JNF evolves to bring solace after 7 October

“In an age of disruption, where start-ups dominate the narrative, our story is different. It’s a story of renewal, of an established institution evolving to meet new challenges.”

So said Michael Kransdorff, the chairperson of the Jewish National Fund South Africa (JNF SA) upon winning the Mann Made Community Service Award at this year’s Absa Jewish Achiever Awards.

“The past year has been one of the most challenging seasons in living memory for our community and the Jewish world,” said Kransdorff, “Yet in the face of such adversity, I’m deeply proud of the way our small, dedicated team at the JNF, alongside our incredible partners, has stepped up to provide hope, healing, and a profound sense of connection.”

“Community service isn’t a solo endeavour,” said Kransdorff. “Our success lies in our ability to hire talented staff, attract committed volunteers, and partner with amazing organisations that share our vision and values.”

For more than a century, the JNF has been synonymous with environmental stewardship, not only in Israel but also in South Africa.

Since its founding in 1903, the JNF has planted more than 240 million trees and developed world-leading expertise in water management, beekeeping, forestry, and sustainable development.

The JNF has led many projects over its lifetime, from launching Nelson Mandela Park with Food and Trees for Africa, to launching the Walter Sisulu Environmental Centre in Tshwane where in 24 years, it has educated more than 200 000 school pupils on the importance of environmental conservation.

It has also partnered with the South African Beekeepers Association to revive the country’s honey industry with Israeli technology.

However, since Hamas attacked the south of Israel on 7 October 2023, the organisation has experienced a shift.

Said Kransdorff, “On 7 October 2023, everything changed. One thousand, two hundred people were massacred, 460 at the Nova festival in the JNF Forest at Re’im. Among the dead were two South African grandmas. Two hundred and fifty one people were taken hostage, including three South Africans, creating 68 000 Israeli internal refugees. A year later, many are still unable to return to their homes.”

Within 48 hours, the JNF raised funds to evacuate hundreds of children from the south to the JNF Field Centre in the tranquillity of the Galilee.

As Hezbollah rocket attacks have ravaged the landscape, destroying more than 84 000 acres with raging fires, the JNF has also provided more than 120 specialised firefighting vests to protect those on the front lines, and has delivered three mobile firefighting units.

Said Kransdorff, “No-one in South Africa seemed to care that 251 people had been snatched from their homes and taken hostage to Gaza. There were three South African hostages, including two elderly women – Aviva Siegel and Channah Peri.”

The JNF has launched multiple initiatives throughout the past year that aim to raise awareness of the hostages still being held captive by Hamas in Gaza. From an empty Shabbat table to turning the city of Johannesburg yellow, no stone has been left unturned.

Together with Rabbi Aharon Zulberg of The Base Shul, it has also facilitated five trips to South Africa for former hostages or survivors of the attacks on 7 October, “not only to give them a safe space for respite and healing but also to ensure that their powerful stories of resilience reach the South African audience,” Kransdorff said.

He said that the iconic blue tzedakah box that had been a permanent fixture in Jewish homes for more than 120 years was “a powerful reminder of the impact of small collective actions”.

“The coins dropped into those boxes by individual Jewish families across South Africa once helped drain swamps and made the desert bloom. Today they empower us to create green urban spaces, educate environmental champions, pilot innovative water solutions, support our firefighters, and promote resilience and healing.

“We continue to build on the foundation laid decades ago, strengthening ties between the Jewish community in Israel and the people of South Africa,” said Kransdorff. “Through education, community empowerment, and environmental stewardship, we remain committed to creating hope and building a more tranquil and peaceful world for future generations.”