Rabbi Gideon Shloush made Aliyah with his family in 2021, inspired by a deep commitment to Zionism and the belief in the importance of Jews returning to their ancestral homeland. Prior to coming to KKL-JNF, he served as senior rabbi of Congregation Adereth El in Manhattan for 25 years. He was also an adjunct professor of Bible and Jewish Law at Yeshiva University for 18 years. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Rabbinical Council of America, he is a past President of the New York Board of Rabbis, and he is the eldest grandson of Rabbi David Shloush z”l, renowned long-time Chief Rabbi of Netanya.
On the night of September 7, many of us stepped outside to witness a rare astronomical event: a total lunar eclipse. During this phenomenon, the Earth’s shadow completely covered the Moon, giving it a striking deep red color. All across Israel, people gathered with family and friends to watch the spectacle unfold. The eclipse lasted for over an hour and was visible across much of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a brutal and unprecedented assault from Gaza, killing approximately 1,200 people in Israel and abducting 251 others. Thousands of armed fighters stormed Western Negev kibbutzim, towns, and the Nova music festival, committing acts of murder, rape, and kidnapping in an appalling display of contempt for human life. It was the deadliest attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust.
One of the most familiar lines in the Rosh Hashana liturgy is Hayom Harat Olam – “Today the world is born.” While the process of creation began on the 25th of Elul, Rosh Hashana marks a more personal milestone: the sixth day of creation, the day Adam, the first human being, was formed.
This coming Sunday begins a difficult time in the Jewish calendar. The three-week period beginning with the fast of the 17th of Tamuz (Sunday July 13, 2025) and ending with the fast of Tisha B’Av (Sunday August 3, 2025) is commonly referred to as Bein HaMetzarim, “between the tragedies.” These are days of sadness and reflection.
The “Swords of Iron” war has seen fires erupt across Israel, ignited by missiles and the unrest of war. On top of this, the current “Rising Lion” operation has all of us constantly running for cover from ballistic missiles and drones. In the face of all the devastation, the courage of KKL-JNF’s firefighters’ shines with exceptional clarity.
History is unfolding before our very eyes. Operation Rising Lion began just a few days ago and here in Israel we are on the front lines. For decades, Israel has been under threat from the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies, and now incredibly, we have achieved the ability to fly freely over her skies.
Desertification is the process of erosion of fertile land. As an organization committed to the Land of Israel and rooted in the values of environmental stewardship, KKL-JNF has played an exemplary role in combatting land degradation.
Next week we will be celebrating the beautiful Festival of Shavuot. It was on this day, 3,337 years ago that the Jewish People received the Torah on Har (Mount) Sinai.
In just a few days, Jewish communities around the world will celebrate Yom
Yerushalayim, marking 58 years since the miraculous reunification of Jerusalem.
The residents of Israel are still coming to terms with the massive fires that occurred here several weeks ago. The loss is enormous. The central region was hit the hardest and there is unmistakable destruction along highway 1, the country’s most traveled route.
Although only two weeks have passed since the massive fires in Israel were brought under control, the threat of further damage persists. Just this past weekend there was a large fire in the popular Nachal Shofet recreational area forcing visitors and nearby residents to evacuate from the vicinity.
We are just days away from a celebrated holiday on the Jewish calendar. Later this week, everywhere one goes, they will see men who are clean shaven and with fresh haircuts. The reason, of course, is because this Thursday is Lag B’Omer.
Our hearts are heavy and filled with sorrow as the Land of Israel bears the scars of devastating fires. Charred earth and blackened forests can be seen throughout Israel. More than 2,000 hectares have been charred. But from the ashes we draw strength, both from our heritage and from our cherished mission.
It’s the eve of Yom Ha’Atzmaut and tragically, fires are raging across Israel. Entire communities are being forced from their homes and there is extensive damage to wildlife and the environment. Most Independence Day celebrations have been canceled and the State of Israel is turning to the international community for fire-fighting assistance
On Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s National Day of Remembrance, the entire country will come to a standstill for a “moment of silence.” Individuals who are in transit will literally exit their cars and stand at attention, to pay tribute to and remember Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terror.
