What Israel Means to Me: Michael Jacobson
Here’s what the co-president of JNF in Atlanta has to say as we celebrate Israel’s 70th birthday.
Serving as co-president of Jewish National Fund affords me the opportunity and responsibility to communicate my commitment to Israel. Usually, I start with the fact that I grew up in a small town in North Carolina where Jews were literally few and far between. We were a tight community, and being such outsiders pulled us closer together. I remember vividly, as I was preparing for my bar mitzvah, the concerns and then the relief of my parents as the IDF was victorious in the Six-Day War.
Israel is the only democratic state in the Middle East. This is one aspect of the country of which I am most proud. I also believe that all Diaspora Jews have a responsibility to help ensure Israel is and will continue to be a strong, secure and prosperous state for all Jews. This commitment means that Israel is a part of my everyday life, and my role is one of leading others, through JNF, to support her development.
See all the reflections on Israel’s meaning on this special anniversary.
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