The Bridge

Israel Apartheid Week \

Advocacy

Dear Friend of Israel,

If it weren’t so tragic, it would be laughable – calling Israel an apartheid state, comparing the one true democracy in the Middle East to the oppressive legal system once in use in South Africa. But that’s exactly what the organizers of the annual “Israel Apartheid Week” (IAW) believe. Their event takes place on college campuses around the world beginning early next week, as they seek “to educate people about the nature of Israel as an apartheid system.”

Racing Team Hopes to Drive Home Support for Israel

ccourtney — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:03:41 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

US-Israel relations

America Israel Racing (AIR), formed to raise awareness of the importance of Americans supporting the Jewish state, has its eyes on a very public forum for its message: the Daytona 500. The car, painted with both the American and Israeli flags, competes today to earn a spot in Sunday’s Daytona 500 race.

“This is a critical time in our nation’s history as it pertains to our relationship with Israel,” said Rich Shirey, cofounder of AIR.

Helping Women Escape Poverty and Abuse

ccourtney — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:11:18 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Thanks to our generous donors, women in Israel who wish to escape domestic violence can turn to Bat Melech, the women’s shelter that IFCJ sponsors just outside Jerusalem.

Mobilizing Hope for Youth in Distress

ccourtney — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:10:44 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Youth \

Immigrants

To reach out to homeless young people, you often have to go to them. So with the help of The Fellowship, ELEM operates 15 Friendship Outreach Vans that drive through the worst parts of Israel each night looking for young adults living on the streets in order to provide them with food, clothing, blankets, medical care, and messages of hope.

Daily Meals for a Large Family in Need

ccourtney — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:13:46 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Story \

Hunger

Yehudah, 45, lives in Jerusalem with his wife and six children, who are all under the age of 10. Their life is based on faith and Bible study. Before the birth of their youngest child, who has mental and physical disabilities, Yehudah supported his family and their minimal needs on his salary as a scribe, copying holy texts by hand just as was done in biblical times.

Monday Devotional: God's Inheritance

ccourtney — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:21:43 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

"But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people he chose for his inheritance." —Psalm 33:11–12

We tend to think of an inheritance as the legal transmission of property after death, but in a broader sense an inheritance is a possession – perhaps a treasured heirloom that is priceless to the one who possesses it, even if no one else can see its value. It may be tattered, torn, faded, and practically worthless, but it is valued.

A Rare Snow Party in Israel

ccourtney — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:18:26 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

Winter \

Earlier this week many children in Modi’in, a municipality between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, enjoyed playing in snow for the first time in their lives. A shopping mall in Modi’in, which normally doesn’t receive snowfall, had loads of snow shipped in from the Golan Heights. Children of all ages – and even some adults – enjoyed the rare chance to build snowmen and start a few snowball fights.

Standing with Israel in a Social Media Age

ccourtney — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:06:49 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

Social media \

Facebook \

Anti-Semitism

Dear Friend of Israel,

It happened again this week – our Stand for Israel and Fellowship Facebook pages were flooded with virulently anti-Semitic comments. Our staff spent hours on Sunday clearing them of the hateful remarks. This isn’t the first time we’ve experienced this kind of attack, and we know that it won’t be the last. In the age of social media, words have greater power and reach than ever before.

Yael on Israeli TV

ccourtney — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:32:08 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Yael Eckstein was recently on the Israeli live morning news program "The Orly and Guy Show." Watch her talk about The Fellowship's efforts to help impoverished elderly residents in Israel -- especially during these cold winter months.

The Fellowship Helps Students Thrive

ccourtney — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:57:38 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Students \

Youth \

Education

The Fellowship has launched a new project to provide vocational training, college-prep education, and academic grants to new Ethiopian immigrants and underprivileged graduates of the welfare system in Israel who have no family backing or other means of support.

An Inspiring Aliyah

ccourtney — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:57:32 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Aliyah \

Elderly

After we shared in Rabbi Eckstein’s joy when his parents, ages 91 and 84, made aliyah (immigrated) to Israel last May, we found this story of another elderly couple making aliyah especially endearing.

A Young Girl and Her Family Find Hope Thanks to The Fellowship

ccourtney — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:08:16 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Stories \

Yael is a good-natured girl in the third grade at a religious school for special education. She suffers from severe Attention Deficit Disorder, which was neglected for years by her parents. Despite this challenge, Yael is very social and popular among her peers. One of her favorite activities is playing the drum at the Fellowship-sponsored Metsuba After-School Activity Center.

Spreading Support for Israel Around the World!

ccourtney — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:38:26 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

South Korea \

Australia \

Dear Friend of Israel,

As I write this, I am jetlagged but excited. Earlier this week I returned from a long trip through Asia and the Pacific Rim. My final stop was Seoul, South Korea, where we recently began working. The Christian community is thriving – and growing – there, and many of these people of faith support Israel and the Jewish people. We can’t wait to get our Korean operations up and running so that we can help these Asian friends understand the Jewish roots of their faith and provide a way for them to stand in solidarity with Israel.

Monday Devotional: Whom Will You Serve?

ccourtney — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:52:53 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Bible \

Godly living

"Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." —Joshua 24:14–15

Providing Warmth to Israel's Elderly Population

ccourtney — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:04:04 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Elderly

Empowering Women in Crisis

ccourtney — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:43:20 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

The Fellowship\

Women's issues\

Learn about our efforts to assist and empower women struggling with poverty, abuse, unemployment, and other crises. The Fellowship cares about women in need!

An Israeli Hospital with Heart

ccourtney — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:07:10 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

Medical assistance \

Palestinians

Israel was showing her true, beautiful colors again recently when doctors as Rambam Medical Center in Haifa saved the life of Aya Almasal, a 12-year-old Palestinian Arab girl from Gaza. Aya, who had suffered from a lifelong battle with unexplained unconsciousness, was on her way to the hospital when her heart stopped working.

Ask the Rabbi: What Is Tu B'Shvat?

ccourtney — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:48:45 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

Jewish Holidays \

Tonight at sundown, Jews around the world begin observing the holiday of Tu B'Shvat. Tu B'Shvat occurs on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Shvat ("Tu," by the way, indicates the number "15" in Hebrew). It is also known as "The New Year of the Trees."

On Women's Rights, Israel Stands Tall

ccourtney — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:08:08 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

Women's issues

Dear Friend of Israel,

What began with Naama Margolese, an eight-year-old Orthodox girl in Israel, and a handful of overzealous, ultra-Orthodox men who began harassing her has grown into an ongoing international discussion about women’s rights. Though I’m saddened that it took this event to start the conversation, I’m glad it is taking place. The issue of women’s rights, especially throughout the Middle East, is in dire need of our attention.

Monday Devotional: An Abundance of Blessings

ccourtney — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:20:44 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

Holy Land Moments

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him." — Psalm 34:8

Perhaps one of Jesus’ most familiar and beloved teachings was spoken while he sat on a mountainside overlooking the Sea of Galilee. We know it best as the Sermon on the Mount, or the Beatitudes, which comes from the Latin word for “blessings.”

Yael Addresses Women’s International Zionist Organization

ccourtney — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:01:09 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Yael Eckstein recently spoke at the Women’s International Zionist Organization (WIZO) conference in Tel Aviv, Israel. She shared about what The Fellowship is doing for women and other vulnerable populations in Israel. Below is a portion of her remarks:

The Fellowship Helps Fire Victims

ccourtney — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:15:30 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Disaster victims \

It was a night that turned into every parent’s nightmare. Residents at a modest apartment building in Be’er Yaakov, a low-income neighborhood in central Israel, awoke to screaming, hysteria, and the smell of smoke everywhere. Avivit and Arik Binyaminov, 28 and 29 respectively, ran to check on their three daughters, who were sobbing with fear. The parents snatched up the three girls, ages six, five, and one-and-a-half, and tried to figure out how to escape.

The Fellowship Distributes Amharic Bibles

ccourtney — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:13:05 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Ethiopian immigrants \

Bible

Without daily exposure to Hebrew in school, many older members of the Ethiopian community lack the Hebrew-language skills needed to study the standard edition of the Hebrew Bible. So The Fellowship is providing 1,000 Bibles printed in Amharic, the native Ethiopian language, to synagogues and Ethiopian spiritual centers across Israel. The Amharic edition released by The Fellowship also contains Hebrew text to help readers gain Hebrew-language skills.

Gratitude from One of Our Partners

ccourtney — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:06:18 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

JAFI \

Aliyah

President of International Development for the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) Dr. Misha Galperin wrote to thank Rabbi Eckstein for The Fellowship’s recent donation.

The Fellowship and JAFI have partnered for many years to bring Jews home to Israel and foster a better connection between Jews and their faith.

