Australian Jewish community inspired by captivity survivor Eli Sharabi as the JNF Australia’s 2025 campaign concludes

Gaza captivity survivor, Eli Sharabi, marked his inaugural visit to Australia since his release as part of the JNF Australia 2025 annual campaign, Together, We Rise With Israel, leaving audiences in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth inspired by his resilience and positivity for the future of Israel. Read more

‘I chose life’ – Sharabi’s story of survival grips JNF event

“My name is Eli Sharabi. I’ve come back from hell.”

With those words, Eli Sharabi, who survived 491 days in Hamas captivity, addressed an extraordinary sold-out JNF Annual Event in Sydney on Tuesday evening, where he shared his story in conversation with leading Israeli journalist and commentator, Nadav Eyal.

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Hostage survivor to tell his story at JNF events

In an exclusive Australian first, award-winning journalist Nadav Eyal will sit down with Hamas captivity survivor Eli Sharabi for a powerful on-stage interview that promises to be the centrepiece of the JNF Australia 2025 annual campaign, “Together, We Rise With Israel.” Read more

JNF Australia launches 2025 campaign to rebuild and heal Israel’s North and South

JNF Australia has launched its 2025 annual campaign, Together, We Rise With Israel, inspired by the resilience shown by Israelis since the October 7 terror attacks and recent Iranian missile strikes.

Headlining this year’s campaign is former hostage Eli Sharabi, 52, who will visit Australia to share his harrowing story of survival. Sharabi was held captive for 491 days after being abducted by Hamas from Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7. Upon his release in February, he learned that his wife Lianne and daughters Noiya and Yahel had been murdered that same day.

“Surviving captivity has shown me the power of resilience and the unbreakable spirit of the Israeli people,” Sharabi said. Now a global voice for hope and remembrance, his visit to Sydney, Melbourne and Perth is expected to galvanise the community.

Eli Sharabi met Israel’s President Isaac Herzog at the President’s Residence this week.

During their meeting, Sharabi presented the President with his book “Hostage”, a powerful and rare testimony of his harrowing experience in captivity. He also announced that the book has been translated into English and will be published in the United States on the second anniversary of the October 7 massacre.

In an emotional appeal directed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump, Sharabi said: “This is the moment. We are waiting and hoping. The families of the hostages need closure, they need peace, they need their loved ones home, whether alive or, God forbid, to be buried with dignity. I ask both the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Israel to make the final effort and bring this to an end.”

The JNF 2025 campaign will support a suite of recovery initiatives, including water infrastructure in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, therapeutic learning and trauma support in Nir Oz and Ein Hashlosha, reforestation at Misgav Am, and mental health programs in Kiryat Shmona.

“For nearly two years, Israelis have been under siege, yet remain determined to rebuild. We must match their resilience with action,” said JNF Australia CEO Doron Lazarus. “This campaign is about more than infrastructure — it’s about restoring lives and hope.”

Since October 7, JNF Australia has backed over 60 recovery projects, with the 2025 campaign reinforcing its long-standing partnerships with frontline communities.

“What October 7 taught us is that Israel needs the Diaspora more than ever — and we need Israel,” said JNF Australia President Pam Krail. “Our greatest weapon is strength from within.”

Lazarus added: “The missiles may have shattered homes — but not hope. Together, we rise with Israel.”

Pam Krail heading JNF Australia

JNF Australia has announced the appointment of Pam Krail as its new National President, following over a decade of dedicated service to the organisation. Read more

Honouring those who rescued fellow Jews in the Holocaust

A symbolic cornerstone was laid on Wednesday for the Jewish Rescuers Grove, a first-of-its-kind memorial honouring Jews who risked everything to save fellow Jews during the Holocaust. Read more

JNF Australia mobilise emergency campaign to help save what has taken generations to grow

Within hours of the outbreak of the wildfires in Israel, JNF Australia has mobilised and launched an emergency wildfire appeal, which will directly support the firefighting efforts, replace and upgrade critical equipment, rehabilitate forests, and provide long-term ecological restoration to damaged areas. Read more

Rare clay jug found in israel highlights camels’ role in Abbasid trade

Archaeologists unearthed a 1,200-year-old clay jug adorned with camel motifs while excavating a cave in Yatir Forest in the southern Hebron Hills region, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Thursday. Read more

Eylon Levy to address JNF annual campaign

Eylon Levy, the official spokesperson for the Government of Israel immediately following October 7 will headline the 2024 JNF Annual Campaign. Read more

JNF helps disabled and seriously ill Israeli kids

KKL-JNF and JNF-KKL Germany have held a unique spring camp in Eilat in collaboration with Simcha Layeled, dedicated to improving the quality of life and social welfare of disabled and seriously ill children in Israel. Read more

