KKL-JNF Chair Ifat Ovadia-Luski addressed the Israel Hayom summit in New York, telling participants that the terror onslaught Israel faced two years ago reshaped how Jewish communities see their shared destiny with the Jewish state.
"Two years ago, on October 7, we, as a nation and as a People, faced an brutal terror attack, causing destruction, loss, and deep shock," she said, referring to the massacre carried out by Hamas, which resulted in devastation, loss and a profound national trauma. "It was an horrific massacre of Jews on a scale unseen since the Holocaust. It quickly became clear: this war was not just Israel's war it was the war of the entire Jewish people."
Video: Ifat Ovadia-Luski at the Israel Hayom summi
She noted that in the months after the attack, "An unprecedented wave of antisemitism spread across the world — in schools, on campuses, in the streets of major cities across the U.S., Europe, and wherever Jews live. For the first time in decades, Jewish communities felt threatened simply for being who they are. Yet the most important — and hopeful — response came from world Jewry: Not theoretical support. Not slogans. But real,practical help."
Ovadia-Luski said this period created a shift in the relationship between Israel and the Jewish diaspora. "For the first time in years, the connection between Israel and the Diaspora stopped being an abstract idea. We saw it in action. We saw it save lives. It was a moment in which we all understood: the bond between Israel and world Jewry is a living partnership, not a theory. Today, more than ever, Jewish unity worldwide is a strategic interest for Israel."
She described KKL's work since the outbreak of the war. "As part of the effort to deal with the consequences of the war KKL-JNF took on a leading role. Not only to restore what was destroyed, but to strengthen the backbone of Israeli society. In the South, we were there from the first hours of fighting — and the same in the North. We provided emergency aid and then moved to recovery. We built a new neighborhood for Kibbutz Kfar Aza in Kibbutz Ruhama. Rehabilitated agricultural and security infrastructure in the Gaza envelope. Provided aid to communities on the frontlines. We turned Re'im— the site of the Nova music festival massacre — into a memorial site. Planted an entire forest in Beeri so that each of the fallen would have a tree in their memory. Established resilience centers — in Sderot, Sha'ar HaNegev, and other communities. And it's important to emphasize: Jewish communities in the Diaspora were full partners in creating these centers. Communities in South& north America, Europe, and Australia supported these projects with a deep understanding: Israeli resilience is Jewish resilience."
Ovadia-Luski concluded by stressing that the mission ahead remains significant. "After two years of war and towards the nation's recovery, a long-term strategic plan is needed to strengthen the connection between Israel and the Diaspora. Not just a plan activated in moments of crisis, but an ongoing vision. The next generation — must feel part of a single story, part of a contemporary Zionist narrative. Otherwise, we risk losing what history has given us — through sacrifice and through grace. The future of the Jewish people depends on our ability to maintain cohesion even as the world around us is unstable . Alongside the challenge lies a rare opportunity — to rebuild and strengthen the essence of the global Jewish connection. Dear Friends, The history of the Jewish people is not a series ;of exiles and pogroms It is a series of growth ;Of shaking off the dust We have proven throughout history — and in the past two years that we can rise again. That we can unite. That we can rebuild. Our mission now is to make sure that this unity, born from crisis, becomes a way of life. I want to thank the communities, federations, organizations, and individuals for your dedication and commitment. KKL-JNF will continue to be a branch, a root, and a canopy — for Israel and for the Jewish communities around the world — building, developing, and keep strengthening the State of Israel."
