This High Holiday Season, JNF Canada Plants A Different Kind of Seed

“I feel that I’ve really been seen for the first time.” — Hannah, a student at Beit KKL-JNF Canada House in Nazareth said.

Jewish National Fund of Canada has always been at the forefront of helping the land of Israel transform its bleak deserts into beautiful blooming green forests and lush parks. But now JNF Canada is planting a different kind of seed; we are deeply committed to supporting both Israel’s land and its people.

This high holiday season, JNF Canada is raising funds to help build the Beit KKL-JNF Canada House in Sderot, to help close the educational achievement gap and foster academic success and empower periphery youth.

“We believe that every child has the potential to achieve great things no matter where in Israel he or she was born, and that our role is to make the resources required for this available to them,” said Avi Musan, KKL-JNF Houses Director. “The houses will be open to every teenager who wants to succeed, and we will provide them with all assistance so that they can develop their capabilities. This is a one-of-a-kind anchor that is unparalleled in the State of Israel.”

The Beit KKL-JNF Canada House in Sderot, the city closest to the Gaza border, will serve as an after-school education, empowerment, and enrichment center for high school students from Sderot and its surroundings, who will be provided with the necessary tools and skills for academic and personal success.

The building will be fortified, protecting students and staff from rocket and mortar attacks and will also be accessible to people with disabilities. Its design will be invitingly clean and bright, with large windows to let in natural light, colorful wall illustrations, and open spaces, creating an environment and ambiance unlike that of a school.

The Beit KKL-JNF Canada House will be surrounded by a courtyard for outdoor studies and comprise learning spaces of different sizes and relaxation areas equipped with a variety of educational and multimedia resources to encourage creative learning based on the edutainment model of informal education. The House will be divided into classrooms, a multipurpose hall, meeting room, patio, kitchenette and a unique experiential learning hub. The classrooms are designed to contain small learning groups, except for one large classroom (that can be divided into two), and a computer lab with the latest equipment. The multipurpose hall will be used for workshops, lectures, performances and film screenings. The hub is an open space with poufs, armchairs, sofas, and video game consoles.

“We hope that each of the participants will start believing that not even the sky is the limit for them. The young people are enthusiastic and motivated to be partners in this process.” — Omer Harpaz, director of the Upper Nazareth house.

Join JNF and help impact the lives of Sderot’s youth, and help reduce prevailing social and educational disparities that will ultimately create a healthier society.