The description of the city of Rahat as a "poor and dusty town in central Negev" is so far off the mark it is laughable. Rahat is considered the capital of the Bedouin world in Israel, slightly larger in size and population than Beersheva. If you take the trouble to actually drive through the city, you will see many huge, beautiful mansions in addition to smaller one-family homes as well as apartment buildings. Yes, there are "poor and dusty" areas too -- but you can find those in any Israeli city, be it Jewish or not. Rahat is not poor by any means, either. Some of the wealthiest Bedouin in the MIddle East make their home there, as do a number of academic and political leaders. I do not negate the necessity of helping this clan and am proud that a Jew found a way to do it, although I wonder why Mayor al-Krenawi did not turn to his fellow Bedouin -- or if he did, why they did not respond to his call. But I am surprised and dismayed by the writer's lack of information about the city. Take a second look. It's worth it.

It's like a bad joke here...you a jews, a muslim and a bedouin walked into a bar....ummmm... I think we are missing a religion here..... Jewish rabbi raises donation from evangelical Christians to help Israeli Bedouins. Eckstein says "Our guidelines are - help the people of Israel. All the citizens of Israel, regardless of their religion." "We don't help Palestinians," he says, referring to those living in occupied Palestinian territories. "But we do help Druze, (Israeli Arab) Muslims, Bedouins." So you have a US Christian foundation that doesn't help Christians???? WTF!!! Yeah they are the minority in Israel, but jews are the minority in the US but get equal rights. This group must be apart of Pat Robertson's web of death!!! Especially raising $75M from 500k people..... :D:D:D:D Then again it could be the story YNET wants to put out to make jews look better then they are really set out to be. If you would have left the clan out there (all though it is not at all right, since ALL fellow Israeli should help) nature would have taken care of them!! I am happy they have a roof over their heads until the other clan comes along again and runs them off once more. Best of luck to them!!! Mabrook!!

o....organizations liek this, but what about helping other christians in Israel? why does the money has to go to Jews, Muslims and Druze only???

Bedouins/Arabs are Israelis as well as Druze and Jews. They are entitled to any national funds as far as fairness and practicality are concerned. If xians complain, tell them to donate directly to the UJA or a similar charity.

What exactly is a real, legitimate Bedouin these days? I know the traditional definition, but does it still apply? I ask this in reference to the comments posed by #1.

It is very good that people help other people who are in problems, regardless of their religion. It is good that also such "good news" are reported, not only news about jews/christians/muslims shooting at each other. Other such good news in the last year were for example, the Sheba Medical Center offering free treatment to Lebanese who got injured in the war, or the news about IDF soldiers evacuating a heavily injured Lebanese women to a hospital in Israel, thus saving her live. Sadly, these things weren't reported in German media, of course...

Seriously, christians donated to "bless" Israel, and did just that. If Israel decides to use the funds to "bless" those who are not jews, that is their decision. Also, I bleieve that would be rather un-christian to complain and pull their future donations because they don't like it went to arabs in need. Of course it would be a different story if it went to Hamas or Islamic Jihad.

Joseph represents the Jewish people. Ephraim represents the ten lost tribes, expelled from the Northern Kingdom of Israel 2500 years ago, because of idolatry. And they are still out there - most of them still committed to idolatry, but loves and support Israel and the Jewish People. Menasseh is found in Western India. What happened to your suffering brother Joseph..? http://msmedia.a7.org/arutz7/eng-video/06/mar/perm/amona-arutz7.wmv The one despised and avoided, afflicted, hated - a man of pains, mocked, slaughtered... Psalm 44 - like Isaiah 53 The suffering Servant is the Jewish People Thou hast given us like sheep to be eaten and hast scattered us among the nations. Thou sellest Thy people for small gain, and hast not set their prices high. Thou makest us a taunt to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us. Thou makest us a byword among the nations, a shaking of the head among the peoples. Nay, but for Thy sake are we killed all the day we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Arise for our help, and redeem us for Thy mercy''s sake. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1902412354352310005 The victims of the Holocaust, many of whom the day of their martyrdom is unknown. http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=1902412354352310005&hl=en This is the New Covenant... - NOT New Testament. "Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant (bris) with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah. Not like the covenant (bris) which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them," declares the Lord. "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the Lord, "I will put My law within them, and on their hearts I will write it and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ''Know the Lord,'' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," says the Lord, "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." Jeremiah 31 Learn how the authors of the NT misapplied and altered Jeremiah 31:31-34 www.outreachjudaism.org

for Hosea 13 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling, he exalted himself in Israel but when he became guilty through Baal - (idolatry), he died... For though he be fruitful among the reed-plants, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD coming up from the wilderness, "and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up he shall spoil the treasure of all precious vessels... http://www.mechon-mamre.org/e/et/et1313.htm let the blessing come ... upon the head of Joseph, and upon the crown of the head of him (of he) that is prince (who was separated) from his brothers among his brethren. His firstling bullock, (A souvereignity is his ox-like one) majesty is his and his horns (his glory) are the horns of the wild-ox (will be like the horns of a re’eim) with them he shall gore the peoples all of them, (nations together) even the ends of the earth and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh. Deut 33 And their prince... shall be of themselves, and their ruler shall proceed from the midst of them and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto Me for who is he that hath pledged his heart to approach unto Me? saith the L*RD.” Jer. 30:21 Here goes the Trinity... ...but he that taketh refuge in Me shall possess the land, and shall inherit My holy mountain. And He will say: cast ye up, cast ye up, clear the way, take up the stumblingblock - idolatry/Jesus out of the way of My people. For thus saith the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place... Isaiah 57 On the Rapture - CONTRA Gathering of the tribes Return, O backsliding children, saith the LORD for I am a lord unto you, and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion and I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. Jeremiah 3 The rapture is the moment when believers would be taken up to heavento be with the Lord Jesus. Christians have waited for the Rapture with a constant anticipation that it would take place in their lifetime. By stealing the words of Hashem – from the Jewish Bible, and putting the words into Jesus’ mouth “Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.” (Matthew 24:40-41) in the NT. This has nothing to do with the rapture, But has everything to do with the gathering of the Tribes. http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=135&view=item&idx=1206 Who will return... Isaiah 56 http://www.mechon-mamre.org/e/et/et1056.htm -the Catholic Church and the authors of the NT, deceived, brainwashed and screwed... and is ultimately responsible for Jewhate, anti-Semitism and slaughter of the Jewish people.

