Top JNF Award for Perth Collector
Lore Zusman, a Perth-based JNF Blue Box Collector has received JNF Australia’s highest honour.
Lore Zusman
Lore Zusman thinks outside the box, and the only thought that crosses her mind are the outstanding contributions that have not yet filled the Blue Boxes she works so tirelessly to fill.
For more than 40 years, Lore has been at the forefront of the JNF’s Perth Blue Box collections and remains the driving force behind JNF Western Australia.
JNF WA is one of the world’s leading regions in successful Blue Box Collections
But it is more than Blue Box that has influenced the JNF Australia National Board to name this year’s prestigious Stephen Gerstl Misgav Scholarship – JNF Australia’s highest honour – in the name of Lore Zusman. It is in recognition of a woman who was sent out of pre-war Germany on a kinder transport and who made a new and successful life in Australia but still found the time to work hard for Israel as a volunteer and drive others to follow her outstanding example of action rather than words. Edwin Glasenberg, JNF WA State President and National Board member said “Lore is a hard task master. She constantly cajoles our committee and collectors to do better and we are all inspired by her example and dedication.”
Each year, the JNF awards the Stephen Gerstl Misgav Scholarship in honour of a JNF supporter – not necessarily financially – whose efforts and contributions ensure the success of JNF in Australia and KKL in Israel. Past recipients include such communal stalwarts as Sir Asher Joel z”l, Max Freilich z”l, Frank Lowy AC, Harry Triguboff AO and the late Stephen Gerstl himself – a former JNF Federal Director who was a legend in his lifetime.
Lore joins the ranks of these illustrious individuals because of the difference she makes to JNF in Australia and because of the example she sets to old and young alike. “I have been supporting Israel since I was 9 years old and I encourage all Jews no matter their age to continue to support Israel because without Israel, we are nothing” said Lore. “I have visited Israel numerous times in my life – probably 25 times – and after each visit, I am amazed at the progress that JNF has made in uplifting life there” she concluded.
