ICEJ AID
KEEPING PASSOVER AMID A MODERN PLAGUE ICEJ MEETS MOUNTING NEEDS AS ISRAEL IS HIT BY CORONA CRISIS B Y D AV I D R . P A R S O N S , I C E J V I C E P R E S I D E N T & S E N I O R S P O K E S M A N
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s the Coronavirus threat spread around the world in late February, it quickly became clear that the strict measures which governments were taking to stop the pandemic would be impacting the ICEJ’s work in Israel just as the Passover season approached, when we are normally quite busy with numerous holiday assistance projects. Despite having to work from home, our staff in Israel rose to the challenge of meeting the needs of thousands of Israeli families even as the Corona crisis brought the nation’s economy to a standstill. Thanks to the faithful and generous support of Christians worldwide, the ICEJ was able to help even more Jewish families than usual over the Passover season.
VIRAL CRISIS PEAKS AT PASSOVER This was indeed a most difficult Passover in Israel, as life and work were totally disrupted by the Corona health crisis. The elderly were told not to leave their homes for their own safety. Incoming flights were banned and tourism flatlined. All non-essential businesses were
closed. Unemployment in Israel suddenly jumped to over 25 percent. As Passover neared, the social needs across the country only multiplied. In Ashdod alone, over half the families applied to city social workers for Passover assistance. With dozens of urgent requests for help flooding into our offices from across Israel, our staff rose to the occasion, Christians from around Volunteers at our Haifa Home the world responded to the need, and we were for Holocaust Survivors able to help thousands of Holocaust survivors, provided timely aid during other elderly citizens, new immigrants, needy the Corona crisis families and many others all around Israel desperately in need of assistance this Passover season. “When the Coronavirus began spreading in Israel, it made our work much more difficult, It turned into a special moment when but it did not stop the mandate of the Christian Christians showed their care and concern for Embassy to comfort the people of Israel. our Israeli friends right when they needed us Rather, it provided a unique and timely the most! No doubt, “all things work together opportunity to even expand our ministry to meet for good to those who love God, to those who critical needs and help many more families are the called according to His purpose”. as Passover approached”, said ICEJ VP Aid & Aliyah Nicole Yoder. (Romans 8:28) 8 | MAY/JUNE 2020
