FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jodi Bodner
JNF Director of Communications
212-879-9305 ext. 221
jbodner@jnf.org

Ensuring the Legacy of the Jewish Veteran
Jewish National Fund Project Allows for Eternal Honor

October 30, 2006 -- New York, NY-Looking to recognize Jewish veterans for their heroism, courage, and sacrifice through their contributions to armed forces throughout the world and throughout time, and to raise $5 million for the expansion, renovation, and maintenance of the battle site and museum at Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem -- site of the 1967 battle that was the key to the reunification of Jerusalem -- Jewish National Fund (JNF) is building a wall of honor on the hill.

Families and friends will have the opportunity to honor a Jewish soldier who served or serves in the military of any country by purchasing a plaque in the wall that will list the soldier's name, country, rank, dates of service, and unit, if available. Plaques are $5,000 and with JNF's just-launched online tribute ability in time for Veteran's Day, recognition of a veteran is that much easier and can be shared by many people.

The wall will be unveiled and dedicated on the 40th anniversary of the battle: May 16, 2007. Donors are invited to attend the ceremonies.

The project is co-chaired by JNF board members Marc Leibowitz of Scotch Plains, NJ; and David Margules of Wilmington, DE.

The tribute ability allows friends, family, and co-workers to participate with an easily passed along link. Standard text is provided by JNF or can be replaced with personalized text and photographs. The technology also allows the user to create an address book to track participants and send thank you notes through the system.

With a place on the web to call their own, tribute ability allows participants to feel a part of things and to take on a project and contribute to JNF as part of a greater whole.

Dr. Stanley Wolf, Lt. JG, 1st Marine Division, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines Navy, July 1948-Mar, 1951 Korea, is the first Jewish American soldier to be honored at Ammunition Hill, with the purchase of a plaque by his children and sister. Recipient of the Bronze Star for "heroism under fire" on the front at Weejumbu, he treated hundreds of casualties from battle and severe frostbite injuries, as Marines and Army were surrounded and overrun by the Chinese at Chosin Reservoir.

"The more we learned about my father's wartime experience," said Dr. Melinda Wolf, "the more pride we felt in him as a soldier dedicated to serving his country. JNF's commitment to develop a world class museum on Ammunition Hill will restore in all Jews around the world, the connection to our brothers and sisters in Israel, and rekindle the pride that exploded in every Jew after the '67 war."

"Where better to place a wall of honor like this than at the symbol of the reunification of Jerusalem," said JNF Chief Executive Officer Russell F. Robinson. "It is for anyone who is still alive or who perished; who served in war or in peace; who fought in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War or the Red Army. Jews even fought for countries from which they were later expelled. We need to be proud of these accomplishments and show them off for all the world to see."

Ammunition Hill holds great significance in the annals of the formation of the modern Jewish State. In the 1930s, the British built a police academy in north Jerusalem and stored ammunition on the adjacent hill, which came to be known as Ammunition Hill. In the 1948 war, the Jordanians captured the site and Jewish Jerusalem was split in two. The hill, on high ground, sat at a crossroads and was thus the centerpiece of defense. Heavily fortified with dozens of trenches terraced into the hill, it was an intimidating obstacle to overcome.

Early in the morning of June 6, 1967, believing they outnumbered the Jordanians by 3 to 1 based on erroneous intelligence, about 150 Israeli paratroopers attacked the hill. In fact, the Jordanians numbered 150. Fierce hand-to-hand combat ensued with stories of personal heroism and sacrifice in abundance. By 8 a.m., the hill was Israel's but not without sustaining losses -- 36 were killed, 90 wounded. Seventy-one Jordanians died in the battle.

But on June 7, 1967, when the words "har habayit beyadenu," "the Temple Mount is in our hands," were uttered, a 2000-year-old dream came true. With the Kotel as the prize, Ammunition Hill was the price.

Today, millions of people visit the Hill, but with the addition of this Wall of Honor and expanded museum, it will become a must-see on every itinerary. The plaques, to be seen by all, will be in a wall that stands behind the amphitheater, and will be written in Hebrew and English, uniting all servicemen, no matter their country of service, to their Jewish heritage.

The project is considered a national heritage project by the Israeli government.

For information, visit http://www.jnf.org/ammunition_hill or call 888-JNF-0099.

Captions: Top: Dr. Stanley Wolf in uniform.

Bottom: The first paratroopers at the Kotel, June 1967.

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Jewish National Fund is a non-profit organization founded in 1901 to serve as caretaker of the land of Israel, on behalf of its owners-Jewish people everywhere. Over the past century, JNF has planted over 240 million trees, built over 180 reservoirs and dams, developed over 250,000 acres of land, created more than 1,000 parks, provided the infrastructure for 1,000 communities and educated students around the world about Israel and the environment. Today, JNF is restoring northern Israel, making it home again to its residents, and is putting its century of experience to work with Blueprint Negev, supporting Israel's newest generation of pioneers in developing the Negev Desert, Israel's last frontier. For more information on JNF or to plant trees in Israel, call 800-542-TREE (8733) or visit www.jnf.org/trees To contact your local office, please call 888-JNF-0099 or visit www.jnf.org.