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Your chocolate gelt can’t help Israel, but your bitcoin can

Your bitcoin now has the potential to help the land and people of Israel

JNF-USA
JNF-USA enables crypto investors to support Israel with their earnings. Credit: Courtesy.

Chanukah is almost here, and we all know what that means: candles, latkes, dreidels and chocolate gelt! The shiny, foil-wrapped coins are a staple of the holiday, but let’s face it, no one’s getting rich (or even full) from those tiny chocolate morsels.

But what if you could transform your gelt into something truly impactful? No, we’re not talking about donating your chocolate coins. Keep those for the kids. We’re talking about bitcoin, the modern-day version of gelt, and using it to make a real difference for the land and people of Israel through Jewish National Fund-USA.

Think about it: Bitcoin and gelt are both coins, but bitcoin isn’t wrapped in foil and forgotten in a drawer by January. Instead, it’s a powerful digital asset that can fund transformative projects in Israel. From planting trees to building resilient communities in Israel’s north and south, it can light up lives in ways that chocolate never could.

And unlike chocolate gelt, donating bitcoin has actual perks:

  • Tax benefits: Skip the capital gains taxes and maximize your giving.
  • Simplicity: Platforms like The Giving Block make crypto donations seamless.
  • Big impact: Bitcoin may not be edible, but it is effective.

When you donate cryptocurrency to the Jewish National Fund, you’re turning your digital assets into tangible results:

Reforesting Israel: Bitcoin that plants trees? That’s some modern miracle.

Water solutions: From bitcoin to water conservation, your donation tackles Israel’s toughest challenges.

Supporting people with disabilities: Help create inclusive programs that empower every member of Israeli society.

This Chanukah, why not surprise Bubbe and Zayde with the news that their tech-savvy grandkid just donated Bitcoin to support Israel? It’s like giving tzedakah but with a high-tech twist.

“Bitcoin? Is that like the stock market?” they might ask.

“Well, sort of,” you’ll say, “but this time, it’s for the people of Israel.”

They’ll kvell. You’ll be a hero. And best of all, your donation will make a difference.

Farming in Israel.
Farming in Israel. Credit: Courtesy of Jewish National Fund-USA.

How to Get Started

  1. Open your digital wallet and check your bitcoin stash (or ether or even dogecoin; we won’t judge).
  2. Visit The Giving Block.
  3. Choose Jewish National Fund and watch your crypto turn into real-world impact.

We’re not saying you should skip the chocolate gelt altogether; Chanukah wouldn’t be the same without it. But this year, while you’re spinning the dreidel and munching on your gelt, take a moment to consider its real potential.

While chocolate may be sweet, a bitcoin donation to the Jewish National Fund is downright miraculous. Happy Chanukah! And may your bitcoin bring light to the land and people of Israel and beyond!

For more information, call 800-562-7526 or email: plannedgiving@jnf.org.

(This column should not be considered financial advice.)

About & contact the publisher
For 125 years, Jewish National Fund-USA has helped strengthen the land and people of Israel by investing in the communities, infrastructure, and leadership that shape the country’s future. Our work is focused on making Israel’s North and South places where families can build full, vibrant lives with access to medical care, emergency response, water solutions, parks, playgrounds, jobs, and economic opportunity. Working with our donors and partners, we support underpopulated communities, help attract new residents, improve quality of life, and create the conditions for long-term growth. Our work reaches beyond projects on the ground. Through education, travel, and leadership opportunities, we connect Americans of all ages to Israel in meaningful and lasting ways. That vision continues with the World Zionist Village in Be’er Sheva, a global center that will bring people together to live, learn, lead, and strengthen the next generation of Zionist leadership.

Learn more at jnf.org.
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