International Fellowship of Christians and Jews

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The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews is a grant making foundation and Israel advocacy group founded in 1983 by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein.[1] Due to the scale and ambition of the IFCJ's operations Eckstein has been described as the 'shadow welfare minister' in the Israeli media.[2]

The organisation's professed goal is 'to promote understanding between Jews and Christians and build broad support for Israel and other shared concerns.'[3] The organisation was formerly known as the 'Holyland Fellowship of Christians and Jews', the name was changed in 1991. The organisation maintains offices in Jerusalem, Chicago, Toronto, and Seoul. [4] The organisation's headquarters are based in Chicago and Jerusalem and it has a sister organisation in Canada - the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews of Canada.[5] [6] Regarding its achievements the IFCJ website states that:

We have helped hundreds of thousands of Jews escape poverty and anti-Semitism and return to their biblical homeland, funded humanitarian assistance that has touched the lives of millions of Jews in Israel and around the world, provided life-giving aid to Israel’s victims of war and terror, and much more.[1]

In 2013 the organisation's total revenue amounted to $113,513,326 and the organisation claims to have raised half a billion US dollars since its founding in 1983.[7] [3] However, it has been reported that the amount of funds raised is closer to 1$ billion.[8]

The IFCJ is a major donor to the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, the American partner of the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers (AWIS). Between 2002-2013 the foundation donated $7,941,000 to the FIDF.[9] The IFCJ is described by AWIS as one of its 'Key Strategic Partners'.[10]

Activities

Aliyah

The IFCJ has claimed to enabled migration into Israel of 'close to one million Jews from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia...'[11]

Prior to 2015 the IFCJ worked to enabled aliyah to Israel in cooperation with the Jewish Agency For Israel. In March of 2015 it was reported that the IFCJ had chartered one of its 'Freedom Flights' carrying 100 Ukrainian refugees to Israel - the first occasion it did so outside of the auspices of JAFI.[11] Passengers on such flights received payments of $1,000 per adult and $500 per child as well as facilitating consultations with the Israeli government regarding access to benefits.[11] JAFI was highly critical of the IFCJ, a spokesman for the organisation commented:

Is the IFCJ prepared to offer cash to all immigrants from Ukraine, including the overwhelming majority who choose not to travel to Israel with them? Would the individuals they've managed to draw to their flights be quite as willing to forgo the Jewish Agency's vital assistance if money weren't a factor?[11]

Another JAFI official accused the IFCJ of 'attempting to go rogue, to the ultimate detriment of those they purport to serve.'[11]

In spite of its disagreements with the JAFI, in February of 2015 the IFCJ announced it would donate $500,000 to the Jewish Agency to facilitate its aliyah activities through the United Israel Appeal.[12]

Tensions with the Jewish Agency led to the IFCJ's creation of a new immigration programme run by Eli Cohen - former head of the Jewish Agency's aliya department.[13] Founder and president of the IFCJ, Yechiel Eckstein characterised the split between the IFCJ and the Jewish Agency as being due to Christian donors wishing their contributions to be used to bring Jews to Israel as opposed to the Jewish Agency's focus on Jewish identity.[14] The Jewish Agency's strategic plan, adopted in 2010, specified that while the agency would continue to support aliya it would also provide resources for Jewish communities in their countries of origin rather than purely advocating migration to Israel.[15] Reportedly whilst the Jewish Agency's budget has shrunk, that of the IFCJ has expanded due to increasing support for Israel from American Evangelicals.[14]

The IFCJ intended to spend around $2 million in 2014 on facilitating aliyah for around 7,000 Ukrainian Jews.[16] In August of that year Yechiel Eckstein commented that:

I am hoping to double the number of immigrants coming from the Ukraine this year over last year... [The IFCJ wants to] get as many people to Israel while the iron is hot and to make it as easy and as user friendly as possible.[17]

In 2014 it was reported that the IFCJ has found it easier to conduct its operations in the states of the former Soviet Union as compared with North America. It was also reported that the IFCJ plans to expand its operations in France and Latin America.[15]

Aid Programmes

In February 2015, writing in the Jerusalem Post Senior Vice President Yael Eckstein announced that the IFCJ was pledging $650,000 to meet the basic needs of 4,000 Jews caught in the fighting in Ukraine.[18] This was in addition to $10 million pledged since the start of the conflict in 2014.[8]

In December 2014 the Jerusalem Post reported that the IFCJ had sent million of dollars to the Ukraine since the start of the conflict:

Eckstein has poured millions into Ukraine since the start of the insurgency earlier this year, in partnership with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the Chabad hassidic movement and other groups, to provide aid to internally displaced Ukrainian Jews.[13]

