While Rejoicing and Remembering the Past, The
Fellowship Continues to Unite Christians and Jews Like Our World
Has Never Seen
CHICAGO, Jan. 27,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Fellowship of
Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) will be celebrating its 40th
anniversary in 2023 with purposeful events highlighting its mission
and work, past and present. Recently recognized as the 85th largest
charity in the United States by
Forbes with consistent high marks from Charity Navigator, The
Fellowship began from Rabbi Yechiel
Eckstein's dream of building bridges of understanding and
cooperation between Christians and Jews.
Today, led by Rabbi Eckstein's daughter, Yael Eckstein, The Fellowship is known as the
largest provider of humanitarian aid in Israel, with programs focused on alleviating
poverty, providing security, and supporting aliyah
(immigration to Israel). Further
fueled by two consecutive years of double digit growth, The
Fellowship has cumulatively raised more than $2.6 billion for Jewish people in need and saved
countless lives, and has distributed millions of dollars in
emergency aid and provided emergency response in countries around
the world.
"It is so amazing to think that The Fellowship's biblical work –
feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless,
providing hope to the hopeless – has gone on for 40 years,"
Eckstein said. "But this year, even as we celebrate and honor our
past, we'll be doing so with an eye toward the future, and doing
what we do every day: serving those in need, and looking for new
ways to save even more Jewish lives. We could not do so without the
grace of God, and our wonderful supporters, who give so generously
to support this cause. As people of faith, we are called to be
God's partner in fulfilling biblical prophecy, which makes this
next chapter so exciting for me personally."
The Fellowship work will continue in its 40th year under a
heightened mission to unite Christians and Jews and provide aid
like the world has never seen. Emergency response work has
increased this past year with the war in Ukraine and is predicted to be sorely needed
in 2023.
"This special anniversary year is a wonderful time to stop and
reflect on what started as one man's vision 40 years ago, to where
The Fellowship is today," said Robin Van
Etten, Global Chief Operating Officer of The Fellowship. "I
am excited about this special year as we continue to expand our
impact by reaching more Jews in need in Israel, Ukraine, and around the world. We continue to
share our ministry with Christians around the world as we expand
the bridge that was built to even greater horizons."
Events to celebrate the legacy of The Fellowship will continue
all year, with an observance of International Holocaust Remembrance
Day on January 27, and on
February 23, The Fellowship will
partner with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)
to dedicate a memorial plaque for Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein in Israel. Other key moments include the
observances of Passover, Yom HaShoah, Israel's 75th Anniversary, Prayer at the Wall,
and The Fellowship's Genesis 12:3 Challenge.
This year, The Fellowship will devote itself to acts of
compassion, remembrance, and prayer like our world has never seen.
By activating donors, partners, influencers and expanding its
reach, The Fellowship will continue to nourish the seeds planted
during the last 40 years while preparing itself for the next 40,
further uniting Christians and Jews to support those in need.
To learn more about The Fellowship and how to participate in its
40th anniversary celebrations, visit
https://www.ifcj.org/40th-anniversary.
About The International Fellowship of Christians and
Jews
For 40 years, the International Fellowship of Christians and
Jews has been leading efforts to build bridges between Christians
and Jews and provide humanitarian care and lifesaving aid for
Israel and the Jewish people.
Through the generosity and loyalty each year of its donors,
partners, and staff, The Fellowship helps over 1 million people
living in poverty, has provided nearly 3,000 bomb shelters for
security, and has helped 770,000 make aliyah back to their
homeland, Israel. The Fellowship
will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year, continuing a mission
to bless Israel and the Jewish
people – like our world has never seen.
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SOURCE International Fellowship of Christians and Jews