Latest JNF UK Newsletter

NEWSLETTER

JNF UK APPOINTS NEW CHAIRMAN.

This is a special issue to welcome and introduce our new Chairman Samuel Hayek and our new Board Members to JNF UK. There is also a wealth of other news with a number of big events taking place over the last couple of weeks to raise crucial funds for Israel, including an Evening with the colourful Mayoral candidate Boris Johnson hosted by the Israel Investment Bank FIBI, a sell-out Charity Performance of ’3 Sisters on Hope Street’ at the Hampstead Theatre in aid of the Negev, and a glamorous JNF Future Reception with the Chief Rabbi at a beautiful venue overlooking the Thames in aid of disabled children. In Israel’s 60th Year we can all look forward to working together to help build on Israel’s tremendous achievements to date.

New JNF Chairman Samuel Hayek is a businessman originally from Israel he has a long involvement in Israeli politics and has been a political advisor to various Ministers over the years. He is also well known as a philanthropist and passionate art collector and is in the process of establishing an Art centre in Old Jaffa, called ‘The Hayek Contemporary Art Centre’. A Law Graduate from Buckingham University, he is involved in property development projects with interests in the UK and in Israel and divides his time between the UK and Israel.

Born in Kfar Saba in 1953, his family emigrated from Iraq in the mass emigration to Israel of 1951. Samuel later served his Military Service in the Military Intelligence Unit in the IDF, taking part in two wars.

Samuel Hayek said: ‘I am looking forward to working with the staff and Board members of the JNF to drive the organisation onto greater heights. I am delighted that my appointment opens a new positive chapter in the relationship between JNF UK and KKL in Israel and that together we can return JNF UK to the KKL family to promote the key objectives of JNF UK and Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – supporting Israel for life.’

Avril Fleishman has been extremely busy recently organising two big events on behalf of the JNF Culture Group, and the Negev Committee respectively. 300 people attended the sell-out performance of ’3 Sisters on Hope Street’ at the Hampstead Theatre. They enjoyed a lavish Reception followed by a performance of the play and an after show discussion with writer Tracy-Ann Oberman. £10,000 was raised via ticket sales and a raffle for the disabled children and young adults at the new residential centre at Aleh Negev. A good time was had by all. JNF President Gail Seal commented, ‘We are delighted to have received such overwhelming support from the community for this cultural evening in aid of this worthy cause in the Negev.’

Last week 200 people attended the Negev Committee Evening with Boris Johnson in the City. £15,000 was raised for the JNF UK Negev Campaign which is currently building homes, schools and other infrastructure for five new communities in the Negev Desert.

Johnson spoke passionately about his Mayoral Campaign and his plans to improve London, particularly in terms of transport, phasing out ‘bendy’ buses and clamping down on rowdy teen behaviour. He also intends to redistribute funds allocated by ‘Mayor Leavingsoon’ for causes such as ‘The European Space project’.

Johnson was keen to emphasise his neutrality on the racial issue confirming that he would not be meeting any Muslim radicals, ‘In me you will get a Mayor with no homophobia, no anti-Semitism.’ When asked whether there was any likelihood of London being twinned with Jerusalem he answered in the affirmative, ‘I really can’t see why not.’

‘We were delighted to host the colourful mayoral candidate Boris Johnson MP, whose speech was entertaining and powerful. It was a fabulous evening and a great way to keep supporting Israel for life,’ enthused JNF Chief Executive Simon Winters.

And event organiser Avril Fleishman added,‘It was a pleasure to host this in conjunction with FIBI Bank, and I look forward to a continuing close relationship.’

Israel Week at Rosh Pinah school was an opportunity for JNF formal and informal Education to work together to provide a fun and informative week celebrating Israel’s 60th birthday. At a special assembly in the school attended by Simon Winters and other JNF staff and one of our new Board members, Roy Freedman who is also Chairman of the Board of Governors of the School, a summary of the week was seen on video.

During the week JNF organized special activities including a t-shirt competition in which children designed their own Israel 60 t-shirt to wear on the Friday. Simon Winters presented the winning children with certificates. The children in key stage 1 created Israel maps using recycled materials and key stage 2 created photo collage maps which are displayed all over the school. Additionally, children in years 3, 4 and 5 took part in specialized JNF programmes concentrating on a specific area of Israel chosen for each year group. The week was a huge success installing passion for Israel into the minds and hearts of the children as well as raising almost £900 for JNF and One Family.

Finally, Jodie Norman ran a prestigious new style of event for JNF Future on Tuesday night. Young Jewish Professionals were invited to an evening hosted by Law firm SJ Berwin. 150 21-35’s attended and enjoyed delicious canapés and drinks and a talk by the Chief Rabbi on the theme of ‘Finding Common Ground Within and Beyond the Community.’

In his speech the Chief Rabbi emphasised that, ‘The way to make a society find common ground is to build it together,’ he urged the young people to remember that ‘when confronted by collective problems the only way to resolve them is together.’

Asked about the popularity of the JNF Future Eilat trip he revealed that he and his wife Elaine had been on a visit to Eilat just before he became the Chief, ‘I had to spend a week with my glasses off!’ However he admitted that in the spirit of the JNF Negev Campaign, ‘Eilat is a perfect example of building something out of nothing.’

£1300 was raised for Beit Issie Shapiro, which is an organisation that runs services to help disabled children stay in their own homes with their families.