Yom HaShoah is a day that will forever be etched in our collective memory. Holocaust Memorial Day is the day we remember the extermination of one third of our People at the hands of Nazi Germany and its allies between the years 1939-1945.
Toward the end of the Book of Exodus (Sefer Shemot) we read extensively about the beautiful Mishkan, or Tabernacle – a portable earthly dwelling for God that was built by the Israelites in the desert. The instructions for the Mishkan came from God Himself, and are detailed in the Torah portions Terumah, Tetzaveh, Vayakhel & Pekudei. From these we gain a list of the Klei HaMishkan (the vessels and components of the Tabernacle).
Greetings from beautiful Israel.
With Passover upon us it’s meaningful to reflect on the importance of Jewish unity. On the Seder night we traditionally read from the Haggadah, the special book recounting the biblical story of the Exodus from Egypt.
One of the traditions of Purim is to read the Book of Esther. We read from the Megillah, a scroll that narrates the miraculous story that happened to the Jewish People more than 2,300 years ago. The narrative is a remarkable V’Nahafoch Hu – turn of events – where a decree was issued for the Jews to be destroyed only to result in their enemies – led by the wicked Haman – being defeated.
Jewish history is replete with experiences of hardship and challenge. As a result, we had become a nation of wanderers.
From the time of our enslavement in Egypt, the persecution of the Jews continued throughout our history. A distinguishable minority and an easy scapegoat, we faced the wrath of the Romans, endured forced baptisms in England, inquisitions in Spain, forced conversions in Portugal, pogroms in Ukraine, mass exterminations in Germany and Poland, and persistent vile discrimination in Russia. In each of these countries and in countless others, we were threatened, degraded, and accused of crimes despite a lack of evidence.
Lake Hula was a very large body of water surrounded by swampland, which together made up the Hula Valley in the Upper Galilee. Remarkably, Lake Hula was nearly the same size as Lake Kineret (Sea of Galilee). Lake Hula was 5.3 kilometers long and 4.4 kilometers wide, extending over 12-14 square kilometers. In the 1950s the Israeli government determined that it was necessary to drain the Hula Valley. KKL-JNF was brought in to oversee this major project.
Last week KKL-JNF proudly reopened the Hula Lake Park after being closed for more than a year. The centerpiece of this stunning expanse is the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. How honorable that KKL-JNF invests in saving injured and orphaned wild animals and birds, providing them with an optimal environment to recover and prepare for their eventual successful release back into the wild.
In these difficult times of war, when we each try to somehow go about our day-to-day lives, our matriarch Sarah is someone from whom we can learn and draw inspiration.
Among its important post-October 7 initiatives, KKL-JNF has taken it upon itself to renovate and enhance the Rei’im Recreation Area – the site of the Nova Music Festival and massacre.
At Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund we are eagerly anticipating the beautiful holiday of Tu BiShvat. It is especially noteworthy that Jews outside the Land of Israel feel a special connection to this day. No doubt, this comes out of a longing for Eretz Yisrael and a love and concern for the people and the Land of Israel.
Toward the end of the book of Genesis we read about the roller coaster life of Joseph. We are informed that his brothers were insanely jealous of the special relationship that Joseph had with his father, and they didn’t appreciate Joseph’s fanciful, self-centered dreams. Mercilessly, they throw him into a pit leaving him to die. Later there is a change-of-heart, and they decide to sell him to merchants who are traveling down to Egypt.
This is a very difficult time period for the Jewish People, for here in Israel we are in the midst of a difficult war against a ruthless enemy. But with the help of G-d we will prevail.
As we consider the 250 hectares of the Birya Forest that have been destroyed due to the war in the North, it’s meaningful to reflect on the Jewish history that ties us to this location.
Israel is a remarkable place. Despite being in the middle of a relentless war and facing constant terror attacks, the Jewish nation presses forward.
As we consider the 1,200 dunams (120 hectares) of new agricultural land that KKL-JNF is now preparing in collaboration with the Eshkol Regional Council, it’s meaningful to reflect on what happened here in Jewish History.
Sukkot is such a beautiful holiday. Coming off the High Holidays we are excited to begin the new year with a renewed commitment to our heritage and faith.
