FEATURE: OUR FAVORITE NONPROFITS AND
HOW THEY’RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE
ICEJ MEETS
MOUNTING NEEDS
AS ISRAEL IS HIT BY
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
By David R. Parsons, ICEJ Vice
President & Senior Spokesman
As the coronavirus threat spread around the
world in late February, it became clear that the
strict measures governments were taking to stop
the pandemic would impact 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 coronavirus crisis
brought the nation’s economy to a standstill.
Thanks to the faithful and generous support of
Christians worldwide, the ICEJ helped 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 coronavirus 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.
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