Israel Speaks
Vast amounts of money are gathered every year all over the world
to support Israel.
Most of the donations come from Christian friends of Israel
who want to bless the Jewish nation and support its young state.
Many organizations are channels bet- ween the donators and the receivers.
One of the biggest organizations is called IFCJ -
International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.
Through them millions of dollars are transferred mainly from
the US and Canada.
Yechiel Eckstein is an orthodox rabbi who founded the organization
in the United States 30 years ago.
10 years ago he moved to Israel and opened an office for the organization
in Jerusalem.
In February 2011 IFCJ organized a campaign to help thousands of
elderly people in need.
Youngsters and volunteers gave money to the elderly
for heating systems in 22 cities.
In Jerusalem, also the city's mayor Nir Barkat participated in the event.
We have an important working field: taking care of the needy.
Mostly this is done in a low profile without sharing much information.
The possibilites of the municipality and the state are never enough.
It is so nice to see how non- governmental organizations -
such as the IFCJ - have made it their goal to support
the weak population.
Therefore, today we come together with the help of
IFCJ and other organizations as well as the social security office.
When we support the weak, we are taking our city one big step forward.
A quarter of the volunteers of this campaign are from Jerusalem.
This is probably an indication of the character of these great people -
of the young people in Jerusalem.
Let's keep it up! We are very proud of you!
-What is your name? -Klara.
On behalf of the IFCJ I would like to give you a small gift
as one of the 16 000 elderly people in Israel.
We have received this support specifically from non-Jewish
Christian friends of Israel in the United States and Canada.
They want to identify with us and show us that we are not alone.
They want to make sure that we will be warm in the winter.
On behalf of them and IFCJ -
I would like to give you a cheque of 400 shekel.
-Oooh! This came just in time for my birthday.
-Birthday! Let it bring warmth to your house.
- Can I use it for something else? - You can use it for food
or anything else you need. - Thank you very much!
-We hope that in the future we will be able to give even more.
I have also a soup-bag for you. -Thank you!
IFCJ is constantly supporting dozens of charity organizations
and projects in Israel and abroad.
Charity organizations do not usually give money to individual people
but support the charity organizations in the country.
The city's "Vineyard" is one of the supported organizations
who distributes food and clothes to the needy.
They are located in downtown Jerusalem close to the open market.
Shoshana Kietz is the spokesperson for the organization.
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse.
The LORD said to Abram: -
I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 12:2-3
IFCJ also supports the needy mino- rity populations in the country.
The support of the IFCJ is so signficant that some believe
it has a major effect on the state's functionality.
"Comfort, O comfort My people," says your God.
Isaiah 40:1
Translation: Sonja Mattayev