Here’s a portion of Dr. Galperin’s letter:

Unity Through Music

ccourtney — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:23:46 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Christianity \

Judaism \

Music

Andy Statman, an Orthodox Jewish mandolin and clarinet player, and Ricky Skaggs, an evangelical Christian country music singer, recently joined forces on Statman's latest album, on the song "The Lord Will Provide."

Listen in to how this unlikely pairing came to be and enjoy a sampling of this moving musical number.

A Special-Needs Student Receives Specialized Care

ccourtney — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:19:22 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Education \

Hunger \

Eleven-year-old Avi has been going to the Neve Ofer After-School Activity Center for the past two years. He lives in the residential neighborhood of Neve Ofer, a poverty-ridden section of Tel Aviv, in a small two-bedroom apartment he shares with his parents and grandparents. Jobs are scarce there, and money is tight.

Monday Devotional: The Best for Last

ccourtney — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:14:34 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Holy Land Moments

"So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son." — Ruth 4:13

The U.N.'s Holocaust Hypocrisy

David Kuner — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:09:10 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

IFCJ \

Holocaust

In November 2005, the United Nations designated January 27 as a day to honor victims of the Holocaust. This date was chosen for a reason – on January 27, 1945, Russian troops liberated the notorious Nazi death camp at Auschwitz, where more than one million people were murdered as part of Hitler's evil plan to exterminate the Jewish people.

What You Need to Know About the Holocaust

ccourtney — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:32:01 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Holocaust \

Resources \

Stand for Israel

Want to learn more about the Holocaust in advance of tomorrow, International Holocaust Remembrance Day?

Our sister site, Stand for Israel, has a list of resources that will help you better understand the history and implications of this dark chapter in human history – including links to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, the Jewish Virtual Library, and educational resources for teachers.

Israeli Soccer Team Defies the Odds

ccourtney — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:57:29 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

Sports

A top article on the New York Times sports page today tells the story about an Israeli soccer team located in one of the Holy Land’s smallest cities, Kiryat Shmona, less than two miles from the often-volatile Lebanese border. Despite this unlikely location, the team is experiencing a remarkable run of victories and is poised to qualify for a prestigious European competition.

Caring for Holocaust Survivors

ccourtney — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:18:06 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Holocaust survivors \

Tragically, many Holocaust survivors face new threats today: poverty, illness, and isolation. Elderly Soviet Jews who survived the Holocaust now must choose between paying rent, buying food, or purchasing needed medicines.

Thanks to your support, The Fellowship is committed to caring for Holocaust survivors in Israel and the former Soviet Union by giving them heating grants, operating food pantries and soup kitchens, offering vocational training, delivering needed staple and holiday foods, and providing medical care.

Israeli Film Up for an Oscar

ccourtney — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:33:18 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

Entertainment

An Israeli film is among the 2012 Academy Awards nominations for best foreign language film. Footnote, directed by Joseph Cedar, is about the rivalry between a father-son duo of Talmudic scholars.

Footnote already won the best screenplay prize at Cannes, and Cedar received a previous Oscar nomination for his 2007 film Beaufort, about the Israeli army’s withdrawal from south Lebanon.

The Man Who Almost Prevented the Holocaust

ccourtney — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:39:51 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Holocaust \

This Friday is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a time when we all pause to remember the atrocities and reinforce our pledge to “Never forget.”

A recent New York Times opinion piece shares a little-known story of the beginnings of the Holocaust, and of Joseph Hartinger, a man who was nearly able to thwart Hitler’s plan to exterminate the Jews.

Monday Devotional: The Darkest Valley

ccourtney — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:12:14 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

Psalms

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." —Psalm 23:4

One of the great privileges I have as founder and president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews is to meet and work with some of the most outstanding leaders in the Christian and Jewish communities. And among those leaders is a man I consider to be a modern-day Jewish hero – Natan Sharansky.

Our "Noisy Democracy"

ccourtney — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:53:09 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

Democracy \

Politics \

God

Dear Friend of Israel,

In a memorable essay on Israel, British writer Charles Moore once praised the Jewish state as “robust in its legal and political institutions, free in its press and universities — a noisy democracy.” The rough-and-tumble nature of Israeli politics is legendary, so much so that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu even referred to it in his May 2011 address to U.S. elected officials, to whom he said, “You think you’re tough on one another here in Congress? Come spend a day in the Knesset. Be my guest.”

Yael Speaks at Women's Conference

ccourtney — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:44:01 +0000

Yael Eckstein

Tags:

Yael Eckstein\

Women's issues\

I recently had the privilege of speaking at the Women’s International Zionist Organization conference in Tel Aviv, where I shared about the important work The Fellowship is doing to help women, especially those in the most vulnerable populations: the elderly, Holocaust survivors, and orphans. I love that we give women the tools to succeed!

Dancing for Justice

ccourtney — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:52:00 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

Video \

Flash mob

The ultra-Orthodox community in Beit Shemesh, a Jerusalem suburb, is currently gripped by controversy over women’s rights. Rabbi Eckstein addressed the issue in his message last week – and this delightful video shows how a group of 250 women in Beit Shemesh recently responded:

IFCJ Helps a Young Immigrant Connect to Her Jewish Roots

ccourtney — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:51:35 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

FSU \

Anti-Semitism

Esti is a charming 17 year old who was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia. Her infectious smile and outgoing mannerisms leave little doubt that she’s happy as a student at the IFCJ-sponsored Beit Ulpana in Jerusalem, where she has been studying for the past year.

A Snow Day in the Holy Land

ccourtney — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:31:11 +0000

Ami Farkas

Tags:

Israel \

Tourism

When I read that snow had covered Hermon Mountain in the Golan Heights over the weekend, I could not restrain my excitement. Having grown up in upstate New York, where blizzards were so common that instead of checking the news to see if schools were canceled, we checked to see if they were in session, I have only the fondest memories of snow.

Remembering the Haiti Earthquake -- and the IDF's Life-Saving Work

ccourtney — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:21:24 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

IDF \

Disaster relief

It’s been two years since a devastating earthquake hit Haiti, killing an estimated 316,000 people and leaving more than 1,000,000 homeless.

In the wake of this tragedy, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) immediately sent an aid delegation of physicians and reserve soldiers to assist with search and rescue efforts. At the IDF field hospitals, Israeli medical personnel treated more than 1,110 patients, completed 319 surgeries, and helped with 16 births.

The True Measure of a Society

ccourtney — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:53:03 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

Jewish-Christian relationship

Dear Friend of Israel,

Israel is often in the news – but a recent controversy has drawn the world’s attention to the Jewish state for reasons that have nothing to do with the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Ugandan Pastor Receives Emergency Medical Treatment in Israel

ccourtney — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:34:13 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

Medical assistance \

Umar Mulinde, a 38-year-old pastor from Uganda, is currently being treated in an Israeli hospital. On Christmas Eve in Uganda, Pastor Mulinde was attacked with acid that severely burned his torso, face, and right eye. The attackers shouted “Allah Akhbar” (God is great) immediately following the attack.

IFCJ Goes to Australia

ccourtney — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:49:56 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Australia

Rabbi Eckstein recently travelled to Australia to tell people there about IFCJ’s lifesaving work and to launch our operations in that country. Here the Rabbi is pictured with Philip James, The Fellowship’s Senior Director of International Development, and Rev. Paul Cant, head of the Australian office.

We would appreciate your prayers for safe travels for Rabbi Eckstein and for success as The Fellowship expands to a new continent. We thank God – and you, our faithful supporters – for this new growth!

IFCJ's Global Reach

ccourtney — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:59:30 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

A new document from The Fellowship outlines the global scope and life-saving impact of our work:

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews: Providing Assistance, Promoting Understanding, and Advocating for Israel

Holy Land Moments Devotionals Touch Hearts

ccourtney — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:05:02 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Our Holy Land Moments blog features a daily devotional from Rabbi Eckstein – as well as feedback to these articles from our readers. Many of these comments – like the one below – bless and inspire us, and we wanted to share a little of this inspiration with you. If you don’t subscribe to the Holy Land Moments Daily Devotionals, sign up for free now!

IFCJ gives gift vouchers to 10,000 IDF troops

ccourtney — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:04:14 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

IDF \

FIDF \

Hanukkah

For the fifth year in a row, The Fellowship gave Israel Defense Forces’ lone soldiers (those who are in Israel without any immediate family) and other soldiers in need gift vouchers for the recent Hanukkah holiday.

The 10,000 soldiers who received these gift cards were able to use them at major chain stores across Israel to purchase food, clothing, shoes, and other products they needed. Combat soldiers received about $265 each and soldiers in home front units about $105 each.

Monday Devotional: Shiray Dorot

ccourtney — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:46:37 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Music \

Psalms

“I will sing to the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” —Psalm 104:33

Ever since I could remember as a child, music and songs have been such an integral part of my life. I cherish the memories of sitting around the table with my father, mother, and siblings on Shabbat singing songs of praise to God. Songs of faith and inspiration have always been part of my spiritual heritage, and one that I have sought to pass on to my three daughters.

