Funds raised by Jewish National Fund of Canada Manitoba/Saskatchewan’s annual fundraiser, the Negev Gala, will go towards building Green Open Classrooms. The classrooms are constructed in schoolyards throughout Israel as venues for peer educators to lead experiential ecological education sessions and communicate KKL-JNF’s special values: water, soil, afforestation, ecology and Zionism.

“Like many families, Jewish education is of the highest priority for me and Shirley,” this year’s honouree Robert “Bob” Freedman explained when asked why he choose this project. “Both of our daughters graduated from Jewish day school and I was the first chair of the Winnipeg Board of Jewish Education. Therefore it is an honour to have our names attached to an educational project throughout Israel.”

School councils are chosen to receive the sturdy wooden structures based on their past demonstration of environmental leadership, such as by adopting a nearby KKL-JNF park or forest, participating annually in Tu Bi’Shevat plantings or developing school-wide recycling programs.

“Through supporting this project, we are directly impacting youth who will become our next generation of environmental and societal leaders in Israel and around the world,” said Rob Berkowits, Executive Director. “Shaping these young minds to care for our world ensures Israel will continue to overcome adversity in the future.”