ALBANY—Women in the region will join on Wednesday, June 11, at 7 p.m. for the Jewish National Fund-USA’s third annual Women for Israel Reception in Albany. According to organizers, the program will celebrate the unwavering spirit of women contributing to Israeli resilience while updating attendees on Israel’s Central Arava region and the organization’s work turning that remote area into a thriving oasis. The program will feature keynote speaker Tania Pons Allon, director of the Kasser Joint Institute for Food, Water & Energy Security. Formed via a groundbreaking partnership between Jewish National Fund-USA, the University of Arizona, and Israel’s Arava Regional Councils, the Institute pioneers sustainable solutions in agriculture, water technology, and energy innovation in vulnerable arid and hyper-arid settings.

Allon will share her family’s life in the challenging desert landscape of the Arava, emphasizing how, with the help of JNF-USA, the Kasser Joint Institute’s work empowers desert communities, fosters international collaboration, and reflects Israel’s leadership in turning these arid landscapes into thriving, self-sustaining environments. She will also underscore how the Arava’s commitment to agricultural innovation and resilience is vital after October 7.

“We want to be part of the global change, and we want to bring a light unto the nations,” said Allon. “The world is really facing major global challenges. The concept is here in the Arava region, we have so much experience and knowledge in the fields of food security, energy security, and water scarcity research, so why not take that knowledge and amplify it? Combining it with that of the University of Arizona, a giant in the same field of research, and really doing something for the greater good.”