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April 15, 2005
JNF nets more funding
Israelis speak from the heart at Negev "non-dinner."
CYNTHIA RAMSAY
The Jewish National Fund's annual Negev Dinner is virtually an
institution in this city, so when the organization opted for a dessert
reception this year, there was some skepticism that it would "pay
off," so to speak. But the change proved beneficial. JNF netted
more funds in its 2005 Negev campaign than it did in last year's
effort.
This welcome news was given by Jerry Adler in his opening remarks
at the April 5 reception, which was attended by approxi- mately
140 JNF supporters and community members. The event focused on the
object of this year's campaign: the Vancouver Sederot Project. It
featured guest speakers Elana Vovsianiker, a Sederot resident, and
Col. Nimrod Sheffer, commander of Ramon Air Force Base.
By way of introduction, JNF shaliach Yossi Darr briefly described
the Sederot initiative. The town has a population of about 23,000
people, comprised mainly of immigrants from various countries, he
said. Due to its proximity to Gaza, some 600 Kassam rockets have
been launched at the town over the past four years; eight people
have died. The JNF project – in the Ibbim Forest – is
an effort to improve residents' quality of life, as well as to improve
a resource that also attracts people from other areas of the country.
In the forest, JNF, Pacific Region, has undertaken to build a secure
playground and recreation area for the public. The project will
include a place with play equipment for children, an area with keep-fit
equipment for teenagers and adults, an amphitheatre and stage. The
park is about 100 acres.
In her brief speech, Vovsianiker expressed appreciation for the
park that the Vancouver funds will help build. She said it will
make Sederot a better place.
Originally from Belarus, Vovsianiker spoke about how life has been
in Sederot since the intifada began in 2001. When she first arrived
with her family in Sederot, at age eight, she said the town was
a quiet, peaceful place with a bright future ... then the first
of the Kassam rockets landed. The holes in the ground became "tourist
attractions" and a meeting place for neighbors, she said. The
situation worsened when the rockets began to hit more vulnerable
targets – Sederot residents. Vovsianiker said she lives in
fear; every time she leaves her home, she is scared of what may
happen to her. She held back tears as she described the most recent
deadly incident that killed a young girl, just 100 metres from Vovsianiker's
home.
As if to illustrate the severity of the situation in Sederot, Kassam
rockets were fired upon the city during the JNF reception; on what
was Wednesday, April 6, in Israel.
Sheffer's speech was less emotional, but as heartfelt. He spoke
about the fact that his parents were Holocaust survivors. He said
he had two dreams in life – to be a fighter pilot, but to have
a career as a veterinarian. The turning point for him was when,
as a young man, he finally heard the details of his mother's experiences
in the concentration camps. He said it was at that moment that he
decided that working with animals was not enough, that he had to
do more. He became a career officer in the air force, eventually
becoming commander of the Ramon base in 2001. It is in this capacity
that Sheffer has worked with JNF, when he enlisted the organization's
help in making the base a greener, better place to live.
Sheffer said that his main role during the intifada has been to
assure the soldiers under his command that they are fighting for
freedom; that they are doing what is needed. He explained that the
air force's main involvement in the intifada has been in the targetted
killings of the leaders of Hamas and other terrorist groups –
not an easy feat, as Gaza is a very densely populated area –
and in the search for weapons meant for terrorist activity.
Closing remarks by Michael Cohene completed the evening, which also
included the Canadian and Israeli national anthems sung by Arnold
Selwyn, greetings from Joe Rabinovitch of JNF of Canada, two videos
produced by Cory Bretz of Heirloom Films, slides of the Vancouver
Sederot Project and a thank you to donors by Darr. For more information
on JNF, call 604-257-5155.
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