Christians to sit on Jewish Agency board

Jerusalem Post ^ | Dec. 20, 2007

[Alouette]

The Jewish Agency for Israel and the International Fellowship for Christians and Jews, led by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, have signed an agreement expanding cooperation between the two organizations. According to the agreement, the IFCJ, which raises funds among Christian supporters of Israel and the Jewish world, will donate approximately $45 million over the next three years, mainly for immigration and absorption needs.

Under the new agreement, Christian supporters of Israel will for the first time sit on the Jewish Agency board.

The Jewish Agency has been cooperating with the IFCJ since the latter was established a decade ago. The new agreement will increase the resources the Jewish Agency invests in immigration and absorption, allowing it to expand its activities in this field.

In a statement released Thursday, the Jewish Agency called the agreement "historic," and said it would legitimize a "strategic partnership with the Christian community and the core of the Zionist enterprise of the Jewish Agency."

"This partnership will improve our ability to face today's challenges and improve our services to those who need our support," Jewish Agency Chairman Zeev Bielski said. "The long-standing contribution of Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein and the Fellowship to the state of Israel to Israel's security, society and immigrant absorption and their close cooperation with the government of Israel, local authorities, the Jewish Agency and others, is a badge of honor for the non-Jewish communities around the world who support Israel and who believe that strengthening the state of Israel is a top priority."

Eckstein said: "30 years ago I identified the importance and the deep strategic connection between the Christian community and the Jewish people and Israel. Our connection with the Jewish Agency actualizes an important recognition in this strategic and important covenant with the entire Jewish people."

In recent years, the IFCJ has contributed more than $250m. to Israel for a wide variety of activities including the renovation of bomb shelters in the North, to the Israel Police, to social welfare projects, to helping youth at risk, for immigration, absorption and for IDF soldiers.

[Alouette]

I, for one, regard this as a good thing. The "Jewish Agency" could certainly benefit from having some true Israel supporters.

[Alouette]

FReepMail to be added or removed from this pro-Israel/Judaic/Russian Jewry ping list.

Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.

[Uri’el-2012]

[Zionist Conspirator]

I, for one, regard this as a good thing. The "Jewish Agency" could certainly benefit from having some true Israel supporters.

Ironically, these chr*stians may be disillusioned to learn that they're practically the only ones on the Board who actually believe in G-d, or at least openly invoke Him.

While I'm utterly opposed to all ecumenicism and interfaith syncretism, it's at least a good thing that Jews are learning that American-style Biblical Fundamentalists are a whole different animal from the traditional chr*stian (especially those in the Middle East). Who knows . . . maybe American-style Biblical Fundamentalists (who think each and every chr*stian in the world believes exactly as they do) might find this out themselves eventually.

[Convert from ECUSA]

I’ve been a regular donator to the IFCJ for several years; they do wonderful work in helping Jewish people in Israel and outside of Israel. Rabbi Eckstein has written a couple of good books and is apparently a fine composer and musician/singer. I haven’t heard any of his music yet.