by Jonathan Strausberg [Yesterday's] Jerusalem Post reported that a deal is in the works for the government of Israel to provide direct financial support to the Jewish Agency for Israel. This could be a game changer, because Israel previously only provided support to specific programs that JAFI operated, such as MASA. As Federation contributions to overseas causes, including JAFI and JDC, have declined over the past few years, JAFI has seen its budget cut by nearly 25%. The result has been a cut in staff and services, including camps in the FSU, aliyah support services, and helping youth at-risk in Israel. These are programmatic areas that are typically funded with core dollars, not designated giving. Obviously, the increase in funding will have a direct impact in reversing the contraction … Continue Reading
NewsBits: Haredi Rabbis At Odds With Christian Donors
from The Jerusalem Post: Christian donor to out haredi recipients Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, chairman of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, said Thursday that his organization was compiling a list for publication of haredi institutions that receive its donations. The move comes after Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, considered the most respected and influential halachic authority among Ashkenazi haredi Jews, signed a declaration saying that receiving money from Eckstein's organization was "close to idolatry." "We are not trying to push anyone into doing anything against their will," said Eckstein, who spoke with The Jerusalem Post from the US. "If they don't want funds, they don't have to accept them. But we are not going to go along with a situation in which haredi … Continue Reading
Passing The Buck; But Not The Bucks
from today's Jerusalem Post: 'Israel holding money that could save Jewish schools in FSU' A network of some 42 Jewish schools in the former Soviet Union are in danger of closing, because the Israeli government hasn't paid money it had pledged to keep them afloat, according to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, which is trying to help save the schools. Some of the schools also serve as orphanages and if closed may leave thousands of Jewish children on the streets. … Continue Reading
Israelis and Evangelical Christian Support
from The Jerusalem Post: Poll: Israelis split on taking Evangelical charity More than 40 percent of Israeli Jews, including nearly 80% of the Orthodox, believe Jewish groups should not accept charity from evangelical Christian organizations, a survey released Sunday found. The study, which highlighted the sharp differences of opinion between secular and religious Jews on Christianity, was published amid growing support for Israel from evangelical Christians, who donate tens of millions of dollars each year. … Continue Reading
Breaking News from The Jewish Agency
The most dramatic moments in Jewish history have once again taken place in Ben Gurion airport minutes ago: 11 Jews from Yemen landed in Israel as part of a Jewish Agency special rescue and aliyah operation. It's a moment that captures who we are as a people, who we are as the Jewish State, and who we are as the Jewish Agency. Recent events in Yemen point to a rising virulence in anti-Semitic sentiment. On December 10th 2008, Moshe Yaish-Nahiri, a Hebrew teacher in the local school, father to nine and brother of a local prominent Rabbi, was shot dead near his home in Rida. The perpetrator, a young Muslim fundamentalist, also threatened further violence against the entire Jewish community. In response, the Yemenite government paid to relocate the … Continue Reading
IFCJ Offers New Support to CIS Jewish Community
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews has announced the creation of a special $10.5 million fund for the Jewish community in Russia and the CIS countries, which is aimed at supplementing the social assistance system. Lev Leviev, the President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS and backer of Jewish educational projects in Russia and the CIS, approached the IFCJ to request aid in salvaging a system which has seen reduced funding due to the current worldwide economic crisis. Leviev underlined that the IFCJ is now a primary organization funding social programs in more than 500 Jewish communities in the Former Soviet Union. The IFCJ’s Friendship Fund will finance the provision of hot meals, food parcels, warm clothes, blankets and medicine for the needy. It will … Continue Reading
NewsBits: Around The Jewish Web
Touching the world of Jewish philanthropy, here are a few items appearing on other Web sites you may find of interest. from Bloomberg: Madoff ‘Klole’ Dwarfs Palestinians’ Rockets for American Jews Michael Steinhardt, the philanthropist who helped start Birthright Israel, says the leading topic of talk among New York Jews isn’t the invasion of Gaza. It is Bernard Madoff’s suspected $50 billion fraud. “It dwarfs the war,” said Steinhardt, who is set to join a panel of Jewish intellectuals and investors today, near Union Square in Manhattan, to dissect the swindle. from The Wall Street Journal: New York Subpoenas Merkin New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has issued subpoenas to former GMAC Financial Services Chairman J. Ezra Merkin, three of his funds and 15 … Continue Reading
JAFI Provides Assistance in the South
Since the start of Israel's operation in Gaza tens days ago, the Jewish Agency has been providing ongoing aid to residents of the area under attack. The main areas of focus are: Fund for Victims of Terror As of today, the Jewish Agency has issued checks to 41 families, and the number of requests, and the providing of assistance, continues on a daily basis. Those eligible for the assistance are people who have been physically injured or whose homes were badly damaged in a rocket attacks, and is sponsored by the UJC and Keren Hayesod. The grant is used for immediate needs including temporary housing, clothes and other incidentals. Respite for youth living in the areas under attack Continuing earlier work in the Sderot area the Jewish Agency is working to provide daily respite to the tens … Continue Reading
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