IFCJ Helps an Immigrant Better Her Life and Her Community

ccourtney — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:13:32 +0000

Ami Farkas

Tags:

Ethiopian immigrants \

Job training \

The Ethiopian migration to Israel is an integral part of the modern Jewish state’s diversity, highlighting the country’s goal of uniting all the Jewish people from around the world in their biblical homeland. While the Ethiopian Jews have been warmly welcomed in Israel, integrating them into Israel’s westernized society has been a challenge.

The Only Remedy for Our Worldly Cynicism

ccourtney — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:01:17 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

Iran \

Peace talks \

Dear Friend of Israel,

I wish you a happy and blessed New Year! As we work to support Israel and serve Jewish people in need around the world, all of us at The Fellowship are deeply grateful to the faithful friends who make our work possible. During 2011, thanks to God's blessing, The Fellowship's lifesaving assistance was extended to more people than ever.

Fellowship-Sponsored Organization Honored at the Knesset

ccourtney — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:35:33 +0000

Yael Eckstein

Tags:

Ethiopian immigrants\

Medical care\

Yael Eckstein

Earlier this week I attended a ceremony at the Knesset in Jerusalem honoring Fellowship-sponsored Tene Briut. This organization provides Amhari (Ethiopian)-speaking dispatchers to hospital operators so that Ethiopian immigrants who don’t yet speak Hebrew can receive emergency medical attention, other medications, and communicate with hospital staff about their medical needs. Before this service, many immigrants were left ill and helpless.

Celebrating Sabbath in Jerusalem

ccourtney — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:59:00 +0000

Ami Farkas

Tags:

Sabbath \

This past weekend I spent the Sabbath in Jerusalem. Since moving to a small town in northern Israel about a year and a half ago, I have only had the good fortune of celebrating the Sabbath in Jerusalem on a few occasions. Each time serves to further enrich my love and appreciation for the Holy City. Jerusalem is blessed with so many ancient sites holy to all the monotheistic religions; yet, on this occasion, it was the people of Jerusalem, especially the downtrodden and poor, that warmed my heart and brought me the most joy.

TV Stars Travel to Israel

ccourtney — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:45:19 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

Tourism \

US-Israel relations

Several TV actors – Greg Grunberg (Heroes, Alias), Austin Nichols (One Tree Hill), Justin Chatwin (Shameless), and Shaun Sipos (Melrose Place, Life Unexpected) – recently traveled to Israel and were pleasantly surprised by their experience. Watch them share about their trip:

The Fellowship Helps Provide Meals with Dignity

ccourtney — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:29:59 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Soup kitchen \

The Fellowship is proud to sponsor the Carmei Ha’ir open restaurant, which serves much-needed food to impoverished residents of Jerusalem. A writer from the Jerusalem Post recently visited Carmei Ha’ir and offered a peek into the great work this open restaurant – and the entire Carmei Ha’ir network – does every day.

Happy New Year from the IDF!

David Kuner — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:36:35 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

IDF \

Israel \

New Year

Enjoy this New Year's message from the Israel Defense Forces! Wishing a happy, safe, and blessed New Year to all.

IFCJ Israel Staff Offers Glimpse of Holy Land's Diversity

ccourtney — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:02:14 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

Though the U.S. has long been known as a melting pot, Israel boasts an amazingly diverse population as well. Jews once scattered to the “four corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:12) have been returning to their biblical homeland ever since Israel was established in 1948, creating a family tree whose roots reach far and wide.

In fact, The Fellowship’s staff in Israel offers a great example of the diverse geography and life stories you can find walking the streets of the Holy Land.

Eva

Let's Make Latkes!

ccourtney — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 22:51:22 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Latkes \

Recipe

Originating in eastern Europe, latkes (potato pancakes) have been a staple of the Jewish diet for many years. Eaten especially during the festivals of Hanukkah and Passover, these light and scrumptious treats continue to be a favorite on the Israeli menu.

Try this speciality for yourself with this simple recipe:

3-4 medium potatoes
2-3 tbs. of flour (or Matzo meal on Passover)
1 egg
cooking oil
salt and pepper
1 small onion (optional)
apple sauce (optional)
sour cream (optional)

A New Life for a Single Mom

ccourtney — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:39:57 +0000

Ami Farkas

Tags:

Story \

Immigrant

Watching Orah graciously help patients in Herzog Hospital’s Respiratory Care Unit, I wonder if they have any idea what she’s gone through to be here – in this job, in Israel – and what a gift she considers it to assist each person.

Make Your Own Dreidel!

ccourtney — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 01:41:43 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

With the download on our website, you can make your own paper dreidel. It may not spin fast enough to use for the dreidel game, but they're great decorations and you can even use them as Hanukkah cards attached to gifts for your Jewish friends and family. They also make great placecards for a Hanukkah dinner table.

Monday Devotional: What Are Your Plans?

ccourtney — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 15:33:33 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

IFCJ \

Israel \

Prayer

“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet.” —Isaiah 62:1

As 2011 draws to a close and we look ahead to a new year, I am filled with thankfulness for the many readers and followers of the Holy Land Moments devotionals. The comments and prayers of our Christian friends and supporters have been a source of inspiration and encouragement as we continue to build bridges of understanding between our two faith groups.

Rabbi Eckstein's 2011 Message of Thanks

ccourtney — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:55:01 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

Video

Friends, it’s hard to find words to express my gratitude to those who make The Fellowship’s work possible. But, as this extraordinary year draws to a close, I’ve tried. Please watch my year-end video, and know that all of us at IFCJ are deeply grateful for all you do!

Celebrating Hanukkah in Jerusalem

ccourtney — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:42:42 +0000

Yael Eckstein

Tags:

Shalom,

The holiday of Hanukkah is one of my favorite times of year, when Israeli families come together to celebrate, children brim over with excitement, and the streets of Jerusalem sparkle with dancing lights from Hanukkah menorahs illuminating doorways and windows.

Receiving Lifesaving Aid from Fellowship Food Boxes

ccourtney — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:42:16 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Food distribution \

Dorit has spent most of her adult life working on a fishing boat in the Sea of Galilee, earning a living by catching and selling fish with her husband Chaim. The two built their business from the ground up and shared a wonderful family life in the seaside town of Tiberius.

Dorit and Chaim have five children. The oldest is in the army and the other four are still in high school. Ten years ago, Chaim became very ill and it was up to Dorit to run the family business, which she did successfully until an injury left her partially handicapped six years ago.

Enjoy Some Hanukkah Songs

ccourtney — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:59:29 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Music

At our special Hanukkah section on our website, you can check out the lyrics – in both Hebrew and English – of some popular Hanukkah songs. Then listen to these spiritual tunes being sung in Hebrew. Enjoy!

IFCJ Providing 1,000 Arab Christian Families with Food at Christmas

ccourtney — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:19:44 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Food distribution \

Arabs \

Christmas \

Holidays

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, headed by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, will provide food for Christmas to 1,000 needy Arab families in five communities with large Christian populations. Families will receive food for Christmas celebrations in Jerusalem, Acre, Nazareth, Kafr Yasif, and Shfaram.

Building the House of Friendship

ccourtney — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:32:46 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Aliyah

Thanks to sponsorship by The Fellowship, ground was recently broken for a new spiritual center for the Ethiopian community in Israel. Called the House of Friendship, this center will provide Ethiopian immigrants with spiritual, educational, and social activities. The facility will include a synagogue, where religious services will be held in the Ethiopians’ native Amharic language, one of many ways the center hopes to enable young Ethiopian Jews to preserve their ties with their ethnic customs.

The Fellowship Brings Light to an Orphan’s Hanukkah

ccourtney — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:13:56 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Story \

Holidays

Twelve-year-old Alexander doesn't remember his parents. He is an orphan raised by his weak and elderly grandfather, Sasha. Sasha is devoted to Alexander's welfare but has very little to give, as he receives only a small pension.

A little over a year ago, Alexander broke his collarbone and was hospitalized for treatment. In most hospitals in the former Soviet Union, where Alexander and Sasha live, patients are served a minimal amount of food – this need usually must be filled by the patient’s family.

A Brief History of Hanukkah

ccourtney — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:31:33 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, which begins tonight at sundown, celebrates two miracles — a great Jewish military victory and a miraculous spiritual victory in the Temple.

Monday Devotional: Season of Miracles

ccourtney — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:40:04 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Miracles \

Christmas

“Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?
You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.” — Psalm 77:13-14

This is a season of miracles and celebrations. My Christian friends celebrate the miracle of a birth at Christmas, and my Jewish brothers and sisters celebrate the miracle of a spiritual and military victory during the celebration of Hanukkah. And at the center of both these celebrations is our God of miracles.

