Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) released a special edition of its blue charity box, commemorating Operation Iron Swords, to help Israel rebuild after more than two years of war.
The metal box was designed in hopes of telling the story of “Israeli resilience” since Hamas’s invasion on October 7, 2023, the organization shared.
Since the beginning of the 20th Century, KKL-JNF has released annual boxes to support Jewish communities in the diaspora to collect donations for Israeli causes.
The boxes have been placed in synagogues, schools, private homes, and, famously, on the desk of Theodor Herzl, in the Warsaw Ghetto, and in the ruins of Kibbutz Nir Oz.
KKL-JNF's charity box design
Crafted from metal, the design of the box is inspired by the historic art of paper cutting, the organization explained. It depicts soldiers carrying the Israeli flag as a tribute to the security forces who fought in the war.
On the upper sections of the box, the design highlights the destruction inflicted on Israel since the invasion. Shifting themes from destruction to renewal, the lower section depicts a tractor plowing the land beside new homes.
The sides of the box highlight the themes of war and peace, deliberately decorated with furrows and anemones, KKL-JNF shared.
Ifat Ovadia-Luski, KKL-JNF Chairwoman: “Since KKL-JNF’s founding, the blue box has accompanied the history of the Jewish people in the Diaspora and in the Land of Israel. We are living through historic days for the State of Israel, and we chose to release a special edition that tells the story of these times, not only of grief and destruction, but also of determination to rise and rebuild. It is a story of a difficult war, but also of a resilient people focused on renewal. The blue box has always symbolized the Jewish people’s partnership in building the Land, and it continues to fulfill this role today as part of KKL-JNF’s recovery mission.”