Jewish Federations Board Chair Gary Torgow and President & CEO Eric D. Fingerhut joined hundreds of Jewish community leaders from around the world on Monday, June 29, at The Jewish Agency's Board of Governors meeting in Israel for the cornerstone-laying ceremony of the Western Negev Building Project at Kibbutz Ein HaShlosha, one of the communities brutally attacked on October 7. 

 

The initiative will bring up to 1,000 new housing units to communities across the Western Negev, welcoming new families and helping drive the region's long-term recovery and growth. 

 

The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Israeli government; Adam Minsky, president and CEO of the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto; Erika B. Rudin-Luria, president of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland; Eric S. Goldstein, CEO of the UJA-Federation of New York; Michael Hoffman, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County; Michael Balaban. president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia; Scott Kaufman. CEO of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit; Yair Szlak, president and CEO of Federation CJA; along with local community leaders and residents. 

 

The Western Negev Building Project marks the transition from recovery to renewal—not simply rebuilding what was lost but expanding communities and laying the foundation for long-term demographic and economic growth throughout the region. The project is being led by The Jewish Agency in partnership with Israel's Ministry of the Negev, Galilee and National Resilience, the Ministry of Finance, the Tkuma Directorate, and the Ministry of Construction and Housing. 

 

As a longtime strategic partner of The Jewish Agency, Jewish Federations are helping support the effort through Rebuild Israel, their long-term initiative to strengthen Israel's recovery following the October 7 attacks. Launched in late 2025, Rebuild Israel invests in trauma healing and mental health support, community resilience, support for reservists and their families, small business recovery, agricultural restoration, community infrastructure development, and expanded educational opportunities to help communities rebuild and thrive. 

 

The housing initiative includes approximately 1,000 new homes across 14 Western Negev communities, including Kibbutz Ein HaShlosha, where 46 homes will be built. Other participating communities include Kerem Shalom, Nirim, Holit, Kfar Aza, Nir Yitzhak, Shlomit, Kissufim, Nahal Oz, Magen, Alumim, Sufa, Yevul, and Gevaram. Amigur, The Jewish Agency's housing subsidiary, will oversee planning and construction in coordination with local leadership. 

 

Apart from housing construction that is funded through separate streams, community support from Jewish Federations of North America will provide participating communities with dedicated funding for community development projects, including public facilities, recreational amenities, and sports infrastructure. 

 

To finance the project, The Jewish Agency secured NIS 1 billion in credit backed by a state guarantee through the Accountant General of Israel's Ministry of Finance, together with philanthropic support from Jewish communities and foundations worldwide, including Keren Hayesod, the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation, and the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago. Financing will be provided by the First International Bank of Israel and investment firm Altshuler Shaham, selected through a competitive tender process. The project will also receive government grants and equity contributions from participating communities. 

 

The Jewish Agency will oversee every stage of the initiative—from planning and construction through the sale of homes to incoming families—under the professional guidance of the Ministry of the Negev, Galilee and National Resilience, with solutions tailored to the unique needs of each community.