鈥淒oes everyone know what JNF stands for?鈥�, asked JNF VIC education shaliach, Eldad Shohan. 鈥淯sually it stands for Jewish National Fund, but this week, it鈥檚 Jewish National Fun鈥�.听

Following on from the Yom Ha鈥檃tzmaut celebrations, JNF Victoria鈥檚 education shaliach, Eldad Shoham visited Perth, especially for JNF Week. The festivities began on Monday, 1 May with an assembly to launch My Israel Passport, which was received with great excitement and enthusiasm.听From there, Kindy to Year 9 students participated in age-specific programmes, boosting the children鈥檚 knowledge of Israel and JNF.

鈥淲hat does Israel mean to you?鈥� This was the first question Eldad posed to students at the start of each session. Answers from Primary and High School students ranged from inventions, environmental technology, the holy land, the Kotel, lots of kosher food, fun, a great place to feel connected, a safe place for Jews, and our homeland.听

Students loved the giant Israel map and working in groups, competing to identify key Israeli cities, regions, seas and countries bordering Israel, among many other engaging activities.

On Tuesday, the entire Primary School had a free dress day and students dressed in colours of the environment. The Year 6 student leaders sold a variety of food听during lunchtime. The funds raised by the School will go to the current Blue Box campaign, enhancing the lives of young people in Be鈥檈r Sheva.

When they were in Kindy in 2016, the Year 6 cohort planted a JNF Merchav Am Tree in the Eco Playground to provide more shade and to demonstrate JNF WA鈥檚 on-going partnership with the community of Merchav Am in Israel鈥檚 South. On the same day as the Carmel Kindy tree planting, children in Merchav Am planted a Carmel Kindy tree by their community centre. As tradition during every JNF Week, a photo was taken with the students by their tree. As the years have passed, the children and the trees have grown beautifully on opposite ends of the world. The Carmel children will have the opportunity to visit their matured Carmel Kindy Tree in the Negev, on their Year 10 Shorashim class trip to Israel in 2027.

To round off JNF week, the Year 6 cohort planted a JNF legacy tree with the Kindy children. The tree is a symbol of the Year 6 students鈥� amazing Primary School journey. They gifted the Kindies with their own tree to track their growth and provide a sustainable environment throughout their听Primary School experience. JNF and AV学院 are grateful to the City of Stirling for the donation of the tree.

JNF Australia would like to thank Debbi Benn and the AV学院 staff, students and parents for their tremendous support over JNF Week 2023. By working together as a community, we are nurturing the children鈥檚 love for Israel and future connection to our homeland. Kol ha鈥檏avod to everyone involved.