In January of the same year it was reported that the IFCJ had distributed NIS 8.5 million in heating grants to around 25,000 impoverished elderly people in Israel. These grants were reportedly distributed by social workers and IFCJ volunteers.[19]

The IFCJ has donated underground operating theatres to Israeli hospitals for use during conflict.[20]

In October 2014 it was reported that the IFCJ would be providing free dental care to thousands of elderly Israelis.[21]

The IFCJ has reportedly supported the Israel Food Security Project.[22]

IFCJ funds part funded a home for autistic youth opened in September 2014.[23]

In July 2014 the Jerusalem Post detailed some of the IFCJ's activities:

Since the second Lebanon war, the IFCJ has provided assistance totaling some $33 million toward numer-ous projects, including renovating some 2,300 shelters, renovating and the constructing of some 50 activity centers across a number of municipalities, delivering supplies to emergency crews, delivering emergency supplies and medical equipment to hospitals, as well as the establishment of a trauma center for the resi-dents of the Eshkol Regional Council.[24]

Projects

Below are the IFCJ's descriptions of its various projects:

Guardians of Israel

'Guardians of Israel provides food, clothing, shelter, housing and other urgent needs for all Israelis, including children and the elderly, who are suffering due to poverty, terrorism and war.'[25]

Isaiah 58

'Isaiah 58 provides children and elderly Jews in the former Soviet Union with food, clothing, heating, and other necessities by funding humanitarian programs throughout the FSU.'[25]

On Wings of Eagles

'On Wings of Eagles helps Jews make aliyah (immigrate to Israel) from around the world, and helps them with their klitah (resettlement) needs once they arrive in the Holy Land.'[25]

Stand for Israel

'Stand for Israel aims to engage people both spiritually and politically on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people by encouraging them to pray for Israel and teaching them to advocate for the Jewish state.'[25]

Latin American Outreach

'Several years ago, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein was named the Goodwill Ambassador of the State of Israel, with a special emphasis on Latin American communities. Shortly after, The Fellowship launched an initiative to build bridges between Latino Christians and Jews. We have been a presence at several conferences in Latin America, and launched a successful Ask the Rabbi radio program, educating Spanish speaking Christians about the Jewish roots of Christianity.'[25]

Teaching Initiatives

'Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein is a renowned biblical scholar and expert in Jewish-Christian relations. He has spoken at countless churches and conferences, published several books, and hosted educational radio programs. Recently, he has begun hosting Journey to Zion, a dynamic 30-minute teaching program focusing on the Bible and Jewish roots of Christianity before a live studio audience.'[25]

Nefesh B'Nefesh

Reportedly the IFCJ was instrumental in the creation of Nefesh B'Nefesh:

In 2001, at the request of Benjamin Netanyahu, who was not in politics at the time, the Fellowship provided $2 million to start Nefesh B'Nefesh, an organization helping North American Jews immigrate to Israel, making it the first organization to challenge JAFI's monopoly on aliyah. But this partnership was short lived. At the behest of the immigrants, many of whom came from Orthodox backgrounds, Nefesh B'Nefesh downplayed the role of Christians in funding their immigration. Within a year, this led to IFCJ pulling out its funding.[15]

Relations with Jewish Religious Groups

Due to being a Christian organisation, and having been accused of carrying out missionary work in Israel, relations with the Jewish religious establishment are sometimes fraught. Mina Fenton, former head of the Jerusalem branch of the Emunah Religious Women's Organization resigned her position because Emunah planned to accept a large donation from the IFCJ.[26]

In 2014 the Ministry of Education declined to accept a donation from the IFCJ of $10 million that was due to pay for education summer camps. [26]

Operation Protective Edge

During Operation Protective Edge the IFCJ raised over $9 million to provide to residents of southern Israel who were affected by the conflict. It was reported that half of that total would be used for future projects. Items purchased with the money raised included:

a mobile CT scanner for Soroka University Medical Center in Beersheba; 32 bomb shelters for cities and communities in southern Israel; hygiene kits for sol-diers; and first-responder kits for emergency-service personnel, which included helmets, flack-jackets, flash lights, walkie talkies and similar items. The organization also helped prepare and deliver more than 10,500 meals for people in the South during the first week of the conflict, especially the elderly, and funded camps and day trips for thousands of children around the country.[27]

During the conflict IFCJ volunteers reportedly visited 2,000 elderly Israelis in the south of the country, providing food and medicines.[24]

The organisation opened a 'friendship village' in July 2014 for thousands of children from southern Israel. The camp was located in the Jerusalem forest.[24]

Foundation Grantees

Organisations supported by the fellowship include:

American Joint Jewish Distribution Committee, American Values, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, Hadassah, Jewish Agency for Israel, and This World: Jewish Values Network.

