of the 21st century.
The digital initiative reflects the values of KKL-JNF, which has been engaged in innovation, progress, entrepreneurship, environmental development, and the education of the next generation since its founding in 1901.
So how can you become a partner in this initiative and perhaps even win a meal for two in the center of Jerusalem?
Over the course of the conference, we will embark on a digital journey that will tell the story of the Jewish people throughout the generations in the Land of Israel and around the world.
- Every evening, we will send you digital content that is relevant to the places that we will visit and the topics that we will discuss during the conference.
- Quizzes for Prizes: In the content folders about Tel Aviv, the first Hebrew city, and Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, you will find quizzes with trivia questions. Those who complete the quizzes will be entered into a lottery for the chance to win a meal for two at a restaurant in the Machane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem.
- We would appreciate your feedback throughout the conference so that we can learn more about which supplementary content you recommend including on this platform.
A Glimpse into the JourneyÂ
Since its founding, KKL-JNF has worked toward the development of the Land of Israel and the strengthening of the connection between the Jewish people and our homeland. The organization is committed to a wide range of initiatives in a variety of fields that express these values.
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History & Heritage
Israeli politician and commander in the Palmach, Yigal Alon, once said: “A nation that does not respect its past will have a dull present and an uncertain future.” It is with these words in mind that KKL-JNF is committed to all of these areas, through educational activities, environmental development, and the preservation of historical sites in Israel.
Tel Aviv: The First Hebrew City, will be both the first and last stop on your journey in Israel. Here, we will learn how history and ecological development go hand-in-hand. The Declaration of Independence, recited by David Ben-Gurion on May 14, 1948, was written in the KKL-JNF House in Tel Aviv, where Jewish leaders from across the ideological spectrum gathered together to formulate the document that would encapsulate one of the most significant moments in the history of the Jewish people in its land. KKL-JNF continues to contribute to the development of the city through a wide variety of green projects, such as the Rosh Tzipor Forest and Birdwatching center in the Yarkon Park, where the conference will officially begin.Â
In the evening, we will arrive at Kibbutz Ginosar on the shores of the Kinneret in the Galilee. The local museum is named after Yigal Alon, who was once a member of the Kibbutz.
We will continue to the multi-cultural city of Akko, surrounded by an ancient wall, and to the Talmudic city of Katzrin, where we will visit the remains of a Jewish village and ancient synagogue from 2000 years ago.
At the conclusion of our journey in the Galilee, we will travel to Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, where the old and new have coexisted for 3000 years. We have dedicated a special content folder to Jerusalem, which will be sent to you prior to your arrival in the city.Â
Community Involvement & Mutual Responsibility
KKL-JNF is committed to the promotion of equal opportunity in Israeli society, based on a philosophy of mutual responsibility and social justice. At Nahal Hashofet, KKL-JNF partnered with other organizations to make Israel’s nature accessible to all, including those with disabilities. KKL-JNF works to bridge the social and economic gaps in Israeli society through the KKL-JNF Homes for Excellence in peripheral communities. One of the most significant projects, established thanks to the contributions of the Friends of KKL-JNF USA, is the Sderot Indoor Recreation Center. The children of Sderot and the other Gaza border communities have lived under the continuous threat of rocket fire for 19 years. Nevertheless, their spirits are strong, and families continue to build their futures in the area. This indoor playground enables these children to enjoy a secure play area, even in times of rocket attacks and sirens.
Developing Israel’s Ecology & Fostering a Connection with the Land
Planting forests throughout Israel contributes to the ecological development of the land, while enabling each individual to plant his or her own tree in the land of Israel. As part of its educational philosophy, KKL-JNF has set up Field and Forest Education Centers where people from around the world come to learn about Israel’s ecology and contribute to its development. On your first day in Israel, you will take part in a tree planting ceremony in the Lavi Forest.
In addition, KKL-JNF is a partner in several large-scale, innovative ecological projects throughout Israel that contribute to the development of the environment, flora and fauna of the land.
For example, KKL-JNF began the development of the  Hula Lake Park in northern Israel as early as the 1950s. KKL-JNF led the first national engineering project of the young State of Israel, drying up the swampy Hula Valley and converting it into 15,000 acres of usable farmland. Years later, when the region re-flooded, KKL-JNF carried out a second swamp-drying project, creating the internationally-acclaimed Hula Lake that attracts more than 500 million migratory birds twice a year.
The Be’er Sheva Park in southern Israel is another example of KKL-JNF’s involvement in large-scale ecological projects. International Friends of KKL-JNF have enabled KKL-JNF to be a partner in the Be’er Sheva River rehabilitation initiative, which has transformed a disease-ridden, garbage-filled wasteland into an ecological park that extends over 1,300 acres and is home to a wide variety of trees, plants and wildlife.
Your guides will provide you with additional content every evening.