Around 70 percent of Canada Park, a forest in the hills west of Jerusalem established by donations to the Jewish National Fund (JNF) Canada, has been destroyed in devastating wildfires on April 30 and May 1, leaving an estimated 2,000 acres of parkland in ashes.
The wildfires that consumed at least 5,000 acres, and up to 20,000 acres according to some Israeli media reports, coincided with Israeli Remembrance Day and Independence Day celebrations, resulting in cancellations of official celebrations the night of April 30. The country declared a national state of emergency while fires burned in the hills to the west of the Israeli capital, destroying nature reserves and farmlands as well as forests. Several communities had to be temporarily evacuated, although no major injuries were reported.
The blazes engulfed areas in and around Jerusalem for an estimated 30 hours before firefighters contained the fires, and disrupted travel on roads and train lines.
Smaller fires were also reported May 2 in Latrun, near Jerusalem, and in Ramle, in central Israel, and firefighters were able to bring those fires under control in a shorter time.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said, incorrectly, that Palestinians had started the Jerusalem fires, and that 18 people had been arrested. Police in Israel say they have arrested three suspects. According to a report in the Times of Israel, “Hebrew media reported that a preliminary assessment by the fire service indicated that the blazes were likely caused primarily by negligent hikers, not arson.”
In an email May 1, JNF Canada wrote to supporters that “we are heartbroken to share that much of Canada Park has been reduced to ashes. This cherished forest, realized thanks to you, your parents and your grandparents, stood as a symbol of our collective commitment to the land and people of Israel.”
The organization’s campaign, which began in 1972, raised $15 million for the forested area, also known as Ayalon Park and Ayalon-Canada Park, which was completed in 1984. The park contained green space, hiking and biking trails, picnic areas and forests, JNF Canada said. The park is located in part of the West Bank.
“In the middle of the park, a section of the forest was planted to commemorate the Americans and Canadians who died in Israel’s wars or were victims of terror,” read the email from JNF Canada. “Over 300,000 tourists and residents visit the park annually at no cost. It is a jewel in the crown of the Israeli park system.”
Lance Davis, CEO JNF Canada, took questions via email from The CJN, and says that the full extent of the damage to the forest can’t yet be determined because it’s still too dangerous for authorities to perform an on-the-ground assessment.
“The experts have shared that over 2,000 acres of forest within the park have been destroyed, with more than 5,000 acres affected across the wider region,” Davis wrote on May 5. “We do not yet know how many trees were lost. The scale of this environmental loss is profound.”
According to Davis, “thousands of Canadians” participated in the project supporting parks in Israel. Canada Park has symbolized, for “many Canadian families,” a certain “expression of tzedakah often passed down through generations” for the place that he described as “an integral part of Israel’s natural and cultural landscape.”
Davis told The CJN that the estimate of the financial toll is in the millions of dollars.
“Firefighters must extinguish all active blazes and areas where there is a potential for flare ups, clear thousands of acres of debris, and address any urgent infrastructure or safety needs. Beyond the financial costs, the emotional and personal loss for many Canadian families is immeasurable,” he wrote.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to the brave emergency responders who are working tirelessly—often at great personal risk—to contain the fires and protect lives, land, and legacy,” wrote Davis.
The campaign email from JNF Canada detailed two upcoming phases for the park’s renewal.
“Once the fire is completely extinguished, the parks and forests need to be cleaned and cleared of all debris to ensure that it is safe (phase 1),” read the campaign email. “The foresters need to access the park in order to complete an assessment and determine phase 2 of a revitalization plan.”
JNF Canada wants to raise $500,000 toward the first phase of the renewal project.
“This is only the first step towards what will be a multi-year rehabilitation of Canada Park,” according to the email.
The organization no longer issues tax-deductible receipts after losing its charitable tax status in 2024. JNF Canada has filed an appeal, which is being heard in the Federal Court of Appeal later in May, after a judge denied JNF’s request for an injunction in November, citing a lack of jurisdiction, and dismissed JNF Canada’s application for a judicial review in a decision that reinforced the charitable status revocation. JNF is now appealing that decision in the Federal Court of Appeal on May 28, while a separate proceeding continues in its previous Federal Court of Appeal filing to appeal the revocation decision.
Meanwhile, another charity, Israel Magen Fund of Canada, is co-presenting the annual JNF Canada Negev Dinner fundraiser in Montreal on May 25, following one in Calgary May 8, and another event in November, in Ottawa.
Toronto philanthropist Miles Nadal, the founder, chairman & CEO of Peerage Capital Group, has been a major contributor to Canada Park’s more recent developments.
According to a page on Nadal’s website, JNF Canda’s Negev Dinner in 2007 honouring him helped the organization execute a “large-scale sustainable development and renewal project” at Ayalon Canada Park.
Nadal was travelling but sent an email statement in lieu of an interview when reached by The CJN.
“I am heartbroken by the wildfire damage done to communities and the surrounding areas,” he wrote. “Ayalon Canada Park is a very special place, a microcosm of the miracle that is Israel. From the arid landscape, a beautiful oasis was created. It is a space where families can enjoy nature and where important archeological history is preserved. I will fully support the restoration of the park for future generations.”
Heather Ringel, a regular contributor to The CJN, was in Jerusalem and described the city during Yom ha-Atzmaut celebrations in an email on May 1.
“The crowds and traffic are very light, but the train from Ben Gurion (airport) to Jerusalem was packed with Israelis enjoying the holiday. There is a slight smell of smoke in the air but the sky is blue—it rained lightly earlier this afternoon,” wrote Ringel. “Even though formal celebrations were cancelled, the parks are still very busy with families enjoying barbecues.”
An email campaign from Keren Kayemeth L’Yisrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) calls for support for the organization’s revitalization activities.
“The flames have passed, but the damage remains,” reads part of an online post. “KKL-JNF is leading vital restoration efforts to replant trees, rehabilitate habitats, and breathe new life into scorched landscapes.”
