International Fellowship of Christians and Jews Expands into Latin America with Spanish-Language Programs and Website to Confront Resurgence of Anti-Semitism

Last week Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, founder and president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship), debuted his Ask the Rabbi daily radio program to a potential 115 million people living in Puerto Rico and eight Latin American countries.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) June 18, 2007 -- Last week Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, founder and president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship), debuted his Ask the Rabbi daily radio program to a potential 115 million people living in Puerto Rico and eight Latin American countries. The recent launch of the Fellowship's new Spanish-language media programs--operating under the name Fraternidad Internacional de Cristianos y Judios (La Fraternidad)--marks a strategic expansion of the Chicago, IL and Jerusalem, Israel-based organization, which already has raised nearly $400 million to support projects in Israel and to assist Jewish people throughout the world.

The launch of the Spanish-language media represent an expansion of its core efforts to build relationships between Christians and Jews and to raise support for its programs. In addition, the initiative responds to a disturbing resurgence of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiments that has taken root in Latin America since last summer's Israel-Hezbollah war.

"After the Second Lebanon War last summer, anti-Semitic graffiti including 'Be patriotic, kill Jews' and others began appearing throughout Argentina, which boasts the largest Jewish population in South America," said Rabbi Eckstein, who also serves as Israel's Goodwill Ambassador. "An alliance between radical Muslims and the political far left seems to be developing. Understandably, Jews are ill at ease--and growing more so everyday," he said.

On June 4, the daily five-minute Ask the Rabbi radio show was broadcast into Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina. Later this month, the broadcast will begin airing in Costa Rica, and on September 17, it will be heard on Spanish stations throughout the United States.

The Fellowship's new Spanish-language outreaches are designed to build bridges with evangelical ministers and laypeople--the fastest-growing faith group in Latin America--by providing them information about Israel's history, the Jewish roots of Christianity and current events in Israel and the Middle East.

Rabbi Eckstein continued, "We know that Bible-believing Christians are among the best friends that Israel and the Jewish people have in the world. We are excited about what we can accomplish through the launch of these programs. During my many visits to the Spanish-speaking world, I have been deeply moved by Christians' eagerness to support the Jewish people and Israel's right to peace and security."

In March, The Fellowship launched the Spanish-language version of its ministry website, www.FraternidadInternacional.org. Last week the website was expanded to include audio streaming capabilities, so visitors can listen to Ask the Rabbi online.

Douglas Dye, The Fellowship's director of Latin-American and U.S Hispanic programs, a former corporate financial services executive with experience in the region who also served in the Peace Corps and United Nations in Nicaragua, said, "If The Fellowship can serve as a trusted resource in the Spanish-speaking world to facilitate unity, solidarity and shalom between Christians and Jews, we will have achieved our purpose."

Founded by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein in 1983, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) has a dual mission to promote understanding and cooperation between Christians and Jews and to build broad support for Israel and Jewish people around the world.
For more information, visit www.ifcj.org.

Media interested in interviewing Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, founder and president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and Douglas Dye, The Fellowship's director of Latin-American and U.S. Hispanic programs, should contact Gregg Wooding, president of I AM PR services, (972) 567-7660.

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