Our God Who Performs Miracles

ccourtney — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:15:56 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

Christmas \

Hanukkah

Dear Friend of Israel,

For both Jews and Christians, this is a season to celebrate – and marvel at – miracles. For Christians, there is Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus. For Jews, the miracles celebrated at Hanukkah, which begins this year at sundown on Tuesday, December 20, include a long-ago military victory of the powerless few over the powerful many and an oil lamp that burned long past the point that it should have run out.

View Rabbi Eckstein's Ethiopian Photo Album

ccourtney — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:38:08 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Aliyah \

Recently Rabbi Eckstein was in Ethiopia meeting many of the Ethiopian Jews making aliyah (immigrating to Israel) through The Fellowship's On Wings of Eagles program -- and accompanying them on this sacred journey. Here are some amazing photos of the Rabbi’s visit!

Quote of the Week

ccourtney — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 22:21:23 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

David Ben-Gurion \

Miracles \

Quotes

"In Israel, in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles."

--David Ben-Gurion, first prime minister of Israel

Yael Delivers Food Boxes to Holocaust Survivors

ccourtney — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:37:52 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Holocaust survivors \

Food distribution

IFCJ Senior VP Yael Eckstein recently traveled to Tel Aviv to help the Fellowship-sponsored Jaffa Institute deliver boxes of food to Holocaust survivors.

The Jaffa Institute distributes food boxes to 350 needy residents, 42 of whom are Holocaust survivors, in the Tel Aviv area twice a month. The Fellowship is proud to work with Jaffa to serve these needy Holocaust survivors and to ensure they have enough food.

Jerusalem in IMAX

ccourtney — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:29:35 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

Video \

Movie \

The movie is still being shot and we’re already excited. Multi-Academy Award-winner Jake Eberts (known for producing Chariots of Fire, Dances with Wolves, and Gandhi) is helming a new project – a 3D IMAX documentary on Jerusalem. Here's the trailer:

Answering the Call in a Crisis

ccourtney — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:38:14 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Zaka \

Security \

Terror \

Natural disasters

There aren’t many things that would have pulled Chaim away from his wife and their new daughter. But the call from Zaka following the earthquake in Haiti did just that.

Zaka, which receives significant support from The Fellowship and its partners, is an elite squad of first responders to terror attacks, natural disasters, and other tragedies. Zaka members – all of them volunteers – perform emergency medical procedures and search-and rescue operations, and identify body parts for burial, a mission of great importance for those observing Jewish law.

Ethiopian Jews' Incredible Journey

ccourtney — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:21:48 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

Aliyah \

Dear Friend of Israel,

Earlier this week I was in Ethiopia, meeting many of the Ethiopian Jews soon to make aliyah (immigrate to Israel) through The Fellowship's On Wings of Eagles program. I visited a synagogue, a Jewish school, and the makeshift villages in the refugee camps where these Ethiopian Jews have lived for far too long, yearning to return to their biblical homeland.

Monday Devotional: God's Eternal Light

ccourtney — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:52:31 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Bible \

Light \

God's presence

"Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the LORD from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come." —Exodus 27:20-21

IFCJ to Aid Needy Ethiopians Awaiting Aliyah

ccourtney — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:59:48 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Earlier this week The Fellowship agreed to make a $350,000 donation to help feed Ethiopian Jews in transit camps awaiting their chance to make aliyah (immigrate to Israel).

Of the 4,500 Ethiopians who have received final approval to make aliyah, only those in the final stages of preparation – roughly two months before their departure – as well as children and pregnant or nursing mothers are currently receiving help with food.

Gospel Trail Opens in Israel

ccourtney — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:58:53 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

Tourism \

Bible \

Christians

Israel’s Tourism Ministry recently announced the opening of the Gospel Trail, where visitors can travel in the footsteps of Jesus on foot or horseback. The trail winds for 39 miles throughout Israel, visiting key New Testament sites.

Mixed Emotions as Ethiopian Jews Make Aliyah

ccourtney — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:11:54 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Aliyah \

On Wings of Eagles \

After accompanying a new group of Ethiopian Jews making aliyah (immigrating to Israel) earlier this week, Rabbi Eckstein said:

"Each time I travel to Ethiopia to bring Jewish immigrants home to Israel I feel mixed emotions – happiness for those we are bringing out but sadness for those we are leaving behind, whose turn has not yet come because we lack the funds to bring them.

Brothers in Need Receive Vital Provision from Isaiah 58

ccourtney — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:13:54 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

FSU \

David, Daniel, and Denis live with their single mother and older sister in a small village in Ukraine. Their mother doesn’t have a job and receives minimal help from the children’s father.

The family’s two-room house – which belonged to the boys’ maternal grandmother – is old and decrepit. There is no running water and only an old iron stove for heat. The children sleep together on the floor with only a few blankets.

Rabbi Eckstein in Ethiopia

ccourtney — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:01:30 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Aliyah \

Rabbi Eckstein was in Ethiopia earlier this week to accompany a group of Ethiopian Jews making aliyah (immigrating to Israel). While there, Rabbi Eckstein visited a synagogue, a Jewish school, and the transit camps that these Ethiopian Jews have called home while yearning to return to their biblical homeland. Thanks to The Fellowship's On Wings of Eagles program, those dreams became a reality this week.

Stay tuned for more photos and stories from this meaningful journey.

Providing a Single Woman with Sustenance and Support

ccourtney — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:18:50 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Lilia lives in a run-down apartment in a polluted factory town in Ukraine. Her sink and ceiling leak, her appliances are old and no longer work properly, and her broken stove fills the apartment with the smell of gas. A neighbor gave Lilia a bookshelf to prop against her porch door to keep it closed, but the apartment is still drafty.

Lilia has medical issues she cannot afford to treat. Complications include severe anemia, low blood pressure, and headaches. Recently, Lilia’s eyesight began to fade.

Ethiopian Thanksgiving Celebration in Israel

ccourtney — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:28:29 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Sigd \

Immigrants \

Holidays

On November 24, in celebration of Sigd, the Ethiopian holiday of thanksgiving, a performance of traditional music and dance was held in Jerusalem. Sigd is celebrated by the Ethiopian community in Israel with a morning service featuring prayers, supplications, and fasting -- and an afternoon meal with music and dancing. The holiday was adopted nationally in Israel in 2008.

Monday Devotional: Advice from a Wise Guy

ccourtney — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:24:43 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Bible \

Solomon \

Contentment

“Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.” —Ecclesiastes 5:19–20

It’s fun sometimes to daydream about a fabled genie-in-a-bottle who would grant you three wishes. What would you wish for? Money? Popularity? A perfect body? Romance? Travel to exotic places? Healing? A long life?

Helping Israel's Needy Young Women

ccourtney — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:50:15 +0000

Yael Eckstein

Tags:

Women \

Youth \

The Fellowship recently began supporting Women’s Courtyard, a ministry to distressed young women in Israel. Women’s Courtyard began eight years ago in the poverty-stricken city of Jaffa, providing food, clothing, and shelter to women in need. It has since grown in scope, now assisting 150 young women ages 13-25.

Our God of Justice

ccourtney — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:30:19 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

Revenge \

Bible \

Justice \

Peace

There is much for Israel – and supporters of Israel – to be angry about. Rocket attacks continue to rain down on the Holy Land from Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists, injuring innocent civilians and sending thousands more scrambling for their lives. The U.N. has given the Palestinian Authority full membership in UNESCO, and is considering them for other U.N. agencies even though the P. A. continues to do all it can to destroy any chances for peace.

Making an IMPACT! on Israel's Soldiers

ccourtney — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:43:20 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

IDF \

FIDF \

Education

In partnership with the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF), The Fellowship provides university scholarships to 250 IDF soldiers each year through the IMPACT! Scholarship Program. The FIDF recently celebrated the 10^th anniversary of this scholarship program with an event in Tel Aviv. The Fellowship’s Yael Eckstein was there to congratulate the FIDF and the many deserving scholarship recipients.

IFCJ and Zaka -- Saving Lives in Israel

ccourtney — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:12:08 +0000

Ami Farkas

Tags:

Security \

Stories \

Terror attacks

Eighteen-year-old Shimie was studying the Torah at a Jerusalem library when the sound of an explosion ripped through the silence. “I immediately ran outside and headed toward the carnage,” he recalls. As Shimie approached the scene of the blast – which had been a terrorist attack – he felt frustrated that he had neither the equipment nor expertise to help the victims scattered around him.

At that moment he decided to join Zaka.

Holocaust Survivor Finds Hope in Isaiah 58

ccourtney — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:42:43 +0000

Yael Eckstein

Tags:

FSU \

Holocaust survivor \

Seventy-seven-year-old Orna lives in a dilapidated and neglected village outside of Kiev, Ukraine, that was predominantly Jewish before the Holocaust. Today, she is one of only two surviving Jews in the village and lives in fear and extreme poverty, with nowhere to turn for help.

