Three Generations of Werners to Stand Together with Israel in Israel

Jewish National Fund’s August Solidarity Mission Hopes to Help Local Economy;
Mission Provides Access to Governmental Leaders & Up-Close Look at Iron Dome System

New York, NY: August 19, 2014 – Next week’s Jewish National Fund (JNF) L’Chaim Solidarity Mission will bring more than 30 Americans to Israel including one family comprising three generations.

The mission, scheduled August 24-28, is JNF’s second in a month, and will include participants from New York, Florida, Colorado and Illinois. The mission will be co-chaired by Sheryl Buchholtz, and father and son Robert and Ron Werner.

I am honored to be leading this mission with my 83-year old father, and thrilled that my 22-year old nephew, Jack, is joining us,” said Ron Werner, president of HW Home, Inc., a Colorado-based home furnishings retailer and an alumnus of Alexander Muss High School in Israel. “Three generations of the Werner family will stand together in Israel representing our family and other concerned Americans. This is the definition of Jewish continuity and Zionism.”

Jack Werner, a recent graduate of Stanford University now living and working in New York City remarked, “Earlier this summer I spent some time traveling in Turkey and when the conflict broke out I was in Istanbul. There, I saw a disturbing amount of anti-Israel sentiment, and it really jolted me. It is important for me to stand with Israelis to confront this global wave of extreme anti-Semitism.”

Robert Werner, a retired senior corporate executive from Chicago, now living in Miami, Florida with his wife, commented: “We are currently witnessing the highest levels of anti-Semitism since the 1930’s, as well as feeling the isolation of Israel. Our Israeli brothers and sisters need to know that we have their backs, that we feel for them and that we support them. Traveling to Israel is more important now than ever.”

Like the first mission that arrived during the third week of Operation Protective Edge, the upcoming L’Chaim Solidarity Mission’s itinerary includes meeting with Israeli leaders and soldiers, and residents of the Northern Negev who will share their personal stories and experiences. Participants will receive exclusive security updates and attend insider briefings with top Israeli officials, volunteer at JNF’s Indoor Recreation Center in Sderot, speak with Iron Dome IDF representatives for a unique look at the remarkable system, help deliver much-needed supplies to Israeli firefighters and Israeli Defense Forces, and hear countless stories of bravery and courage. A highlight of the first mission was shopping for and assembling some 5,000 packages later delivered to soldiers on the front line.

Billed as Breathing Life Back into Israel, the L’Chaim Solidarity missions were organized by JNF in July when constant rocket assaults from Gaza into Israel began to negatively impact Israel’s economy and the mood of her people. During Operation Protective Edge, more than four million Israelis were threatened with rocket attacks throughout the country, from the southern towns that border Gaza to the northern cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa.

The L’Chaim Solidarity Mission is open to all and the special land-only portion is priced at $900.00. Flights are not included but may be arranged upon request. The single supplement price is offered at $400. For more information or to register, visit www.jnf.org/solidaritymission or contact René Reinhard at rreinhard@jnf.org or at 212.879.9305 ext. 235.

For more information on JNF, call 303-573-7095 or visit www.jnf.org.