Boulder Jewish News Arts, Culture, Events, Lifestyles, Holidays, Synagogues, Education
(Jerusalem) The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) led by founder and president Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, donated over one million dollars during the holiday period to provide food for approximately twenty thousand families in need during the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashana) and the Muslim month of Ramadan.
The food packages were distributed through IFCJ’s Israel counterpart, Hakeren Leyedidut, and its partners Latet, Kollel Chabad and Yad B’Yad. Over $200,000 of the funds were earmarked for 58 of Israel’s Arab community councils allowing 2,400 families of this community to celebrate the many break fasts throughout the month of Ramadan.
The gifts are part of IFCJ’s ongoing efforts to eliminate the crisis of families who suffer from “nutritional insecurity” in Israel.
During this holiday period, as we gather around our tables and celebrate with our families it is important that we think of the hundreds of thousands of Israelis that do not even have enough to feed their loved ones,” said Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, founder and president of IFCJ and Hakeren Leyedidut. “Our contribution reminds these families that there are people not only thinking of them but furnishing real aid. IFCJ has set a goal to eliminate the phenomenon of hungry families in Israel. We hope that this year, together with our partners in the Israeli government, we will make major strides in ensuring national nutritional security for Israel.”
HaKeren L’Yedidut works to strengthen the social fabric of Israeli society. The Fellowship, which operates through the generous contribution of U.S. citizens and Christians who love Israel around the world, helps populations in situations of poverty and risk, encourages immigration and absorption, and invests in the citizens of Israel’s welfare and safety during emergencies. Over the past ten years of operation in the country, the Fellowship has contributed over a billion shekels ($260.5 million USD) to social projects in Israel.
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), headquartered in Chicago and Jerusalem, was founded in 1983 by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein for the purpose of building bridges of cooperation and understanding between both faith communities and together supporting Israel and Jews in need throughout the world. To date, IFCJ has raised two-thirds of a billion dollars to support programs aiding the sick, elderly, orphaned and at-risk populations in Israel, the former Soviet Union, Ethiopia, India, Latin America and Arab countries. For more information about IFCJ programs and projects, visit www.ifcj.org.