From NYC to the IDF -- A Lone Soldier's Story

ccourtney — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:05:33 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

IDF \

FIDF \

soldiers

Watch the inspiring story of one of the IDF’s lone soldiers (immigrant soldiers whose immediate family doesn’t live in Israel). These lone soldiers receive great support from the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF), and the FIDF receives support from The Fellowship.

Survey: 20% of Israelis Cannot Afford to Eat

tpollack — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:53:17 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Guardians of Israel

New data from the National Insurance Institute reveals the desperate situation of thousands of Israelis suffering from extreme poverty and hunger. According to results of the survey, ten percent of the Israeli population suffers from some level of starvation or nutritional insecurity and nearly 20% feel extreme financial insecurity. Some 4% of Israel's population said they are forced to forgo food completely.

Monday Devotional: A Hope and a Future

ccourtney — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 23:30:47 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Bible \

Orphans \

Widows

“He [God] defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.” —Deuteronomy 10:18

It doesn’t take much to understand God’s heart for the fatherless and for widows. Throughout the Hebrew Bible, what Christians refer to as the Old Testament, we find God exhorting and encouraging His people to care for the orphans, the widows, and the foreigners.

PM Netanyahu Sends Greetings to the Ethiopian Community

tpollack — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:30:58 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Netanyahu \

Sigd \

Aliyah

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent this special video message to the Ethiopian community as they celebrate Sigd this week:

Mark Twain Waxes Eloquent About the Jews

ccourtney — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 16:46:47 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

Jews \

Mark Twain \

Quotes

We love this great quote from American icon Mark Twain, penned in a 1899 essay in Harper's Magazine:

"...If statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of stardust lost in the blaze of the Milky way. properly, the Jew ought hardly to be heard of, but he is heard of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk...

Blessings for Israel Christmas and Hanukkah Gift Catalog

ccourtney — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 15:06:37 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Giving \

This Black Friday and beyond, add some meaning to your holiday gift shopping! Honor your loved ones both near and far by choosing IFCJ gifts that will provide food, medical care, or clothing to Jews around the world who are destitute and suffering.

This short video is a great way to see all the gifts that are available this year.

The Gift of Gratefulness

ccourtney — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:47:35 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

Guardians of Israel \

On Wings of Eagles \

Isaiah 58

Dear Friend of Israel,

On Thanksgiving, Americans will gather with family and friends to share a meal and give thanks to God for our many blessings. It is one of America’s most beloved holidays — one of those rare times when we come together to reaffirm the principle that the good we have received as a nation and as individuals is a gift from God.

Fellowship Friend Receives Needed Encouragement

ccourtney — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:20:15 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Donor \

Prayer

We always love hearing from our friends and donors. We found this letter especially meaningful -- and worth sharing:

Dear Rabbi Eckstein-

I was overwhelmed when I opened my mailbox to find your postcard from Jerusalem. I was going through some health issues and trusting God will hold me with His strong right hand. I kept praying and asking God, “I need a word, just one word from You to stand on.”

Your postcard came with God’s word, promise, and blessing. I cried tears of joy.

FSU Students in the Cold

ccourtney — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:08:28 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

FSU \

Children at a school Yael Eckstein visited during her recent trip to the former Soviet Union have to dress in layers and keep their hats on indoors because the heating bill is so high the school cannot afford to keep the building at a comfortable temperature. The Fellowship is working to provide the school with insulation so they can create a better learning environment for the students.

Israel Maps Graves on Mount of Olives

tpollack — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 23:02:00 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Mount of Olives \

A Jewish group in Jerusalem is using 21st-century technology to map every tombstone in the ancient cemetery on the Mount of Olives. This new technology allows visitors to find their way though the cemetery, which consists of 150,000 graves stretching back three millennia.

The Fellowship Offers a Grieving Son a Hopeful Future

ccourtney — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:24:35 +0000

Yael Eckstein

Tags:

FSU \

Vlad, a beautiful and sweet 10-year-old Jewish boy who lives in Kiev, Ukraine, has had a life full of trials and hardships. Only weeks before I visited him, his father died of cancer. Two days later, his mother was diagnosed with cancer as well and the doctors told her she has six months to live. Vlad is an only child with no other family besides his mother. Soon, he will be left alone, a vulnerable Jewish orphan in Ukraine with nowhere to turn for help.

Family Split Apart by Holocaust Finally Reunites

tpollack — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:26:04 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Holocaust \

Yad Vashem

For five years during World War II, Nahum Korenblum and his younger brother Yaakov were inseparable as the two fled the Nazi invasion of Poland. Together they escaped forced labor camps across Europe and eventually joined the Soviet Red Army, where they were separated and sent abroad. Despite their efforts to find one another, they never met again.

More than a decade after they died, their children were recently united in Jerusalem at Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial -- thanks to its online database of Holocaust victims.

Yael Eckstein on Harvest TV

webmaster@ifcj.org — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:36:20 +0000

Yael Eckstein

Tags:

Israel \

Harvest TV \

Yael Eckstein

Hello friends! On my latest appearance on Harvest TV I had the chance to tell viewers about the great work The Fellowship and our partners are doing in Israel and around the world -- check it out!

Monday Devotional: A Sacrifice of Thanks

ccourtney — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:04:11 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Bible \

Thanksgiving \

Trust

“Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
fulfill your vows to the Most High,
and call on me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” — Psalm 50:14–15

We all know what it means to go through the motions — to give less than our entire effort and energy to a project, a team, or even a relationship. Certainly, we see the results of a half-hearted effort when our favorite team loses to an inferior opponent, or our employer rejects the report we threw together at the last minute.

The Assault on Christian Zionism

ccourtney — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 22:10:30 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

Zionism \

Anti-Israel bias \

Stand for Israel

Dear Friend of Israel,

A disturbing movement is making inroads in the evangelical Christian world. A recent op-ed in the Jerusalem Post summed it up: “Evangelical and conservative Christians — Israel's most important allies — are increasingly targeted for conversion from Christian Zionism to Christian Palestinianism.”

Bird Migration Above Israel

webmaster@ifcj.org — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:04:35 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

Nature \

Video

Watch the beautiful view of the countless birds that travel the sacred airspace above the Holy Land this time of year on their way to warmer climates for the winter.

Rabbi Eckstein Raises Concerns

ccourtney — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:36:03 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Aliyah \

Jewish Agency \

In addition to leading The Fellowship, Rabbi Eckstein serves as the chairman of the Aliya and Rescue Committee for the Jewish Agency for Israel, a partner organization of The Fellowship. At the Jewish Agency’s recent board of governors meeting, Rabbi Eckstein raised concern over the fact that several hundred Jews in the FSU want to move to Israel but aren’t able to for financial reasons.

Yael Eckstein Named Senior Vice President

tpollack — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:57:23 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Yael Eckstein

The Board of Directors of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) announced today the selection of Yael Eckstein as Senior Vice President of the organization, in the Office of the President. Mrs. Eckstein, who is based in Jerusalem, Israel, will oversee ministry programs and serve as the international spokesperson for the group.

Unforgettable Journey

David Kuner — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:20:00 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Journey Home to Israel Tour \

Dear Friend of Israel,

It was a memorable week in the Holy Land. Early Tuesday morning, participants in our Journey Home Tour returned to the U.S. What an amazing time they had — and what an amazing time I and other Fellowship staff had traveling with them through this land that we all love so dearly.

Monday Devotional: The Power of Story

ccourtney — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:32:00 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Bible \

Story

“My people, hear my teaching;
   listen to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth with a parable;
   I will utter hidden things, things from of old—
things we have heard and known,
   things our ancestors have told us.”—Psalm 78:1-3

Final Day of The Fellowship's Journey Home to Israel Tour

tpollack — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:26:42 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Members of the Journey Home Tour spent their final day in Israel eagerly volunteering at a distribution warehouse in Kiryat Malachi - packing 500 boxes of flour, canned tomatoes and corn, pasta, rice, oil, spices and other pantry essentials for the needy, as a meaningful way to leave part of themselves in the Holy Land. Soon, the Colel Chabad Food Bank, which receives ongoing financial support from The Fellowship, will deliver the tour-prepared cartons plus others packaged by paid workers to 25,000 needy families in 70 Israeli municipalities.

Looking Away from Ourselves -- and Toward God

tpollack — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:57:23 +0000

Ami Farkas

Tags:

Prayer \

Jewish tradition

Much was on my mind during my recent trip to Ukraine, where I went to spend Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) praying at the gravesite of the righteous Rabbi Nachman along with over thirty thousand other fellow pilgrims. It wasn’t easy to leave all the comforts of my home and the warmth and love of my family to travel to the cold and often inhospitable surroundings of Uman, Ukraine. But I came, as I do every year, to pray with my fellow pilgrims, and to find spiritual insight and refreshment.

