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Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein. (Alon Ron)
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Last update - 00:00 21/12/2007
Jewish Agency to appoint first ever Christian board member
By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: IFCJ, Rabbi Eckstein 

The Jewish Agency is to appoint a Christian representative to its board of directors for the first time, following an agreement this week with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) to increase cooperation between the organizations.

The IFCJ raises funds for Israeli and Jewish causes among American Evangelical congregations. IFCJ president Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein has been accused of cooperating with fundamentalist Christians and missionaries, and some ultra-Orthodox rabbis have banned using the money he raises.

However, Eckstein has gained a position of influence and an open door to Israeli leaders due to the tens of millions of shekels he has funneled to Israel annually. A decade ago he was made an agency director, due to the large sums of money he raised for the organization.
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According to the agreement between the agency and the IFCJ, Eckstein will raise NIS 180 million among Christian communities in the next three years for immigration and absorption, and a Christian member of the IFCJ will be placed on the agency's board.

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      1.   It is About Time 05:59  |  Tod Zuckerman 21/12/07
      2.   With friends like these... 06:40  |  Jack Navon 21/12/07
      3.   SAD Day! Christians SHOULDN`T BE INVOLVED In Israel`s/Jews` Dirt. 09:24  |  Proud Pal Defender 21/12/07
      4.   I guess this means the Jewish Agency no longer wants Jews... 09:29  |  Jew 21/12/07
      5.   Proud Pal -- their funds have also benefited Israeli Arabs 10:04  |  Gina 21/12/07
      6.   Tod Zuckerman - Don`t push it..... 10:13  |  lk 21/12/07
      7.   Money talks 10:33  |  Natallie Durson 21/12/07
      8.   International Fellowship of Christians and Jews 10:37  |  Gina 21/12/07
      9.   A very dangerous presedent! 10:56  |  Avraham 21/12/07
      10.   Natallie -- Read more of the demonstrative acts of love 10:57  |  Gina 21/12/07
      11.   Miss Natallie "sometimes talks way too much" 11:56  |  mary for jews 21/12/07
      12.   Great idea! 12:10  |  Yonatan 21/12/07
      13.   Fellow Christians of America, Wlcome! 12:30  |  dovale 21/12/07
      14.   To mary for jews #11 12:42  |  dovale 21/12/07
      15.   Will the JA now start pushing for Xian-immigration to Israel? 13:56  |  Alicia 21/12/07
      16.   Keep The Christians Happy 14:28  |  Sam Seder 21/12/07
      17.   Can IFCJ make a credible case 15:05  |  English Resident 21/12/07
      18.   bottom line: Money talks 15:26  |  Rami 21/12/07
      19.   #3 Proud Paly 16:12  |  Sol 21/12/07
      20.   Yes, money talks and Pali terror and BS walks 16:44  |  The Equalizer 21/12/07
      21.   your only friends want to convert you! 16:54  |  ron 21/12/07
      22.   Jewish Agency to name Christian member 16:58  |  rose rome 21/12/07
      23.   As the Israeli and Jewish son, 17:24  |  Nephtaly 21/12/07
      24.   I agree with this decision.It`s time to give voice to the 18:46  |  Marwan مروان خوري 21/12/07
      25.   toda, Dovale, for your friendship, rec`d with much appreciations 19:05  |  mary for jews 21/12/07
      26.   Christian representative (?) 19:07  |  David 21/12/07
      27.   Mr Ron, you should worry about yourself, not the jews... 19:28  |  mary for jews 21/12/07
      28.   Gnatallie 20:02  |  Albert Seligman 21/12/07
      29.   Will Jews be on any Evangelical Group Board?! 20:41  |  Ben S 21/12/07
      30.   To mary for jews #25 01:56  |  dovale 22/12/07
      31.   Of course he won`t be allowed in the JA`s Jew-only towns 07:51  |  Israel_is_Done 22/12/07
      32.   Eckstine`s for profit motive only 20:03  |  JEwish Agency? 22/12/07
      33.   Praise and Glory to Elohiym 19:56  |  DRS 23/12/07
      34.   Mary sort of 4 Jews "dorshe Halakot"! 16:40  |  John 24/12/07
      35.   Christians / evangelicals put their faith in men 17:42  |  John 24/12/07
      36.   Christians listen...within Judaism not far out for groups of Jews 18:25  |  John 24/12/07
      37.   BEST Gift To Christians/ALL Is PEACE! 17:56  |  Proud Pal Defender 25/12/07
      38.   Proud pal, if you don`t mind....just "re-gift" that to Jews..... 00:42  |  John 26/12/07
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