JNF-USA women visit Israel

A delegation of 20 Jewish-American women active in the Jewish National Fund in the United States arrived for a visit in Israel last week as part of the International Women's Day events.

The purpose of the visit was to acquaint the women with Israel through the life experiences of local women of all walks of life such as soldiers in the Negev, settlers in the north, bereaved mothers, belly dancers and more. The delegation will also visit the many sites founded by JNF-USA.

Group photo at Western Wall (photo courtesy of JNF USA)

Over the past year, JNF women have donated millions of shekels for projects in Israel.

The delegation's members, including businesswomen, social activists and community leaders have been touring the country and visiting JNF-USA projects.

One of the sites the women are slated to visit is the fortified playground in Sderot, the first of its kind in Israel, built last year for the benefit of local children who live under constant missile threat.

As part of their tours the women will also meet soldiers, a Bedouin woman who founded a herbs cosmetics company and women who established a new community in the Negev.

Cooking class with Chef Rima Olvera (photo courtesy of JNF USA)

Louise Dabrow, a member of the "Queen of Sheba" delegation said that "the common excuse of 'hard times' isn't relevant. When it comes to Israel, our home, we feel an obligation to visit and help."

Tali Tzour, JNF's envoy in the US said, "These are women with broad hearts, an amazing capacity for giving and a great love for Israel, who have chosen to deepen the relationship and nurture it through this special visit in Israel which enables them to experience life in Israel as they really are."

JNF-USA is a non-profit organization which was founded in 1901 and is committed to promoting education, culture, heritage, tourism and agriculture in Israel and has donated large sums of money for these ends.