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Rebuilding Israel’s north after Oct. 7

“The Quad” with guest Deb Lust

In this episode of “The Quad,” Deb Lust, president of Jewish National Fund-USA, joins Fleur Hassan-Nahoum to expose the real story of Israel’s recovery in the north: the heartbreak, the hope and the hard work taking place far from the cameras.

With thousands displaced and Israel’s northern communities still under threat, JNF-USA is leading bold efforts to bring families home, create lasting security and restore local economies—from launching culinary hubs to building infrastructure and employment pipelines. But this conversation isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It’s about Jewish identity, resilience and the unbreakable spirit of a people who refuse to let others deem the fate or direction of their lives.

Key topics include:

  • The aftermath of the Oct. 7 terror attacks and the silent crisis in the north
  • Why security and stability are essential for displaced families
  • JNF’s community-led rebuilding strategy
  • Cultivating Jewish identity in a time of rising antisemitism
  • How local leadership and innovation are driving Israel’s comeback
JNS TV show with Fleur Hassan-Nahoum (deputy mayor of Jerusalem), Emily Schrader (activist and journalist), Ashira Solomon (African-American Jew and political moderator) and Vivian Bercovici (former Canadian ambassador to Israel).
The Federation told JNS exclusively that it is ending its engagement with a consultant, who headed one of its communications projects, after JNS reported that he advised attendees at a Federations conference to avoid using the word “Zionism.”
Israel has “a right to kick out and stop working with UNRWA any time it wants,” the legal scholar Eugene Kontorovich told JNS. “Moreover, it’s not even obligated to work with any U.N. agency, only to ensure that certain humanitarian needs are met.”
The U.S. president insists that American naval forces are maintaining a strict blockade until Tehran agrees to a deal or total surrender.
“You try to take us down, we’ll come back bigger and better,” Howard Szalavetz told JNS of plans to rebuild the restaurant as police probe the fire as a possible hate crime.