Published: 19 February 2021
Last updated: 4 March 2024
ONE MIGHT THINK that Russell Robinson, longtime CEO of the Jewish National Fund in the United States, would be unhappy, disturbed or, at a minimum, somehow affected by recent events concerning the organisation that bears the same as his in Israel.
After all, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund has hit the headlines recently for a drastic policy proposal by its leadership: to formalise the purchase of lands in the West Bank that would expand and strengthen the settler enterprise. When asked about it, a spokesman for the US State Department deemed it a “unilateral action” incompatible with pursuing a two-state solution.
Several of the Israeli organization’s board members, representing the Reform and Conservative movements, have sounded the alarm, calling the decision reckless and disastrous, warning that it would dry up Diaspora donations to the group and “endanger the very existence” of the organization.
But in a Zoom interview from his New York office, Robinson is relaxed, jovial and utterly unconcerned with the mess playing out in Jerusalem.
As far as he is concerned, the hullabaloo in Israel has absolutely nothing to do with his robust New York-based charity, which is on target to raise $US 100 million this year for multiple ambitious development projects across Israel.
Less than 1 percent of that amount, he confirms, will find its way into the Israeli organization’s coffers – and that’s only because KKL-JNF Israel serves as a “vendor” for his organisation.
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Photo: The Jewish National Fund blue collection boxes and JNF-USA CEO Russell Robinson (JNF-USA)