According to Yechiel Eckstein the IFCJ has deliberately reduced the scale and number of its grants in order to focus on funding its own operations.[2]

Funding and Finances

The IFCJ has used radio advertisements fronted by Yechiel Eckstein to encourage Israeli listeners to donate to the IFCJ.[2]

The IFCJ receives funding from the following foundations:

Alan Stone Family Charitable Foundation, Amica Companies Foundation, BBR Foundation, Borgata Heart and Soul Foundation, Carol and George Henry Family Foundation, Clarence J. Venne Foundation, Dorothy Louise Blossman Charitable Foundation, Elias Family Charitable Trust, Employees Community Fund of Boeing St. Louis, Fishers of Men, Frieman Foundation, Gero Foundation, Gettler Family Foundation, GTR Foundation, Herbert and Jacqueline Lippitz Foundation, Herbert J. and Beverly J. Myers Charitable Foundation, IFCJ Foundation, Independent Charities of America, John M. Hewitt Family Foundation, J.S. and S. Michaan Foundation, Jonathan and David Foundation, Lending Hand, Louis C and Celia K. Grossberg Foundation, Marilyn and Marshall Butler Foundation, McLaughlin Family Foundation, Melvin and Sylvia Kafka Foundation, Melvyn P. and Eleanor N. Galin Family Foundation, National Christian Charitable Foundation, Norbert and Henry Bratt Charitable Trust, Peter C. and Emajean Cook Foundation, Ryan Foundation, Setton Foundation, Soussa Family Foundation, Stanley J. and Doris Fenvessy Foundation, Suzanne and Alan Peyser Foundation

Revenue and Assets of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews in $[28]
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total 2008-2012
Total Revenue 35,172,738 39,969,459 44,153,406 49,530,334 73,644,288 78,013,220 84,281,498 94,634,458 97,019,588 106,697,118 113,514,939 816,631,046
Net Assets 15,094,786 5,521,556 8,231,776 7,888,752 12,675,521 17,037,873 12,668,459 11,454,194 11,871,922 12,325,019 14,749,907 129,519,765



Amounts Received from Charitable Foundations in US$.[29]
Foundation name 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Total 2002-2013
Alan Stone Family Charitable Foundation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 25 0 0 75
Amica Companies Foundation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,733 0 2,145 0 1,500 6,378
BBR Foundation - - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 250 250
Borgata Heart and Soul Foundation 0 0 0 0 0 - - 150 0 0 0 - 150
Carol and George Henry Family Foundation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,500 0 0 1,500
Clarence J. Venne Foundation 0 0 0 0 0 2,000 2,500 10,000 5,000 0 6,500 10,000 36,000
Dorothy Louise Blossman Charitable Foundation - - - 0 0 0 0 0 17 10 15 20 62
Employees Community Fund of Boeing St. Louis 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,239 3,017 2,964 3,108 5,885 0 17,213
Frieman Foundation 0 0 0 0 230 0 200 200 0 0 0 - 630
Gero Foundation - - - - - - 5,650 2,575 750 150 150 150 9,425
Gettler Family Foundation 200 258 150 300 0 200 0 0 200 100 0 0 1,408
GTR Foundation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 200 1,000 0 1,000 1,000 3,700
Herbert J. and Beverly J. Myers Charitable Foundation 0 25 100 50 0 75 25 75 0 0 50 0 400
Herbert and Jacqueline Lippitz Foundation 0 0 0 100 100 100 0 200 0 50 0 0 550
Independent Charities of America 0 0 0 0 97,444 0 16,454 216,078 279,778 474,976 91,955 70,524 1,247,209
John M. Hewitt Family Foundation 0 - - - 0 0 0 0 0 800 500 0 1,300
Jonathan and David Foundation 0 0 0 0 1,535 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 0 1,000 1,000 7,535
J.S. and S. Michaan Foundation 0 250 0 0 200 250 0 0 0 10,000 0 0 10,700
Louis C. and Celia K. Grossberg Foundation 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 100 100 200
Marilyn and Marshall Butler Foundation 0 0 0 0 0 100 100 100 300 200 200 0 1,000
McLaughlin Family Foundation - - - 0 0 0 0 0 1,500 18,000 0 0 19,500
Melvin and Sylvia Kafka Foundation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 72 72 0 0 0 144
Melvyn P. and Eleanor N. Galin Family Foundation - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 0 0 0 25
National Christian Charitable Foundation 0 0 3,000 0 5,000 7,400 3,150 7,035 7,950 14,350 0 8,851 56,736
Norbert and Henry Bratt Charitable Trust - - - - - 0 0 0 10,000 10,000 11,000 - 31,000
Peter C. and Emajean Cook 0 0 0 0 3,000 0 0 0 7,500 2,500 0 0 13,000
Ryan Foundation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 600 0 600
Setton Foundation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 26


