What have you got for zener diodes? It’s there to protect the input of the JFET from voltage spikes (like static). It’s more commonly seen on MOSFETs as they’re more susceptible to static and what not. I’ve rarely seen it on JFETs.
The default there is a 9.1v zener, a 12v would work there just fine and provide adequate protection. It will also work without it and I don’t believe it’s that vulnerable for damage. But someone more knowledgeable might want to confirm that.