A Jewish-Christian group is contributing $3 million to help needy Jewish children in the former Soviet Union.
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, headed by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, will give the $3 million to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. In exchange, Eckstein, who collects money from evangelical Christians, will have a say in how the money is spent and in formulating JDC’s strategy and programming.
The JDC estimates there are up to 50,000 needy Jewish children in the region.
Eckstein gave $9 million the JDC in 2007, $6 million of which went to helping elderly Jews in the former Soviet Union and $3 million that went to help children.
Eckstein recently cemented a similar strategic partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel, giving the agency $15 million per year for the next three years in exchange for a seat on its highest governing committee, its executive.
The Fellowship will also continue to fund JDC programming for the elderly in the former Soviet Union.
