We have nothing further to report at this stage regarding our new NCJWA-JNF Project, the Garden Classroom at the Or Elementary School in Be’ersheva. We expect to have an update soon re the progress of the establishment of the Garden Classroom.

A very successful JNF dinner and show of solidarity for Israel was held in Melbourne on 15th October. A positive update was received from the Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, in a video link-up with him. He was to have been one of the keynote speakers at the dinner, but was forced to cancel his plans due to the present situation in Israel. The other keynote speaker, Judy Feld Carr, spoke of her extraordinary involvement in the rescue of over 3000 Jews from Syria between 1975 and 2000.

Two new projects were introduced which will receive funding from JNF Australia and its supporters. One is the Gazelle Valley Urban Park for the people of Jerusalem and the other is the establishment of an Environmental Science Education Centre for the children of the Arava region – both truly worthwhile projects.