Green Sunday

JNF Green Sunday – 20th January 2007

Green Sunday has been the JNF’s fundraising telethon for over 15 years. It coincides with Tu’B‘Shevat, the New Year for trees. As it is the Shmitta (Seventh Year when the land of Israel lies fallow to allow it to regenerate) year this year our chosen project – a recreational facility for all the family – reflects this.

This year JNF dedicates Green Sunday to the most ungreen place imaginable. With your help, the epic Negev Challenge has already started turning this barren wilderness that covers 60% of Israel into a fertile new home for thousands of families. Now for this special Campaign we aim to raise £300,000 and build a unique complex and recreational area for all the kids growing up in our many new communities around Be’er Sheva. You can support Green Sunday by calling 0800 901 333 or donating online.

Planting trees has always been a significant part of helping life flourish in Israel, but country’s needs of today have shifted our focus in a particular new direction. With your generous support last year’s Green Sunday raised money for three unique and essential projects in the Negev Desert.

1) Planting 600 fruit trees in three new communities in the Negev – Sansana, Haruv and Mirchav Am. Each community will also need an irrigation system to keep the trees in good condition.

2) A new re-training and education scheme to encourage new farmers to take up agriculture as their profession.

3) Planting trees, shrubs and flowers as part of new play & recreation areas in the four communities that are home to resettled former inhabitants of Gaza (Yated, Yevul, Shomria and Amatzia).

The Negev represents the future of Israel demographically. Some 93% of Israelis live on less than 40% of the undisputed land. In a country as small as Israel, this means that expansion into areas like the Negev is essential.

For more information on JNF Green Sunday, volunteering, or JNF’s work in Israel generally, please email Marc Green on marc.green@jnf.co.uk or call your local office on 0800 901 333.