International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) is an international organization whose goal is "to promote understanding and cooperation between Jews and Christians and to build broad support for Israel and other shared concerns."[1]
The organization was founded in 1983 as The Holyland Fellowship of Christians and Jews and was renamed to its current name in 1991. It has headquarters in Chicago and Jerusalem. It is governed by an independent board of directors. Its founder and current leader is Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein.
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[edit] Programs
In 1990, the Fellowship launched the program On Wings of Eagles to bring Soviet Jews to Israel in the wake of the collapse of the USSR. The organization brought hundreds of thousands of Jews to Israel from the Former Soviet Union, Ethiopia, Argentina and other distressed countries.
Since 2000, the program Guardians of Israel helps families suffering from terrorism and poverty in Israel.
In 2006, the Fellowship of Israel and Black America, program was launched in order to strengthen ties between Black and Jewish Americans and encourage the two communities to work together for Israel's peace and security.
Over the years, the Fellowship has contributed over $100 million toward Jewish immigration, resettlement and social welfare projects in Israel and has provided funding for food, housing and social services programs in the Former Soviet Union.
Rabbi Eckstein makes regular appearances on television and radio discussing Jews, Judaism, Israel and Jewish-Christian relations.
