dire need before the Passover holiday.
The ICEJ also helped sponsor a brand-new
emergency hotline for families with disabled
and autistic children, which proved timely and
effective—especially as anxiety among children
and domestic violence began rising across
Israel, as elsewhere. With guidance and training
from professionals, phone counselors began
taking 50–100 calls per day, in both Hebrew and
Arabic, to deal with cases of fear and emotional
trauma associated with the coronavirus among
special-needs children.
culturally sensitive explanatory materials on
how to protect your person and home against
the virus, how to practice social distancing, and
other helpful information.
Lastly, Israel’s Christian Arab community also
has been impacted by the coronavirus threat,
including many workers who have lost their jobs.
In the mixed Christian/Muslim town of Eilaboun,
in the Galilee, the ICEJ donated computers to
36 families so that their children could access
distance learning. Other families with small
children also received games and toys for the
little ones to relieve stress in the home during
the long school closures.
THE NEEDS CONTINUE
We are most grateful that Christians around the
globe responded so quickly and generously over
recent weeks, enabling the ICEJ to meet more
needs than ever over the Passover season.
Many in Israel’s Arab and Bedouin communities
were late in learning about the dangers posed
by COVID-19, and when public schools were
suddenly closed and many breadwinners in
these communities were suspended from their
jobs, many families were greatly impacted.
In response, the ICEJ provided 100 Arab and
Bedouin families with hygiene supplies and
But the coronavirus health crisis is not over,
and the needs created by this pandemic will
continue to mount—both in Israel and in many
other nations. We are thankful that so many
Christians are so dedicated to helping Israel,
even though they have urgent needs in their
own families, communities, and nations. May
the Lord richly bless you as you continue to
comfort Israel in her time of need.
David R. Parsons, an attorney, writer and Middle East specialist, currently
serves as Vice President – Senior International Spokesman with the
International Christian Embassy Jerusalem.
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