National Student Activists to Attend Eco-Zionism Conference Hosted by Jewish National Fund On March 24-26

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE via COLLEGIATE PRESSWIRE)--March 6, 2000--Seventy-five student activists from colleges and universities across the nation will attend the 5th Annual Eco-Zionism Conference at Camp Young Judea, Sprout Lake, in upstate New York from March 24-26.

Sponsored by Jewish National Fund, the Consulate General of Israel and Ben Gurion University, the conference builds on the Jewish eco-awareness that has swept college campuses for the last five years.

''Today`s student leaders are motivated to get involved with environmental causes, and what we are trying to teach them is that there are natural connections between Judaism and the protection of the land. They need to know that they can play a significant role in helping to preserve Israel`s environment, and that it can be an important part of their practice of Judaism'' says Stephanie R. Stein, director, JNF College Activists Department. ''This is the focus of the Eco-Zionism Conference.''

The most serious crisis facing Israel today is a severe water shortage. In a special message to student leaders, Ronald S. Lauder, President of JNF, spoke of this situation, saying: ''Despite heavy rain this winter, new reservoirs and dams are needed to capture the runoff from winter rainwater. Students can play an important role in helping the Jewish community understand this new priority.'' The students attending the conference will come away with concrete ways to help communicate these environmental concerns to their fellow students.

Stein explained that the JNF conference will be a wonderful weekend for students to come together in a beautiful, natural setting to explore the spiritual connections between ecology, Shabbat, Israel and Judaism. At the last four Eco-Zionism Conferences, students made lasting friendships and returned to their universities knowledgeable, motivated, and armed with the skills to implement eco-Zionism programming.

For information about the Eco-Zionism Conference, call Stephanie R. Stein, Director, JNF College Activists Department (212) 879-9305 or email [email protected].