JNF takes Holocaust survivors to see Israel’s spring flowers

Over 4,100 Holocaust survivors have embarked on blossom tours across Israel, organised by the KKL-JNF Foundation since the beginning of March. Read more

Nova Festival victims’ families plant trees where they lost their loved ones

Grieving families have planted trees in the parking area for the Nova Festival, where they lost family members in the October 7 massacre. Read more

Druze restaurant goes Kosher to unite with soldiers

The aroma of spices and the sound of rattling pans filled the kitchen of the Noor restaurant. The restaurant, nestled in the Galilee Druze village of Julis, was made kosher in an act of solidarity with soldiers passing through the town. Read more

KKL-JNF reached an agreement with Israeli Ministry of Finance for 1.4 billion ILS assistance

Due to the war, projects that KKL-JNF was supposed to support have been updated. 1.4 billion ILS (A$570m) will be provided for support and recovery instead of other purposes. Read more

Israeli soldier with Down’s Syndrome to swap army uniform for chef’s hat

In a heartwarming tale of determination, resilience, and unbreakable human spirit, Ortal Butvia, a 22-year-old with Down’s syndrome, embarked on a journey that many thought impossible. Read more

9/11 memorialised in Israel

As the world commemorated the 22^nd anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, Keren Kayemeth Le’Israel-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), Jewish National Fund-USA (JNF- USA), and the Embassy of the United States of America in Israel held their annual memorial ceremony to honour those who perished during the dreadful attacks. Read more

Noa Tishby and Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi headline JNF major events

JNF Australia will host two distinguished keynote speakers for its highly anticipated 2023 Annual Events taking place this September. Read more

KKL-JNF Creates Accessible Path for the visually impaired on International Day of the Blind

Yesterday was the International Day of the Blind when people worldwide commemorated the challenges and achievements of the visually impaired community. Read more

JNF Sticker Book Collection set to take off on Yom Ha’atzmaut

It’s Israel’s 75th birthday, and what better way for children to celebrate than with the launch of JNF Australia’s My Israel Passport sticker book? Read more

“You can’t be a Zionist and a pessimist”

JNF NSW guest speaker Prof Gil Troy, award-winning American presidential historian and leading Zionist activist, has inspired audiences in VIC and NSW. Read more

The IDF’s ‘Special in Uniform’ gives disabled Israelis a chance to serve

The IDF offers people with developmental disorders such as autism an opportunity to serve in the military, giving them a chance to integrate into Israeli society along with everyone else through a program called “Special in Uniform” (SIU). Read more

Green Sunday in Sydney

200 young volunteers gave of their time to participate in the annual JNF NSW’s Green Sunday telethon.
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KKL-JNF host educators from Australia and South Africa

Aiming to empower the future generation of leaders, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund is hosting principals and teachers from Australia and South Africa. Read more

JNF joint project: Security afforestation near Gaza Strip

With a shared vision of greening Israel for future generations, both Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund (KKL – JNF) and The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem will be marking the long-term partnership between them during Sukkot. Read more

L’Chaim – to Life: Ronit Fraid – the JNF Dinner a night of play

Maurice Klein speaks with Ronit Fraid, President of JNF Victoria, about the upcoming Annual Gala Dinner Event, in support of the children of Israel’s South. Read more

Israel’s JNF and Chad join forces to combat climate crisis and desertification

Israel’s Jewish National Fund (JNF) and the Republic of Chad in Central Africa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote cooperation and the sharing of knowledge between them in the areas of water resource management, sustainable agriculture, forestry and the combat of desertification. Read more

Israeli planting in Negev is ‘Mansour Abbas’ most significant test,’ Islamic movement says

The clashes in the Negev resumed Wednesday morning and continued for the second day in a row. Residents of the unrecognized Bedouin villages worked to prevent the Jewish National Fund’s (JNF) tractors from preparing the land for planting. Read more

Bedouin riot, try to derail train, over JNF planting in the Negev

Bedouin clans rioted in the northern Negev on Tuesday night, tried to derail a train, and clashed with police, following JNF planting of trees on land the Al-Atrash clan claims as its own. Read more

JNF Australia Educators Study Tour Australia-Israel January 2022

The Educators Study Tour brings teachers  and principals from Australia to Israel for 10 unforgettable days of experiential learning about Israel’s rich heritage and the past, present, and future of the country. Read more

2021 Young Adult Changemaker Awards feature $5000 category honouring Joshua Levi

Nominations are now open for this year’s B’nai B’rith & JNF Youth & Young Adult Changemaker Awards program. Read more

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