About JNF Charitable Trust

Our history

The letters ‘JNF’ stand for ‘Jewish National Fund’, a fund set up in the early days of Zionism to help to acquire a national homeland for the Jewish people. From its origins, therefore, the Fund had a worldwide significance.

JNF was established in 1901 to look at ways of ‘greening’ a land covered by swamp and sand. By 1991 the JNF had planted 100 million trees. Israel had so many other needs that the organisation expanded its scope. The problem of water and water conservation is of paramount importance to Israel, it is a matter of life and death. JNF began to raise money for water, building and maintaining reservoirs and waterways in Israel.

So much of the country needs water and trees to make it habitable. It still needs assistance in finding work and homes for the steady influx of immigrants.

Things are changing in Israel, with fewer agricultural needs and many more sociological needs JNF has again expanded its scope, with a profile of diverse projects for the underprivileged. These include: Alyn Hospital, Nitzana youth village and Bet Yanei Handicapped riding school.