I volunteered in the Negev town for three days in 2002, meeting Bedouins my age (I was then in high school) and painting murals at one of the schools, located in a ultramodern building where all students had highspeed internet. Hana's description is accurate. Many Arab homes tend to emphasize very nice interiors as opposed to facades, so if they look unimpressive from the outside, don't rush to judge them as poor peoples because they may have elaborate furnishings on the inside. I praise you Rabbi Eckstein for working with Christians to raise money for Muslims and show true concern for all of Israel's people. You seem to be very keen on that passage in the Torah about helping the stranger because us Bnai Yisrael were once strangers in Egypt.

Evangelicals give money to a lot of different groups, and especially to other Christians. It is legal to give to whomever is in need. Now In the case of the fellowship of Christians and Jews, it has good accountability standards, goes out of it's way to help needy people that might not otherwise be helped and has in it the name of Christ.

Evangelicals give money..ok...but do they need tax shelters in universities? Do they get to live high on the hog with fat pockets in the "name of Christ"? YNET makes this story more about the religion then the story it self. Jews help Muslims with Christian cash What kind of head line is that? It's like saying: (please no offense to any religion) Moses helps Muhammad with Jesus' cash Remember when you give to a charity you do NOT need to be recognized or praised!!!

we all know how tacky Ynet can be with its headlines and pictures. The point of the story is a good one.

Better use of funds would be to help the poor jews, some of them only have one or two meals a day, children to. How about helping the 10,000 jews who lost the homes last year because of a corrupt PM and goverment. It is not that I have anything against the Bedouins. Some have even served along side me also some work with PA, Hamas, and other terrorist smuggling items from Egypt to the Negev along its open border. I say if you feel that you must give give them money It should be on condition that they resettle in the Sinai.

The better use of funds would be to shut your mouth from the hate spewing out of it. The greed of which you speak is not kind. Please zip your lips and let the loving kindness that has been shown work on your cold heart. If you want to help your fellow jews then start a foundation and raise the money. You contradict yourself so well. "It is not that I have anything against the Bedouins." "I say if you feel that you must give give them money It should be on condition that they resettle in the Sinai." WTF is that???? I have nothing against you but go live somewhere else? hmmmm sounds like you've done that before with you fellow Arabs...like with the Palestinians!!! Did NOT get you very far... did it!!! Get off the Bush line and stop the hate and war...you will save enough money to help the "10,000 jews who lost the homes last year because of a corrupt PM and goverment"!! I believe these people are called ISRAELIS...no? oh that right...ALL citizens that live in ISRAEL are ISRAELI and that would include Arabs!!! see the hate????????

We don't need this money. Eckstein and his christian chronies need us...they are all of the same proseltizing ilk! Good riddence and the sooner the better

Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? False prophets... Iammadinthehead Hagee... Christians, Moslems... Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee... and declare thou unto Me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast the understanding. Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it? Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone "Knowledge of G*d" Connected to the Jewish Moshiach Rashi on Isaiah 28 So has the Lord God said: "Behold, I have laid as a foundation a stone in Zion, a fortress stone, a costly cornerstone, a foundation well founded; the believer shall not hasten. thereof" And so must it be interpreted: Behold, I am He Who has already laid [a stone in Zion. Already] a decree has been decreed before Me, and I have set up the King Messiah, who shall be in Zion as an אֶבֶן בּוֹחֵן, a fortress stone, an expression of a fortress and strength. A foundation well founded (מוּסַד מוּסָּד). The first one is voweled with a pattah because it is in the construct state, a foundation of a foundation, which is a solid foundation. It IS NOT Jesus :) When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of G*d shouted for joy? Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who hath given understanding to the mind? Job 38 Here we go...

in the time of the latter rain... even of the L*RD that maketh lightnings and He will give them showers of rain to every one grass in the field... The L*RD of hosts hath remembered His flock the house of Judah and maketh them as His majestic horse in the battle... Out of them shall come forth the corner-stone... “knowledge of G*d out of them the stake Judah is my sceptre. Judah is my lawgiver Ps 60 and 108 out of them the battle bow out of them every master together... And they shall be as mighty men treading down... in the mire of the streets in the battle and they shall fight because the L*RD is with them and the riders on horses shall be confounded... And I will strengthen the house of Judah and I will save the house of Joseph and I will bring them back for I have compassion upon them and they shall be as though I had not cast them off for I am the L*RD their G*d and I will hear them And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man and their heart shall rejoice as through wine yea, their children shall see it and rejoice their heart shall be glad in the L*RD I will hiss for them and gather them for I have redeemed them And I will sow them among the peoples and they shall remember Me in far countries and they shall live with their children and shall return I will bring them back also out of the land of Egypt and gather them out of Assyria and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon and place shall not suffice them And over the sea affliction shall pass and the waves shall be smitten in the sea and all the depths of the Nile shall dry up and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away And I will strengthen them in the L*RD and they shall walk up and down in His name, saith the L*RD Zec. 10 Christians - Moslems Don't worry... FIRST AID KIT: www.outreachjudaism.org

You are very good people. Thank you very much about your help. GOD with you