JNF

JNF, short for the Jewish National Fund, is a Zionist nonprofit organization founded in 1901 by Theodor Herzl to purchase and develop land in Palestine for Jewish settlement and nation-building. It has played a prominent role in land acquisition, development, and communal infrastructure through its history.

Historically, JNF funded land purchases in Ottoman and British Mandate Palestine. After the establishment of the State of Israel, its mandate broadened to environmental stewardship and regional development, including forestry, water projects, parks, and infrastructure, carried out through a global network of chapters and donor groups.

Core activities include afforestation and forest management, watershed and water-resource projects, the development of public spaces and tourist sites, and educational programs about Jewish heritage and the environment. The organization raises funds and distributes grants to Israeli institutions and communities.

JNF-KKL, the name often used in Israel, holds land on behalf of the Jewish people and manages it through long-term leases and partnerships with government agencies. International branches, such as JNF-USA, support fundraising and advocacy.

JNF has faced controversy and debate over land ownership and political roles, with critics calling for greater transparency, while supporters cite environmental stewardship and nation-building as core aims. The organization continues to emphasize environmental projects, education, and community development.