Dear Friends,

As another year draws to a close, I am writing to express my sincere thanks for your continued support. With your help JNF has sent a record amount of funds to so many worthy causes in Israel over the past 12 months.

This brings me onto the single most audacious and exciting JNF project on which I have ever worked. With The Negev Challenge, we have begun creating a truly epic solution to a truly enormous problem. How can it be that in a country so small, 92% of the population is squeezed into just 40% of the land?

The goal of The Negev Challenge is to transform desert wilderness into habitable land; to provide the affordable homes, schools, healthcare and jobs that so many families have been deprived of while squeezed into Israel’s overcrowded central cities. The move to the Negev exemplifies the brave pioneering spirit of a new generation of Israelis.

To date, we have made a great start with 4 innovative projects: the Nahal Lavan Reservoir, Be’er Milkah Village, Nitzana Youth Village and Aleh Negev Residential Centre for the severely disabled. With the continuing uncertainties of life in the North, it is more urgent than ever that we keep up the momentum. With only 7% of Israel’s population living in the South JNF’s commitment to raising £10 million by 2010 will increase that figure by at least a further 10%. We can only achieve this with your help.

At this special time of year – a time of renewal – please spare a thought for the families whose lives we are trying to renew in the Negev.

I wish you and your family a Shana Tova and well over the Fast.

Chag Sameach

Simon Winters
Chief Executive JNF UK