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TO FOREIGN, NATIONAL, AND RELIGION EDITORS:
International Fellowship of Christians and Jews responds to urgent
requests for help from the embattled Jewish community of Ukraine -
increases its support to $10 million in 2014 - and calls on the
worldwide Jewish community to act now
DONETSK, Ukraine, March 12, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rabbi
Yechiel Eckstein, founder and president of the International
Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship), is in Ukraine to
show solidarity and support for the Jewish community, and get a
firsthand understanding of their needs during a time of turmoil and
uncertainty.
"For months now we have received repeated and increasingly urgent
requests from Jewish leaders in Ukraine, desperate because of the
worsening economic plight and escalating safety concerns, pleading
with us for immediate additional help," Rabbi Eckstein said. "Many
Jewish schools, orphanages, and other institutions are on lockdown,
with Jews afraid even to walk outside for fear of becoming victims of
attack. Needs are growing astronomically as this crisis continues and
more and more Jews have fallen into desperate circumstances. The
economy of Ukraine is in shambles - and business leaders can no longer
support the community because they too have fallen into need. We are a
lifeline for the Jews of Ukraine."
In light of the rapidly deteriorating situation and seeing firsthand
the staggering decline, Rabbi Eckstein announced that The Fellowship
is increasing its commitment to helping the Jewish community of
Ukraine with additional millions beyond the $10 million already
promised. "Just last week we sent an added emergency grant of $2M, but
this is nowhere near enough to cover the needs during the crisis. It
is imperative that the world Jewish community and its aid
organizations act immediately and do more now to help."
In Kiev, Rabbi Eckstein visited a Fellowship-supported Jewish school,
met with children preparing for the upcoming festival of Purim, went
to a Fellowship-funded home for the elderly, and paid a visit to the
central synagogue, where he said prayers for the safety of the
community. Later, he met with leaders of the Jewish community who
described the stark economic situation they face. Every leader and
every organization he met with in the Ukrainian capital pleaded for
even greater help with food and basic essentials to meet the
overwhelming need.
In Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, the 15,000-member Jewish community feels
even more threatened than the community in the capital. The Jews of
Donetsk fear that with the crumbling infrastructure and rising
tensions, they will again become a target. The devastating economic
situation is even more paralyzing in Donetsk, and the business leaders
of this Jewish community are fighting for their own economic survival.
"We have given more than $150 million in the past decade to help
Jewish communities in need in the former Soviet Union, but now the
situation in Ukraine is urgently critical," Rabbi Eckstein said. "I
cannot overstate the need. With God's help, we must - and we will -
meet this challenge. In situations such as this I am so grateful that
our donors, Christians in North America and around the world, are
quick to show their deep love for the Jewish people. They are rising
to meet the urgent call for help by providing financial assistance to
help Jews in crisis. It is only their steadfast partnership that
allows The Fellowship to respond immediately to feed the hungry, to
house the homeless, and to protect those victimized by hate - and I
urge the world Jewish community and its aid organizations to increase
their efforts and join The Fellowship in helping Jews in Ukraine."
About The Fellowship The International Fellowship of Christians and
Jews was founded in 1983 to promote better understanding and
cooperation between Christians and Jews, and build broad support for
Israel. Today it is one of the leading forces in helping Israel, and
Jews in need worldwide - and is the largest channel of Christian
support for Israel. Led by its founder and president Rabbi Yechiel
Eckstein, The Fellowship now raises more than $130 million per year,
mostly from Christians, to assist Israel and the Jewish people. Since
its founding, The Fellowship has raised more than $800 million for
this work. The organization has offices in Jerusalem, Chicago,
Toronto, and Seoul.
CONTACT: George Mamo, 312-641-7200
SOURCE International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
-0- 03/12/2014
/Web Site: http://www.ifcj.org
CO: International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
ST: Ukraine
SU: REL FOR AVO
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