The National Institutions Building in Jerusalem is the home of the leading Zionist organizations – KKL-JNF, the Jewish Agency, and Keren Hayesod. The historical structures were the perfect backdrop for an impressive audio-visual presentation on KKL-JNF’s work for developing Israel, which was screened on the buildings themselves. Ninth World Leadership Conference participants enjoyed a moving evening and a unique presentation.
Sound and Light Show
Actors dressed as Binyamin Ze’ev Herzl, Israel’s founding father, emphasized KKL-JNF’s decisive contribution to the founding of the state, shaping its character, and the connection between the traditional Zionist vision and modern renewed Zionism. Needless to say, all the “Herzls” were more than happy to have their picture taken with the conference participants.
KKL Mexico Chairperson
Patricia Katz de Saltiel, a member of the WLC organizing committee, greeted participants and noted that during the planning of the conference, special emphasis was placed on the opportunity to share ideas and arrive at conclusions about the visions of the different countries.
“It’s very exciting to be here for
Israel’s seventieth anniversary celebrations and to see how KKL-JNF’s vision is being realized,” said
Gérard Opoczynski, Secretary-General of KKL France. “I was happy to see that KKL-JNF added another color, the color of education, to its traditional green-blue-brown.”
Betty Dan, KKL Belgium Bureau Director, said that her community was a small one, with 35,000 Jews. “To this day, we focus on tree planting, because trees are beneficial for everyone,” she said.
“Israel is always in my heart, and every time I visit here, I feel as if I’ve come home,” said
Petra Narva from the Czech Republic.
KKL Sweden President
Max Federmann noted that KKL-JNF’s main goal in his country is developing the Negev. “We are marching in the footsteps of Ben Gurion’s vision,” he said.
Celebrating 70 Years of Israel
The second day of the KKL-JNF World Leadership Conference concluded with a gala evening marking Israel’s 70th birthday on the Haas Promenade in the Armon Hanatziv neighborhood in Jerusalem. The evening was emceed by Israeli TV presenter Dana Grotsky, who began by saying: “We are all connected through our roots and by the state of Israel. These are our roots, and this is the essence of KKL-JNF.”
KKL-JNF World Chairman Danny Atar spoke about his journey to Poland on Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day. “Everyone who participated in the March of the Living in Poland had an intense experience of what the Jewish people went through on their long journey to create the state. We are two days before Memorial Day for Israel’s Fallen Soldiers, which reminds us of the terrible price we have paid so that we can live here in security, in Jerusalem, our eternal capital.”
On the topic of KKL-JNF’s accomplishments, he said: “Without KKL-JNF, Israel would look entirely different. Our obligation is to continuing showing that KKL-JNF is active in areas where it is most critical – Israel’s periphery and strengthening educational activities abroad. An outstanding and beautiful country has been created here, one that the entire world looks at in amazement, trying to understand how it has been so successful in arriving at such results.”
The event was honored to host Knesset Member Yitzhak Herzog, who said: “When you review the success of the Zionist movement, you must realize KKL-JNF’s monumental contribution. This is an organization that creates life, and it has also made a significant contribution to creating the country’s social fabric and to strengthening our ties with World Jewry.”
A movie screened at the end of the event presented three unique stories: the development of agriculture in the Arava through the story of Noa Zer (who was present in the auditorium), a sand drawing depicting KKL-JNF’s values, and the story of Elya Levine’s immigration (she too was on hand to meet the KKL-JNF leadership). When she was 12, she immigrated to Israel from New York. Joining “Green Horizons” (KKL-JNF scout club) changed her life: “I discovered that nature provides us with so many different experiences and opportunities to get to know ourselves better,” she said.
The Hatikva Neighborhood Acapella Ensemble from South Tel Aviv regaled the audience with song. The evening concluded with Israeli folk dancing, and the KKL-JNF leadership joined the dancing enthusiastically. After all, it’s not every year that you celebrate Israel’s 70th anniversary, especially in Jerusalem, the capital!