Israel 101: What's the origin of the Israeli flag?

ccourtney — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:53:40 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

History \

Facts

The flag of the State of Israel was largely the design of David Wolfsohn, who succeeded Theodor Herzl as president of the World Zionist Organization, a group that seeks to establish a home for the Jewish people in Israel that is secured under public law. The flag was introduced in 1891 as a symbol of the Zionist movement. Wolfsohn wanted to create a flag that would capture the essence of the problems faced by the Zionist movement and the Jewish people in the decades before the Jewish state was brought into being in 1948.

The Fellowship Featured in the Jerusalem Post

tpollack — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:23:41 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Aliyah \

This JPost article calls The Fellowship "one of the central funders of what last year was touted as the 'historic final episode of aliya from Ethiopia.'" In it, Rabbi Eckstein expresses his concern over a government decision that could delay the arrival of some 8,000 Falash Mura - Ethiopian Jews who for generations have continued to secretly practice Jewish law and customs - and are now waiting in dilapidated refugee camps for their opportunity to make aliyah t

A Foundation of Love

ccourtney — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:50:00 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Youth program \

IDF

Acharai was created 11 years ago to develop and cultivate young leaders from underprivileged communities, including boarding schools, immigrant centers, welfare services, and criminal rehabilitation programs. Through education, military service preparation, community service, and leadership projects, Acharai youth learn to be well-rounded individuals and contributing members of society.

Food For the Body -- and The Spirit

ccourtney — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:51:00 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Maryia and her two-year-old son, Abraham, live in Russia. Abraham suffers from severe nerve damage that requires expensive medication. While Maryia does all she can for him, with no family to assist her and a paltry monthly child care allowance of only $18, every day is a struggle to survive. Maryia can barely afford to buy food, let alone the medicine her son needs.

Day 7 of The Fellowship's Journey Home to Israel Tour

tpollack — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:38:03 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Daily Tour Journal for Sunday, November 6, 2011

Day Seven

Sunday’s Highlight

The 2011 Journey Home Tour’s farewell banquet – a time when tour participants reminisce about their favorite memories in Israel and begin the painful process of bidding adieu to those new friends they have made over the course of the 10-day tour – was Sunday’s highlight.

Monday Devotional: Let It Be a Reminder

ccourtney — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:59:00 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Bible \

Torah \

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.” —Deuteronomy 11:18

If we have something really important that we need to remember, we usually need some kind of reminder. Some of us use post-it notes and stick them in various places where we are sure to see them, like the bathroom mirror or the refrigerator door. Others may set an alarm on their smart phone calendar; still others may use their computer calendar to send them reminders.

Day 6 of The Fellowship's Journey Home to Israel Tour

tpollack — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:05:00 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Daily Tour Journal for Saturday, November 5, 2011

Day Six

Saturday afternoon was fun-filled with the Journey Home Tour’s visit to the Ein Gedi Spa, a popular attraction set in the heart of mountains and groves of date palms on the beautiful shores of the majestic Dead Sea - the lowest place on earth at 400 meters below sea level - to enjoy time floating in the famous mineral-filled sea, mud baths, and massages.

Day 5 of The Fellowship's Journey Home to Israel Tour

tpollack — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:49:52 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Daily Tour Journal for Friday, November 4, 2011

Day Five

Friday’s Highlights

The Western Wall

tpollack — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:47:30 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

Western Wall

It’s a cloudy and cool day in Jerusalem, with occasional rain. Shabbat begins at sundown, so despite the rain I wandered over to the Western Wall to take some pictures (picture taking is not allowed on the Shabbat).

Day 4 of The Fellowship's Journey Home to Israel Tour

tpollack — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:31:14 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

Daily Tour Journal for Thursday, November 3, 2011:

Day Four

Thursday’s Highlight

Following a triumphant arrival in Jerusalem, the Journey Home Tour went directly to the Western Wall, the holiest site in Jewish religion and the only fragment of the Great Temple to survive Roman destruction, where they were greeted by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, IFCJ president and founder.

Dancing and Weeping in the Holy Land

ccourtney — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:49:09 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

Peace \

Palestinian Authority \

Rocket attacks

Dear Friend of Israel,

It’s hard to believe that just two short weeks ago the state of Israel was filled with joy and celebration inspired by the Jewish holidays of Sukkot and Simchat Torah and the long-anticipated homecoming of captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.

A Visit to LeZion Berina

tpollack — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:33:59 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

LeZion Berina \

Children \

FSU \

LeZion Berina is a Fellowship-funded school for boys from the former Soviet Union that’s located in the beautiful, rolling Judean hills about 30 minutes outside of Jerusalem. Yesterday, Fellowship staffer Amichai Farkas and I went here and got a tour of the facility from its director, Menachem Bombach.

Day 3 of The Fellowship's Journey Home to Israel Tour

tpollack — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:07:53 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

Daily Tour Journal for Wednesday, November 2, 2011:

Day Three

Wednesday’s Highlight

Emotional baptism and baptism renewals in the Jordan River, replicating the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the same body of water, was the highlight of a busy Wednesday for participants in the 2011 IFCJ-sponsored Journey Home Tour.

The Trip of a Lifetime

ccourtney — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:05:07 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

The Fellowship\

Journey Home Tour\

From the Sea of Galilee, Journey Home Tour participants Cathy Haggerty and Linda Hoogerhyde talk about what being in Israel means to them.

Day 2 of The Fellowship's Journey Home to Israel Tour

tpollack — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:45:35 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

Daily Tour Journal for Tuesday, November 1, 2011:

Day Two

Tuesday’s tour highlights

A boat ride on the historic Sea of Galilee, where Jesus calmed the waters, was the highlight of the second full day of the Journey Home Tour. Yael Eckstein, daughter of IFCJ president and founder Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, urged the pilgrims to focus on what she called the holiest body of water in the world.

An Orphan Finds Her Spiritual Home

ccourtney — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:21:41 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Orphanage \

Malia, 15, arrived at Fellowship-sponsored Beit Ulpana boarding school in Jerusalem (for orphaned and neglected girls from the former Soviet Union) only one week ago. She came from Belarus following a traumatic and tragic experience. Two years ago both of Malia’s parents were killed in a car crash, and Malia was badly injured. She has spent the past two years recovering in a hospital in Russia with no family or friends by her side for support.

The Journey Home to Israel Tour Has Begun!

tpollack — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:46:11 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

On October 28, The Fellowship's 2011 Journey Home to Israel Tour departed for the Holy Land, where they are experiencing 3,500 years of biblical history as well as thriving, modern Israel. As in previous years, you can experience their amazing journey by reading our daily tour journal written by participant Sandy Thorn Clark, a professional freelance journalist and wife of Fellowship staff member and Journey Home Tour director Jerry Clark:

Day One

Israeli Archaeologists Find 1,400-Year-Old Christian Relic

tpollack — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:54:46 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Christianity \

Archaeology \

Israel \

Israeli archaeologists have uncovered a tiny Christian icon box in an excavation in Jerusalem. Experts say the box was likely carried by a Christian believer who lost it on one of Jerusalem’s streets around the end of the sixth century:

Monday Devotional: Ask First

tpollack — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:07:39 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Christian-Jewish Relations

Bible \

The whole assembly of the LORD says: ‘How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the Lord and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now?’” — Joshua 22:16

The Failed Promise of the Arab Spring

ccourtney — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 22:25:25 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

Arab Spring \

Middle East \

Islamists \

News

Dear Friend of Israel,

Earlier this year, the world was abuzz with news of the “Arab Spring.” As protesters took to the streets in great numbers, and as one oppressive Arab regime after another fell, it seemed to many that a new branch of liberty was flowering in this troubled part of the world.

A Visit to Kever Shmuel

ccourtney — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:02:33 +0000

Ami Farkas

Tags:

Israel \

As I recently reflected on the holidays that have just passed – Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah – I felt a strong desire to seek an experience that would reignite some of the joy and deep connection to God I felt throughout that sacred season.

Celebrating Sukkot in the Old City

ccourtney — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:58:22 +0000

Ami Farkas

Tags:

Over the Sukkot holiday I visited family and enjoyed the company of friends who came to spend time in my sukkah. Yet the highlight of the holiday was a visit I made to the Old City of Jerusalem on the fifth day of Sukkot. In all my years of living in Israel I have never seen the Old City more jubilant and full of music, laughter, dance, and an all-around feeling of love and appreciation for the land of Israel and the God of Israel.

Helping Underprivileged Jewish Students in the FSU

tpollack — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:58:14 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Shema Yisrael in the former Soviet Union (FSU) is a network of 14 schools that serve more than 3,000 underprivileged Jewish students across Eastern Europe.

Shlomo Noach Mandel of Shema Yisrael recently wrote to thank Rabbi Eckstein and The Fellowship for the “lifesaving grant” sent to cover the basic needs – food, clothing, medicine, security, transportation – of the children attending the schools within the Shema Yisrael network.