Soussa Family Foundation - - - - 0 0 0 0 0 360 360 180 900
Stanley J. and Doris Fenvessy Foundation 25 25 50 50 50 0 50 50 50 50 50 - 450
Suzanne and Alan Peyser Foundation 0 0 0 0 200 0 0 0 1,000 2,000 2,700 2,100 7,800
Total 225 558 3,300 500 107,759 11,125 31,368 243,485 319,156 540,264 122,000 95,701 1,475,866


People

Directors (circa 2015)

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein (Founder and President) | Yael Eckstein (Senior Vice President) | John P. French (Chairman) | Edward Lasky (Treasurer) | Barbara Manuel (Secretary) | David Clark (IFCJ) (Director) | J.R. Dupell (Director) | Steven Hefter (Director) | Andrew Lappin (Director) | Suzanne Peyser (Director)

Contact

P.O. Box 96105
Washington, D.C.
20090-6105
Phone: (800) 486-8844

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 IFCJ Website About Us. Accessed 26 February 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Sam Sokol, 'A new year for the IFCJ', Jerusalem Post, 24 September 2014
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 IFCJ Website Our History. Accessed 26 February 2015.
  4. ↑ IFCJ Website Global Reach, Life Saving Impact. Accessed 26 February 2015.
  5. ↑ IFCJ Website Our Mission. Accessed 26 February 2015.
  6. ↑ IFCJ Website Frequently Asked Questions about The Fellowship. Accessed 26 February 2015.
  7. ↑ IFCJ Website Financial Summary. Accessed 26 February 2015.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Yael Eckstein, 'Responding to Dire Security Situation in Ukraine, the International Fel-lowship of Christians and Jews Is Providing an Emergency Aid Package to Jews in the Region', PR Newswire, 9 February 2015
  9. ↑ Data compiled from filings of Form 990s 2002 - 2013.
  10. ↑ 'Key Strategic Partners', Association for the Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers website, accessed 5 March 2015
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Sam Sokol, 'Jewish Agency, IFCJ spar over Ukrainian immigration', Jerusalem Post, 31 March 2015
  12. ↑ Ben Hartman, Lidar Grave-Lazi, Jerusalem Post staff, 'News in brief', Jerusalem Post, 25 February 2015
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Sam Sokol, Yardena Schwartz '226 Ukrainian immigrants arrive on IFCJ aliya flight. Eckstein: We will charter as many planes as needed, so that every Jew who wants to come home can do so', Jerusalem Post, 23 December 2014
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Staff, 'Jewish Agency board of governors feuds with Eckstein', Jerusalem Post, 30 October 2014
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Staff, 'Christian Evangelicals Push Aliyah, and Jews Are Concerned', The Forward, 24 October 2015
  16. ↑ Amie Ferris-Rotman, 'The Scattering of Ukraine's Jews', Atlantic Online, 21 September 2014
  17. ↑ Sam Sokol, 'Ukrainian Jewish exodus expected soon. Financial incentives and bu-reaucratic aid encourage flight from war-torn country', Jerusalem Post, 11 August 2014
  18. ↑ Yael Eckstein, 'Caring about the Jews in Ukraine', Jerusalem Post, 13 February 2015
  19. ↑ Lidar Grave-Lazi, 'IFCJ: Needy elderly being forced to choose between heat and food', PR Newswire, 23 January 2015
  20. ↑ Staff, 'All Ready', Jerusalem Post, 2 December 2014
  21. ↑ Lidar Grave-Lazi, 'IFCJ provides free dental care to thousands of senior citizens in need', Jerusalem Post, 2 October 2014
  22. ↑ Lidar Grave-Lazi, Jeremy Sharon, 'Israeli organizations rally to help needy on Passover', Jerusalem Post, 31 March 2015
  23. ↑ Lidar Grave-Lazi, 'First home-for-life for autistic youth in Tel Aviv opens', Jerusalem Post, 17 September 2015
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Lidar Grave-Lazi, 'IFCJ opens 'Friendship Village' for thousands of children from the South', Jerusalem Post, 28 July 2014
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 25.5 IFCJ Website Current Projects. Accessed 26 February 2015.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Yaakov Levi, 'Top Emunah Leader Quits Over IFCJ Donation', Arutz Sheva, 18 September 2014
  27. ↑ Staff, 'ICFJ raised $9 million during Protective Edge', Jerusalem Post, 5 September 2014
  28. ↑ Data compiled from filings of Form 990s 2002 - 2012.
  29. ↑ Data compiled from filings of Form 990s 2002 - 2013.Key: '-' = 990 not examined.
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