Jewish National Fund South Africa

The Keren Kayemet LeIsrael, or Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), was founded in 1901 in a bid to purchase land for Jewish settlers in Israel. The fund was the first step towards creating a Jewish State. It spread ideas about Zionism, a homeland, and Jewish heritage. The first chairman, Johann Kremenetzky, initiated three main avenues of income for the fund; most notably the Blue Box project. Just three years after the organization was founded, enough funds were raised to purchase land in the lower Galilee and Judea. Since its inception, the KKL-JNF also mandated to develop Israel in a sustainable manner, support environmental education, respond to the country’s environmental needs, preserve the natural and cultural heritage of the land, and build connections with people who love Israel all over the world. 

The KKL-JNF also focuses on the preservation of forests and woodlands, water management, community development, educational programs, research, and eco-tourism. 

To date, the organization has planted over 200 million trees, maintained more than 400 000 acres of forest,and built 230 water reservoirs.