The Fellowship Meets Increasing Needs

ccourtney — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:16:54 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Guardians of Israel \

Elderly

The Fellowship’s work to provide heating for poverty-stricken elderly populations in Israel is even more important these days as the reduction of gas deliveries from Egypt has spurred Israel’s Public Utilities Authority to raise electricity rates for the second time in three months.

An article in today’s Jerusalem Post speaks to the key role The Fellowship plays in providing for Israel’s needy residents:

A Hungry Widow Finds Hope

ccourtney — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:05:25 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Story \

Guardians of Israel

Maria, an 80-year-old immigrant to Israel from the former Soviet Union (FSU), lives in conditions that are heartbreaking. Forty years ago she was widowed and left alone to raise her children, so the government set her up in public housing. Since then, her house has become terribly run-down.

The Fellowship Launches Israel In The News

ccourtney — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 22:02:11 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

The Fellowship's new weekly news and information radio program, Israel In The News, debuted last weekend.

“Since the media plays such a critical role in determining how Israel is perceived, biased reporting -- and there is much of it in the media today -- can do great damage to Israel,” says IFCJ founder and president Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein. “Israel in the News will help ensure that the true story of Israel’s ongoing struggle for peace and security is told to the world.”

Monday Devotional: The Right Thing to Do

ccourtney — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:59:53 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Bible \

Charity \

“For I have chosen him [Abraham], so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”—Genesis 18:19

A Friend for the Lonely

ccourtney — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 22:13:02 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Story \

Nadezhda, an elderly Soviet Jew, lives in a small, decrepit one-room house in Siberia. The nearest well is three houses away, and since Nadezhda is homebound due to poor health, she must ask someone to fetch water any time she needs to cook or bathe. She washes her clothes outside, and her only bathroom is a small wooden outhouse.

Those Who Embrace Life -- and Those Who Celebrate Death

ccourtney — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:53:09 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

IDF \

Dear Friend of Israel,

Tuesday was a joyous day for all of Israel and her friends. After being held captive for five years by Hamas terrorists, kidnapped Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit was returned home.

A Note of Thanks

ccourtney — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:42:39 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

High Holy Days

Young girls who participate in the Afikim after school program recently gave Yael Eckstein handmade thank-you notes for the clothing and food vouchers The Fellowship gave to them and their families during the High Holy Days. These needed humanitarian efforts are only possible thanks to our generous donors.

Celebrating Simchat Torah

ccourtney — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:01:13 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Simchat Torah \

Simchat Torah (literally, “rejoicing in the Torah”), the Jewish holiday marking the completion of the annual cycle of weekly Torah readings in the synagogue, began at sundown last night in Israel and begins tonight everywhere else.

Sign Our Welcome Home Card for Gilad Shalit

ccourtney — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:33:48 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israelis and friends of Israel around the globe are rejoicing that IDF soldier Gilad Shalit is free after five years of imprisonment by Hamas terrorists.

Send personal words of welcome and support to Gilad by adding your well wishes to our virtual welcome home card.

The Gabiahu Family: At Home in Israel

ccourtney — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:05:38 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Aliyah \

The Gabiahu family – Metiku, his wife Zagin, and their six children – are originally from Ethiopia. Their village was extremely poor, and for many years they dreamed of moving to Israel, their spiritual homeland.

After finally relocating from their small village to the city of Gondar, Ethiopia, they languished in a refugee camp for four long years waiting for the opportunity to come to the Holy Land. Metiku and Zagin took whatever odd jobs they could find to support their family.

A Joyous Day in Israel — Gilad Shalit is Home!

ccourtney — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:29:03 +0000

Yael Eckstein

Tags:

Prisoner swap \

Prayer \

Hamas

For over five years I have been praying for Israeli captive soldier Gilad Shalit to be freed from Hamas terrorists in Gaza and returned to Israel, and today, thank God, I have received the answer to my prayers. Finally, after an agonizing wait, the people of Israel can rejoice in the homecoming of a young man that we have all grown to look at as a brother and son.

Gilad Goes Home

ccourtney — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 17:34:05 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

Prisoner swap

The touching video shows Gilad Shalit on his way to meet his family for the first time in more than 5 years.

Gilad Shalit is Finally Free!

ccourtney — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:45:36 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Israel \

Prisoner swap

After spending 1,941 days in Hamas captivity, IDF soldier Gilad Shalit was finally freed today. Praise God!

Monday Devotional: A Reason to Rejoice

ccourtney — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:46:45 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Bible \

Torah \

"Praise the LORD.
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who finds great delight in his commands." —Psalm 112:1

Everybody loves a party, especially when we have a reason to celebrate—the birth of a child, a marriage, a graduation or job promotion, a special holiday or birthday. But have you ever celebrated reading through the Bible?

Sweet Freedom

ccourtney — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:24:26 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

IDF

Dear Friend of Israel,

Israel is awaiting with anticipation the return of Gilad Shalit, the IDF soldier held captive by Hamas terrorists for over five years. On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that a deal had been finalized with Hamas for Shalit's return, and though no date for that release has yet been announced, it looks like this time he will really be coming home.

Celebrating Sukkot, 72 Years Ago

ccourtney — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:06:55 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Sukkot \

As Jews around the world are celebrating Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, the Library of Congress is giving us a rare look at Sukkot celebrations in the early 1900s. Here, some family members enjoy a snack in their sukkah, a temporary structure with a thatched roof that Jews eat and sleep in during the seven-day holiday. The year is 1939.

Jerusalem from Above

ccourtney — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:04:18 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Holy Land \

Holy sites

Let’s take a short rooftop tour of Jerusalem!

Feeding Israel's Hungry Immigrants

ccourtney — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:36:20 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Immigrants \

Soup kitchen \

Ethiopians

Almost one in five people in Be'er Sheva, Israel, receives public assistance of one form or another. Recent cutbacks in welfare payments have meant more and more people are doing without — and living with the devastating realities of hunger.  

Sukkot: The Time of Our Happiness

ccourtney — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:16:41 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

Sukkot \

Jewish Holidays \

At sundown tonight, Jews begin observance of the festival of Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles. In contrast to the gravity of the High Holy Days that just ended, Sukkot brings an atmosphere of joy, reflecting the biblical command to "Be joyful at your feast" (Deuteronomy 16:14). In fact, Sukkot is known as "the time of our happiness."

Israel Prepares for Gilad Shalit's Return

ccourtney — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:04:27 +0000

Ami Farkas

Tags:

Prisoner swap \

Terrorists \

Israel \

Sukkot

Last night, as the people of Israel were making their last-minute preparations before the seven-day Sukkot festival, news spread across the country that a deal has been finalized to secure the return of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held captive in Gaza for over five years. In grocery stores, coffee shops, and outdoor markets, people were celebrating and thanking God for the news of Gilad’s return.

Rabbi Eckstein Addresses Christian College Students

ccourtney — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:28:58 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Jewish roots of Christian faith

College \

Last week Rabbi Eckstein visited Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to speak to students, faculty, and community members about the important relationship between Jews and Christians, and to encourage the next generation of Christian leaders to stand united with Israel. During his visit, he addressed 3,000 attendees at a chapel service. Here’s your chance to listen in:

New Clothes for the New Year

ccourtney — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:51:39 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

High Holy Days \

As part of this year’s High Holy Day campaign, The Fellowship made it possible for thousands of needy children throughout Israel to buy new clothes and shoes for the Jewish New Year, which they recently celebrated on Rosh Hashanah (September 29).

Children at Kfar Citrin, a religious boarding school for boys from extremely poor families from the former Soviet Union (FSU), were among those to receive vouchers for clothing purchases at a popular Israeli department store -- a luxury they would otherwise be unable to afford.

Ask the Rabbi: What Is a Tallit?

ccourtney — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:48:43 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

The tallit is a four-cornered prayer shawl that is usually white and made either of wool, cotton, or silk. Knotted tassels, or fringes, are attached to the four corners in fulfillment of the biblical command from the book of Numbers to envelop the wearer in God’s word.

Monday Devotional: A Time to Give Thanks

ccourtney — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:42:38 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Sukkot \

Jewish traidtions

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.” — Psalm 100:4

Every November, families throughout America gather around a table bountifully supplied with turkey and all the fixings to give thanks for their material blessings. But did you know that for thousands of years the Jewish people have been celebrating a time of thanksgiving to God for all His many provisions?

Food for the Holy Season

ccourtney — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 20:35:17 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

High Holy Days \

Food distribution \

This is just one of the many recipients of food packages from The Fellowship’s High Holy Days distribution. In advance of Rosh Hashanah last week, which is the beginning of the High Holy Days, The Fellowship distributed food to needy Jews throughout the former Soviet Union. This project ensured that poverty-stricken families and elderly individuals didn’t go hungry during their holy season and that they had the foods needed for their special Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur meals.

