February 23, 2011

As you may know, The Fellowship has offices in Chicago and Jerusalem. This was not always the case. Prior to the year 2000, donations raised through our offices in Chicago were distributed directly to the needy in Israel through trusted partner organizations working in the Holy Land.

All this changed in 2000 with the opening of our Keren L'Yedidut offices in Jerusalem. Keren L'Yedidut (which means "Friendship Fund" in Hebrew) is the Israel office of The Fellowship. Through it, we have access to those programs in Israel that have the greatest need — programs like soup kitchens, orphanages, and much more. It is a critical part of The Fellowship's work, allowing us to see the needs firsthand and to meet them more quickly and efficiently than ever before.

Recently Keren L'Yedidut celebrated its tenth anniversary with a series of events in Jerusalem honoring the work of all those who have helped to make our work a success. Today I want to share with you part of a speech I delivered at one of these events:

    All throughout their long years of exile, the people of Israel knew how to protect and safeguard each other until their return to the Promised Land. It is said in the Talmud — the rabbinic commentaries on biblical law held as authoritative by Jews — "He who saves a single soul of Israel is like the builder of an entire world." Until recent times many thought that only a few righteous gentiles believed this saying. Today we know that millions of non-Jews in the world are extending their hands to support and help the people of Israel, not just in words, but also in actions.

    Our donors have mobilized to help us, particularly during periods of war and suffering. For instance, since the devastating Carmel wildfires last December, millions of dollars have been donated to help rebuild the areas that were destroyed. We are doing everything in our power to show our ministry partners that we are doing good work in Israel and giving hope to her suffering people. We are grateful that, in turn, the citizens of Israel are giving those who help [through The Fellowship] the respect and appreciation they deserve.
My friends, through this I am reminded that all of the good we do — every impoverished elderly Jew who is fed or given critical medical care, every orphan given a home, every struggling family helped in their time of need is due to God's favor, and to you. Israel might seem far away from where you are, but you have made a positive impact on life there through your generosity. We at The Fellowship and Keren L'Yedidut know it, the people of Israel know it — and God knows it, too.

Today, I want to thank all our ministry partners, groups, institutions, churches, and Fellowship staff who have assisted us in granting help to Jewish people in need in Israel and around the world. Naturally I cannot mention here every person individually. But I hope that all these blessed people will feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in being part of this critically important work. And I pray that God will grant us many more years of success together in this sacred calling.

With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein
President