Ebenezer Emergency Fund International

The Ebenezer Emergency Fund International (Charity No. 3987664) is a Christian Zionist organisation based in the UK. The organisation's primary focus is on facilitating aliyah. It was founded in 1991 in Bournemouth by Gustav Scheller and Elsa Scheller.

History

Following its founding in 1991 the organisation financed aliyah flights organised by the Jewish Agency for Israel. Flights from Budapest brought 720 Russian Jews to Tel Aviv. Between December 1991 and January 1992 the EEFI chartered a Greek vessel transporting 1,400 Jews from Odessa to Haifa.

In 1993 a Ukrainian Ship, the Dmitry Shostakovich was chartered by the organisation to carry 2,500 Jews to Israel From Odessa. In the same year its volunteer programme and International Advisory Board were formed. National co-ordinators in New Zealand, Germany, Switzerland and the United States were also appointed in 1993.

In 1994 the organisation organised three flights to Israel from Armenia and also began working in Central Asia republics. In 1995 a further operations in Armenia and Kazakhstan were expanded. In 1996 the EEFI expanded its operations to Siberai, establishing a base in Khabarovsk. The same year a representative for Uzbekistan was appointed.

In 1997 a new EEFI base was established in Novosibirsk. In 1998 another base was established in Georgia. By the end of 1999 the EEFI had helped 50,000 Jews to make aliyah. Half that number travelled to Israel on ships chartered by the EEFI and the other half on Jewish Agency flights from the former Soviet Union.

In 2000 co-founder Gustav Scheller died. Following his death the organisation became a limited company with a board of directors. Offices were opened in Switzerland, Germany and the United States. National Co-ordinators were appointed in Australia, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Spain and Sweden.

In 2005 the organisation opened an American office in Buffalo, New York State. The same year representatives of the organisation made a visit to Latin America to explore possibilities for migration from Latin America to Israel. The same year the organisation became a founder member of the European Coalition for Israel.

In 2006 members of the organisation went on a speaking tour to Nigeria. The same year the EEFI began providing assistance to Ethiopians waiting to make aliyah. In 2005 the organisation opened its Jerusalem office.

In 2007 the organisation established a church advisory board in the former Soviet Union along with regional advisory boards in Latin Ameria and South East Asia and Oceania. In 2008 the organisation sponsored a flight of ethiopian Jews from Addis Ababa to Tel Aviv. Also in 2008 'regional hubs' were set up in the United States.

In 2009 the EEFI provided funds for the Jewish Agency for Israel's 'Red Carpet' programme bringing 107 Jews to Israel. According to the organisation by early 2010 128,000 Jews had been helped to make aliyah through the EEFI.