A Time for Reflection and Repentance

ccourtney — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:24:46 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

Yom Kippur \

High Holy Days

Dear Friend of Israel,

This Friday at sundown, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement and the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, begins. It is a time for Jews to contemplate their sins and reconcile themselves to both God and man.

The Dead Sea Scrolls Go Digital

ccourtney — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 20:35:37 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Dead Sea Scrolls \

Israel \

Bible

Ten days ago, Google and the Israel Museum launched a website where they uploaded high-resolution photographs of five of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Since then, nearly 1.2 million people from more than 213 countries have viewed the scrolls. In one day alone, the site attracted 400,000 visitors.

This video from the site offers great explanation about the spiritual significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls:

Rabbi Eckstein on Campus

ccourtney — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:36:13 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Learn more about this event.

Israel \

Advocacy

Today Rabbi Eckstein is speaking at the Oral Roberts University Chapel, educating the students and community members about the complex and vitally important relationship between Jews and Christians, and encouraging the next generation of Christians to stand united with Israel.

A Rosh Hashanah Like No Other

ccourtney — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:40:15 +0000

Ami Farkas

Tags:

Prayer \

Jewish tradition

Recently I was in Uman, Ukraine, where I celebrated the Rosh Hashanah holiday with over 30,000 people who came to pray to God by the gravesite of the righteous Rabbi Nachman. I have physically returned home to my wife and kids, but my spirit still soars to the heavens, accompanied by the tears that we shed and the joy that we experienced during the Rosh Hashanah gathering.

Clothed with Compassion

ccourtney — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:47:59 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Children \

The Fellowship’s Yael Eckstein recently visited the H & O store in Ramat Gat, Israel, where children from impoverished families were able to use vouchers provided by The Fellowship to purchase new clothes for school. This shopping event was part of The Fellowship’s $5 million contribution to needy families and individuals in Israel and the former Soviet Union in time for the High Holy Days. This effort was only possible thanks to our generous donors.

Providing Israeli Soldiers with Needed Job Skills

ccourtney — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:31:27 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

IDF \

Security \

Job training \

FIDF

Because the need to remain on guard against attacks from Israel’s neighbors is so critical, military service is mandatory for all Israelis. Serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) provides important lessons in leadership for these young men and women, but by the time they have finished their service, they often lack the critical skills needed to get good jobs. This presents particular difficulties for poor and immigrant soldiers, who have no money to pay for the education they need to succeed in civilian life.

An Attack Victim Finds Hope from Isaiah 58

ccourtney — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 22:14:22 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Story \

Pavel lives in a small, abandoned apartment in Ukraine. He once lived in an apartment inherited from his parents, but ten years ago he was robbed and beaten unconscious. The thieves took his documents and claimed the apartment for themselves.

Praying with the Righteous

ccourtney — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:18:42 +0000

Ami Farkas

Tags:

Prayer \

Worship

Recently I flew to Uman, Ukraine, to spend the Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) holiday at the gravesite of the righteous Rabbi Nachman. This is my sixth Rosh Hashanah in Uman, where I was joined by tens of thousands of Jewish worshipers from around the world who left the comforts of their homes to pray before God at the final resting place of this holy Jewish teacher.

Monday Devotional: A Second Chance

ccourtney — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:56:52 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Yom Kippur \

Jonah \

Devotional

"He prayed to the LORD, ‘O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity’.”—Jonah 4:2

A Holy New Year

ccourtney — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:04:19 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

Dear Friend of Israel,

With all that’s been going on at the U.N. over the past weeks, Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) seems especially well timed this year. This Jewish holy day began last night at sundown, and it’s a time when the Jewish people recognize God’s dominion over the world. As leaders at the U.N. have been discussing the possibility of a Palestinian state, which would seriously jeopardize Israeli security, we need this reminder about God’s sovereignty now more than ever.

A Season for Giving

ccourtney — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:47:42 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Recently The Fellowship’s Yael Eckstein was on hand to help distribute food boxes for the High Holy Days. Each year, The Fellowship partners with Israeli charity Yad B’Yad to distribute boxes of food to needy Israelis in time for the High Holy Days, which began yesterday with Rosh Hashanah. The food boxes include basic food staples like tea, coffee, rice, pasta, oil, flour, sugar, honey, and dry beans. These humanitarian efforts are possible thanks to the continued generosity of our donors.

Monday Devotional: God’s Wake-up Call

ccourtney — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:09:02 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Bible \

Shofar

"When a trumpet blast is sounded, the tribes camping on the east are to set out. At the sounding of a second blast, the camps on the south are to set out. The blast will be the signal for setting out."
—Numbers 10:5–6

What Do You Think?

ccourtney — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 19:32:36 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Poll \

Hamas

In a recent enewsletter, we asked our Stand for Israel and Fellowship supporters the following question: “A recent survey showed that almost two-thirds of Israelis would support a prisoner swap that would release 1,000 Palestinian inmates, including some responsible for the murder of innocent Israelis, in exchange for Gilad Shalit. Do you support this deal?”

Here’s how they responded:

The Palestinians’ Real Goal at the U.N.

ccourtney — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:08:58 +0000

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Tags:

Palestinian Authority \

Palestinian statehood

Dear Friend of Israel,

After months of anticipation, the debates in the U.N. over the Palestinians’ quest for statehood have finally begun. In addition to the speeches at the U.N., there have been messages from some world leaders trying to dissuade Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas from putting the issue to vote. Many of these leaders have echoed the sentiments President Obama expressed when he said to the U.N. yesterday, “Peace will not come through statements and resolutions at the U.N.”

Take a Virtual Tour of Jerusalem!

ccourtney — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:07:52 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Western Wall

We can’t get enough of these beautiful panoramic shots of Jerusalem. So sit back and take an armchair tour through the Holy City with 3D Israel.

Explore Israeli Food

ccourtney — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:04:59 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Food \

Israel \

Culture \

Recipe

Israel is known in the Bible as the "land of milk and honey." But for a long time, the country did not have a recognized culinary heritage. Thankfully, however, today Israel is widely credited with a rich and distinctive cuisine – one reflecting the diversity of Israeli society, but with roots deeply planted in Jewish and regional customs.

Here’s a great recipe for falafel, an Israeli staple you’ll definitely recognize if you’ve been to the Holy Land!

1 lb. canned chick-peas (drained)

1 large onion, chopped

Meet Amichai Farkas

ccourtney — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:30:52 +0000

Ami Farkas

Tags:

Aliyah \

I was born in Israel to religious Zionist parents who had migrated to the Holy Land in the early 1950s. My family moved to the U.S. when I was five years old and I was raised in New York together with my three older siblings. Although life was good in America, I always dreamed of moving back to Israel and raising a family in the Promised Land. Amazingly, my prayers were finally answered six years ago when my new wife and I made aliyah (immigrated to Israel).

Quote of the Week

ccourtney — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:26:20 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Netanyahu \

Israel \

History \

Bible

“This is the land of our forefathers, the land of Israel, to which Abraham brought the idea of one God, where David set out to confront Goliath, and where Isaiah saw his vision of eternal peace. No distortion of history -- and boy am I reading a lot of distortions of history lately, old and new -- no distortion of history could deny the 4,000-year-old bond between the Jewish people and the Jewish land.”

–Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his May 24, 2011 address to the U.S. Congress

Make Your Support of Israel Known!

ccourtney — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:53:32 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Palestinian statehood \

Israel \

Advocacy

Would you ever vote to put Israel in danger? That’s what the U.N. could do when it votes on a Palestinian statehood resolution later this month. But we know that the U.N. doesn’t represent YOU! Cast your ballot AGAINST unilateral Palestinian statehood — and tell the world there’s no YOU in U.N.!

Israel 101

ccourtney — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:57:33 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Holy Land \

Jews \

Israel \

Q: How did the Jews maintain their connection to Israel throughout centuries of exile?

Tending the Garden

ccourtney — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:08:55 +0000

Ami Farkas

Tags:

Israel \

Temple

Over the weekend here in Israel, we read from the book of Deuteronomy in our synagogues. The portion we read spoke of the commandment that instructs the Jewish people to bring the first of their fruits to the holy city of Jerusalem. These fruits are “waved” in the Holy Temple while we recite verses professing our gratitude to God for bringing us to the land of Israel.

Although we currently don’t have a Temple in Jerusalem, and therefore cannot bring our first fruits to the Temple as an offering to God, the land of Israel is nonetheless holy.

Monday devotional: Our Refuge

ccourtney — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:38:48 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Inspiration \

Israel \

Security

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—from violent people you save me. I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies. —2 Samuel 22:2–4

Offering a Lifeline to Israel's Elderly

ccourtney — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 15:55:06 +0000

IFCJ

Tags:

Project \

Elderly \