KAHULUI, Hawaii, Nov. 13 — Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, founder and president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship), spoke yesterday at the In His House of Restoration Church. Eckstein, who was on his way to Korea to meet with Christian leaders there and work with staff at The Fellowship’s Seoul offices, urged those in attendance to unite with Jews to help defend Israel and the West against radical Islam and terrorism.

“We’re facing a new world where Christians and Jews need to come together, not just for spiritual reasons since we’re all children of God and grafted onto the olive tree of Israel. But also because today we both have an existential reason why we need to come together — and that is to fight the forces of radical Islam and terrorism that are threatening the Western world. Because of this, we need to come together to represent that Judeo-Christian heritage,” Eckstein said.

The rabbi, who has been working for almost four decades to build bridges of understanding between Christians and Jews, said he’s seen a marked improvement in Christian-Jewish relations since his organization’s founding in 1983. In fact, he believes Christians are now the only friends of Jews and Israel.

“Today we are witnessing a miracle of bridge building between Christians and Jews. This great church is a demonstration of the love that Christians have — true, Bible-believing Christians have — for Israel and the Jewish people. And I want to tell you, that love you have here and that you see going around the world more and more is registering with the Jewish people. It’s breaking down the barriers: the walls of separation, of suspicion, of enmity, of fear. Christians aren’t just our best friends and allies; they are our only friends,” he said.

Photo caption: Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein addresses the In His House of Restoration Church in Kahului, Hawaii, on Nov. 8 (Photo credit: In His House of Restoration Church).

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About The Fellowship:

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) 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 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 $140 million per year, mostly from Christians, to assist Israel and the Jewish people. Since its founding, The Fellowship has raised more than $1.4 billion for this work. The organization has offices in Jerusalem, Chicago, Toronto, and Seoul. For more information, visit www.ifcj.org.