Photo credit: IFCJ

JERUSALEM — As part of its ongoing activities to improve the well-being of the elderly in Israel and reduce the effects of loneliness and poverty, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews of Canada (IFCJ Canada) funded a special food distribution, and provided joy to needy Israelis in Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim.

A long line of people gathered at the IFCJ Canada-funded Eshel soup kitchen to receive their daily meal, as well as a bag of treats appropriate for the holiday. Later, at a festive Purim celebration at Tsa’ad Kadima in Jerusalem, beneficiaries with cerebral palsy and staff dressed in costume (customary on Purim) and enjoyed festive Purim songs to celebrate the holiday that commemorates the Jewish people’s deliverance from their enemies in biblical times.

President of IFCJ Canada, Yael Eckstein, reminded everyone, “COVID-19 has taken a heavy toll on needy Israelis in so many ways. It has dramatically increased their need for essentials like food, which is something we deliver to them every day. But we can’t forget that the isolation has also increased the loneliness that is all too common among vulnerable populations, especially during Jewish holidays. Of course, it’s critical that we feed their bodies by providing them with food, but it’s also so important to feed their spirits by providing human interaction through events like our Purim celebration.”

Aviva, who attended the event, talked about how the economic crisis brought on by the pandemic has affected her and her family, and also expressed her gratitude for the support she has received from IFCJ Canada. “Since COVID-19 changed the world a year ago, it has been difficult and has had an impact on both my and my husband’s job,” she said. “I appreciate knowing that Christians care so much about my happiness and well-being.”

IFCJ Canada was founded in 2003 by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein to increase The Fellowship’s reach and support. Like its sister organization in the U.S., IFCJ Canada operates under the leadership of Yael Eckstein and is governed by an independent board of directors representing both faiths who share our strong belief in building bridges between the Christian and Jewish communities.

Over the years, we have been leaders in Jewish-Christian relations, building bridges of goodwill that have led to greater understanding and cooperation between members of these two great faiths. We have helped hundreds of thousands of Jews escape poverty and anti-Semitism and return to their biblical homeland, funded humanitarian assistance that has touched the lives of millions of Jews in Israel and around the world, and much more. For more information, visit www.ifcj.ca.