When I think of KKL-JNF, I think of Tu BiShvat and tree planting.
But that's just a teeny tiny part of what they really do.
In fact, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) has played a significant role in supporting Israel during the current Israel-Hamas war, focusing on on humanitarian aid, community resilience, and environmental restoration.
Let's break down their contributions:
Immediate Response to the October 7, 2023, Attack
When Hamas launched its attack on October 7, 2023, KKL-JNF quickly mobilized to address the crisis in Israel’s southern and northern regions. The organization shifted resources to support affected communities, particularly in the Gaza border area and the north, where Hezbollah’s attacks compounded the threat. Its efforts included:
- Emergency Aid for Displaced Residents: Over 90,000 Israelis were displaced from border communities due to Hamas and Hezbollah rocket, missile, and drone assaults. KKL-JNF provided immediate relief, supplying essentials like food, water, mattresses, and blankets to evacuees from kibbutzim like Nir Oz and Kfar Aza.
- By late 2023, it had launched a global fundraising campaign with its international branches, raising millions to assist survivors and displaced families.
- Support for Security Forces: With more than 800 Israeli soldiers and security personnel killed in the fighting, KKL-JNF offered practical support to the IDF and civilian security squads. This included funding mobile bomb shelters, emergency vehicles, and protective equipment for southern towns like Ofakim, where board member Robert Tiviaev survived the October 7 massacre.
Rebuilding Communities Post-Attack
As the war dragged on, KKL-JNF focused on long-term recovery for devastated areas, particularly in the south:
- Reconstruction Projects: By early 2024, KKL-JNF was rebuilding infrastructure in kibbutzim hit hardest by Hamas’s assault. For example, it funded the restoration of Kibbutz Nir Am, providing temporary housing and agricultural support to revive local economies.
- Its “Resilience Campaign” aimed to strengthen peripheral communities, ensuring residents could return safely.
- Community Resilience: KKL-JNF established aid stations and rest areas for displaced families and soldiers, such as those near the Gaza border. These efforts, often in collaboration with local authorities, helped maintain morale and functionality amid ongoing evacuations and rocket fire.
Environmental Restoration
The conflict inflicted severe environmental damage, especially from fires sparked by rocket barrages:
- Forest and Land Recovery: Over 230,000 dunams (57,000 acres) of forests and open lands burned due to Hezbollah attacks in the north and Hamas rocket fire in the south. KKL-JNF, as Israel’s forest guardian, deployed teams to extinguish fires and began reforestation efforts. By mid-2024, it had planted thousands of saplings in areas like the Jerusalem Mountains and the Negev, adapting its expertise in dryland afforestation to wartime needs.
- Wildlife Protection: The fires destroyed habitats, threatening species like the Tomares nesimachus butterfly. KKL-JNF worked with volunteers to restore ecosystems, aligning with its pre-war environmental strategy of mitigation and adaptation.
Educational and Solidarity Initiatives
KKL-JNF leveraged its educational arm to support Israel’s morale and diaspora connection:
- Youth Programs: In summer 2024, it hosted an unprecedented number of Israeli youth in its forests for retreats, offering a respite from the war’s trauma. These programs reinforced Zionist identity and resilience, echoing WZO priorities.
- Global Support: Through events like the March 16–19, 2025, “Israel Today and Tomorrow” trip for journalists and donors, KKL-JNF showcased its wartime contributions, rallying international Jewish support. Its iconic Blue Box campaign saw renewed vigor, collecting funds for emergency needs.
Context Within the War (2023–2025)
KKL-JNF’s involvement unfolded as the war evolved:
- October 2023–January 2025: After the initial attack, a ceasefire took effect on January 19, 2025, following phase one of a deal that saw Hamas release 33 hostages for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. KKL-JNF focused on immediate relief and supporting displaced families during this period of intense fighting and displacement (1.7 million Gazans displaced, per UN estimates).
KKL-JNF's little known connection to WZO
KKL-JNF’s actions align with its role as a WZO affiliate, executing the Congress’s mandate to strengthen Israel. The WZO’s $1 billion+ budget, partly allocated via the 2020 Congress, funded KKL-JNF’s war-related projects, reinforcing their shared Zionist goals of land development and community support. The upcoming 39th Congress in October 2025 will probably (and hopefully) prioritize KKL-JNF aid for war-affected regions.
