IFCJ launches largest food campaign in Israel

More than 300,000 Israelis will be able to enjoy the Jewish High Holidays this year thanks to the generosity of American Christians.

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, (IFCJ), the largest funder of social services in Israel after the government, is distributing 46,000 Fellowship gift cards this year to needy families with children, enabling them to purchase food for the upcoming Jewish High Holidays.

IFCJ will also distribute food baskets through the Latet and Colel Chabad organizations to an additional 75,000 Israelis in need. In all, IFCJ will spend $4 million for gift cards and an additional $600,000 for food baskets to fund this massive humanitarian effort.

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, founder and president of IFCJ, noted that the scope of this campaign extends far beyond previous efforts: "This is the largest and most far-reaching food campaign ever in the history of Israel. While we have supported tens of thousands of people in Israel with food each year for quite awhile, especially before the New Year holiday period, the number of people in need has unfortunately skyrocketed this year.

"Through this new innovative method of delivering food—providing a Fellowship Card worth 400 shekels (about $110) that can be used like cash at any Shufersal supermarket in the country—we hope to ensure the honor and dignity of those receiving our help by allowing them to choose the items they wish to purchase before the holidays. We hope that this will greatly help those in need and will enable them to have a more joyful and meaningful holiday season."

IFCJ is coordinating the food campaign with Israeli welfare offices around the country that will distribute the Fellowship Cards to their clients, and with the Shufersal supermarket chain, which is providing each family receiving a food voucher with four free bottles of juice.

'Supporters showing their love for Israel'

Effi Rosenhaus, Shufersal's director-general, said Thursday that "as the largest supermarket chain in Israel, we are happy to take part in this campaign."

Rabbi Eckstein was quick to credit IFCJ's Christian partners for this historic initiative.

"Time and again, our supporters have shown their love for Israel by giving sacrificially to support her poorest citizens. Thanks to them, more than 300,000 Israelis will have food this year and be able to celebrate the upcoming holidays. We are grateful for the help of these wonderful people who are true friends and strategic partners of Israel and the Jewish people."

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, based in Chicago and Jerusalem, is the largest funder of social services in Israel after the government. Founded in 1983 by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein to promote better understanding and cooperation between Jews and Christians and to build broad support for Israel and Jews in need around the world, IFCJ's vision is that Jews and Christians would reverse their 2,000-year history of discord and replace it with a relationship marked by dialogue, respect and cooperation.