Fonds consists of minutes of meetings, annual reports and office files relating to the operation and administration of the Jewish National Fund of Canada including its activities across Canada and in Israel, n.d., 1923-1989. Fonds also includes microfilm copy of souvenir programs of Negev Dinners, held as fund raising projects in honour of prominent community members and friends of the Jewish Community, 1949-1974, microfilm reels M-4628 to M-4633.
The fonds also contains photographs depicting activities and projects of the Jewish National Fund of Canada, 1958-1981; maps and architectural drawings of projects undertaken by the Fund, 1961-1980; commemorative medals, [ca. 1970-1981], pins [ca. 1976]; and a sound recording of a speech by John Bassett at the Negev dinner held in his honour in Toronto, 1971.
Jewish National Fund of Canada : The Jewish National Fund of Canada (JNFC) began its Canadian activities in 1906. The initial objective was land redemption, reclamation and preservation in the State of Israel. In its early days the JNFC received its budget from annual campaigns organized by the Zionist Organization of Canada (ZOC). In 1910-1912 the Canadian Zionist Convention raised $10000 to redeem land in Palestine. In 1913 the Federation of Zionist Societies in Canada redeemed 800 dunams (one dunam being equivalent to approximately one-quarter of an acre) in the Kastinia Colony in the Negev near Hebron. The JNFC's scope of activities expanded greatly in July 1927 when the Zionist Convention, held in Winnipeg, adopted a resolution to reclaim 30,000 dunams at Emek Hefer near Netanya.
In 1940 the JNFC was reorganized with the appointment of an executive director and a National Chairman to co-ordinate activities throughout Canada, although it remained an agency of the ZOC. In 1962 they separated from the ZOC and became an autonomous organization. Regional offices were established in numerous Canadian cities, with headquarters in Montreal, Quebec.
Annual fund-raising dinners were introduced in the early 1940's for special projects such as the Soldiers' Land Fund and the establishment of a colony in the name of the late A.J. Freiman, located at Emek Hefer. In 1948 the first Negev Dinner was held in Montreal. These functions have become very popular and are now held in Jewish communities throughout Canada. Traditionally, prominent members of each community who have contributed to the development and strenghtening of their community and the State of Israel are honoured at these dinners. Occasionally non-Jewish friends of Israel such as the Rt. Hon. John G. Diefenbaker and John Bassett are honoured.
Major projects undertaken by the JNFC include the creation of Canada Forest and Ein Kerem near Jerusalem, Canada Park situated between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and the town of Ilot in the Negev.
More recently, JNFC has taken on projects to build the social infrastructure in Israel. They collaborate with a variety of institutions and organizations in Israel to build social service infrastructure to benefit vulnerable populations such as youth-at-risk, victims of domestic abuse, children with special needs, veterans and the poor.
