Podcast appearances and mentions of Russell F Robinson

Over the last two years, Jewish National Fund-USA has had incredible success pivoting away from traditional fundraising methods and focusing on their partners' (donors) needs, making thousands of wellness calls to check up on people and launching virtual tours of Israel for people who wanted to see their ancestral homeland from the comfort of their own home. Now, under CEO Russell F. Robinson's leadership, JNF-USA is stronger than ever, with a vast array of programs and initiatives for the land and people of Israel. Host Steven Shalowitz sits down with Robinson to discuss the importance of teen travel to Israel, his excitement about bringing JNF-USA's upcoming $350 million World Zionist Village to fruition, and the importance of JNF-USA's Conversations on Zionism and why we need to keep the discussion going.

In this episode of Restarting America, Josh Gibbs from 97 Switch interviews Russell F. Robinson, CEO of Jewish National Fund-USA. Throughout the interview, they discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on business and society. Robinson shares how the current health pandemic has affected JNF-USA and how he is adapting to new circumstances. In 1998, Robinson became the youngest CEO in JNF-USA's history. He is constantly traveling around the US and Israel to meet with JNF-USA's partners and affiliates to ensure that their vision and philanthropic investment is more relevant and meaningful today than ever before, particularly among its growing 22-40-year-old JNFuture leadership division. Today, almost 120 years after it was founded, JNF-USA is unparalleled in the Jewish philanthropic world. JNF-USA's strategic vision has been, and always will be, to ensure a strong, secure, and prosperous future for the land and people of Israel. Everything JNF-USA does—every project, initiative, and campaign—is integral to the organization's vision of building and connecting to Israel. JNF-USA plants trees, builds houses and parks, sources water solutions, buys fire trucks, and improves the lives of people with special needs. In addition, JNF-USA works to boost tourism, support Aliyah, promote Zionist education and engagement, build medical centers and trauma centers, fund agricultural and culinary research, and run a high school semester study abroad program in Israel. Robinson has succeeded in making JNF-USA one of the top-rated charities in the United States, and the leading organization for the land and people of Israel. He has been ranked on The Jerusalem Post's list of the World's 50 Most Influential Jews and oversees the organization's groundbreaking One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade. Robinson has been featured in best-selling management books and regularly appears on TV, radio, and in print media. A sixth-generation American Jew, Robinson grew up in El Paso, Texas. His family first laid down its American roots in Petersburg, Virginia after emigrating from Alsace-Lorraine in the late 1700s.

On this week’s episode, we’re back at Jewish National Fund House in NYC, and our featured guest is familiar to all in the JNF world and well beyond – JNF CEO Russell Robinson! Russell was our first guest and now our first repeat guest. He joins us to give an update about what’s going on in the Jewish National Fund world, and speaks about the culmination of an 11-city tour in 14 days. The tour showed the reality of what is really happening on the border of Gaza, an area that faced a wave of extreme terrorism this summer. To learn more about JNF's efforts in this area, visit jnf.org/gaza. Russell also gives an update to the One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade, and Jewish National Fund’s work with water, housing and community development.

In 1998, Russell became the youngest CEO in JNF's history. He works tirelessly, traveling around the country and visiting Israel almost every month, to ensure JNF's vision is more relevant and meaningful today than ever before. Today, more than 110 years after it was founded, JNF gives all generations of Jews a unique voice in building and ensuring the prosperity of the land of Israel through their generosity and partnership with the people of Israel. Jewish National Fund is a leader in environmental activism, Zionist education, sustainable community development in the Negev and Galilee, the protection of historical landmarks, and water resource development. No other organization makes a greater impact on the land and the people of Israel. Under Russell's direction, JNF is one of the most recognized non-profits for its work, cultivation of a younger donor population, business management, financial integrity and volunteer involvement. Russell is featured in the best selling management book, “The 24 hour Turnaround, How Amazing Entrepreneurs Succeed in Tough Times.” Russell is a sixth generation American Jew. His family first laid down its American roots in Petersburg, Virginia after emigrating from Alsace Lorraine in the late 1700's.

Russell F. Robinson, JNF's CEO and a member of its global board of directors, is the featured guest on this inaugural national edition of Radio Chavura. Robinson divulges that at this year's national conference, JNF will formally announce an unprecedented 10-year, $1 billion fundraising campaign, that he says will be "the most innovative, most bold campaign" even untaken by a Jewish organization.   The national edition of Radio Chavura is intended to build support for the Jewish National Fund conference to be held in Denver from October 25th through October 28th. The conference will bring together hundreds of committed Jewish leaders from across the United States to learn about JNF's ongoing work on behalf of the land and people of Israel. Those attending will also have the opportunity to meet and interact with committed volunteers of all ages, as well as to contribute their own ideas for enriching the work of JNF. "Colorado has a flourishing and vibrant Jewish community which couldn't be more excited to welcome the JNF national conference," says Maxwell Rotbart, co-host of Radio Chavura. Rotbart notes that the Colorado Jewish community, which predates statehood in 1876, gave rise to the United Way and helped inspire Golda Meir's Zionism during her sojourn in Denver as a high schooler.  Well-known global brands that have Jewish roots in Colorado, include Samsonite Luggage, Hot Pockets, and perhaps most famous of all, the Barbie doll.  (Inventor Ruth Mosko Handler was born and raised in Denver.) Today, Colorado is an incubator of many cutting edge companies in the technology and health sectors, serving as the global headquarters of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs, which educates and connects biomedical and health innovators who seek to commercialize their ideas, inventions and discoveries. Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, who recently returned from an inspiring visit to Israel, will be the JNF conference's opening speaker on Friday, October 25th.  Other Coloradans scheduled to participate in the program include Rabbi Joe R. Black, spiritual leader of Temple Emanuel; Jerome "Jerry" Tinianow, chief sustainability officer for the City of Denver; and Dr. Jeanne Abrams, an historian and professor at the University of Denver.   At the breakfast and closing plenary on Monday, October 28th, Ken Salazar, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior and a former U.S. Senator from Colorado, will be the speaker.  During the breakfast, longtime JNF lay leaders, Eugene "Gene" Kay and Stanley Kamlet will be honored for their years of service.  CREDITS: Hosts: Maxwell and Dean Rotbart Musical Director:  Julie Geller Audio Production:  Blane Nichols Additional Audio Elements:  Jason Hickman Director of Research:  Talya Rotbart Staff Photographer:  Avital Rotbart Opening Announcement: Eugene Kay Opening Music (Hinei Mah Tov) and Closing Credits (Elokai):  Julie Geller Songs: Zum Gali Gali - Fred Fastow, Jewish Songs for Classical Guitar Maym Mayin - Israeli Folk Group, Authentic Israeli Folk Songs & Dances Lo Yisa Goy - Miami Boys Choir Yism'Chu - Rabbi Joe Black, Sabbatical JNF Liaisons:  Neta Yoffe (New York) and Boaz Meir (Colorado)

: Russell F. Robinson Chief Executive Officer of Jewish National Fund Marc Kelman is an active member of the Jewish community of Phoenix, AZ, President, Western Zone; National Chair, Major Gifts JNF on the Recent Fire Crisis in the Carmel;Jay FeinberG