Matti Friedman. Photo Courtesy of JNF-USA

By Jennifer Milton

Jewish National Fund-USA (JNF-USA) recently announced its 10th annual Breakfast for Israel in Austin is returning on Friday, February 4, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. CT and will feature keynote speaker, Matti Friedman — a renowned Israeli-Canadian journalist and award-winning author who is a leading expert on Israel’s modern history. Friedman regularly calls out derogatory media bias against Israel and is well-known for re-framing the narrative about Israel in a way that resonates with many Americans.

Several of Friedman’s written works have received numerous awards and international praise. His 2016 book, “Pumpkinflowers: A Soldier’s Story of a Forgotten War,” was selected as a New York Times Notable Book and was included in Amazon’s 10 Best Books of the Year, while “Spies of No Country: Secret Lives at The Birth of Israel” was selected as the Editor’s Choice of The New York Times Book Review and won the 2018 Natan Book Award. Friedman also contributes to The New York Times Op-Ed section and has written for other esteemed publications including Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.

In addition to hearing from Friedman and joining local community members for a delicious breakfast at the Renaissance Austin Hotel, guests will learn about the impact JNF-USA and the Austin community have had on the land and people of Israel over the course of the last decade.

“Although JNF-USA is known for making Israel’s desert bloom with over 260 million trees planted to date, the organization’s footprint in Israel expands well beyond just planting trees,” said JNF-USA Austin Breakfast for Israel Chair Bruce Zimmerman. “JNF-USA is developing new communities and creating affordable housing in the Negev and Galilee, connecting the next generation to Israel, investing in Zionist education, creating infrastructure and programs that support ecology, individuals with special needs and heritage site preservation, to name a few. Join us for this phenomenal event to learn how you can make a difference in the Jewish homeland from right here in the Lone Star State.”

During his keynote address, Friedman will provide insight into some of the false and negative biases that stem from media reports, the misconception they create of Israel as a center of major global conflict and how to speak about Israel in a new and compelling way despite these challenges.

There is no cost to attend this event. Register at jnf.org/bfiaustin. Questions? Contact Chayla Furlong, JNF-USA Director, Central Texas at (512) 410-1438 x948 at CFurlong@jnf.org. ■