New generation to take JNF forward
A TRIP through the Negev stirred Simone Szalmuk-Singer, awakening a legacy imparted by her father and paving the way to her Jewish National Fund (JNF) Victoria presidency.
A TRIP through the Negev stirred Simone Szalmuk-Singer, awakening a legacy imparted by her father and paving the way to her Jewish National Fund (JNF) Victoria presidency.
On June 16, Szalmuk-Singer, 42, became the first of her generation in that post, heading a board she described as a mix of people with new ideas and experience.
“It’s very much about ensuring the relevance of the organisation for the next generations,” she told The AJN.
Speaking to JNF Victoria’s annual meeting last week, Szalmuk-Singer recalled her tour of Israel’s south three years ago with JNF young leadership’s Wayne Krongold and executive member Steven Casper, which was “surprising, inspirational and eye-opening”.
“The surprise emanated from the realisation that JNF is linked to so much of Israel’s environmental infrastructure. The inspiration came from the story of the Negev. Our eyes were opened as to the far reaching impact of the environmental research in which JNF is involved,” she said.
On her return, Szalmuk-Singer helped found Ma’alot 360, a JNF Victoria group for 40 to 50-year-olds.
The group’s first initiative was to adopt a project to recycle sewage from the Hatzerim Airforce Base, cleaning and storing it in a reservoir to irrigate crops at a nearby kibbutz.
“I am proud to report that approximately 30 families, many of whom had no or little association with JNF previously, are now engaged through a three-year commitment to Ma’alot 360,” she told the meeting.
She said JNF was moving beyond its traditional realms, through “groundbreaking research and implementation”.
Outgoing president Sara Gold said her succession plan had led to younger people holding key positions at JNF Victoria, including Lisa Meyer and Sam Joske, and Szalmuk-Singer.
NAOMI LEVIN
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