By Christine Darg, Jerusalem Channel

“The LORD blesses everyone who freely gives food to the poor.” ~Proverbs 22: 9

The Jerusalem Channel is supporting an emergency appeal for needy poor families in Jerusalem sponsored by our friends at the Genesis 123 Foundation in advance of the upcoming Festival of Passover.

We are calling upon Christians and Jews, and anyone who loves and supports Israel, to join at this prophetic time.

The Genesis 123 Foundation is based upon Gen. 12: 3, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

There are always needy families at Passover but Jonathan Feldstein, originator of the Genesis 123 Foundation, said that his organization is responding to an appeal from Jerusalem’s Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum due to the extra extraordinary impact of the Coronavirus crisis.

Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum speaks with Jonathan Feldstein of Genesis 123 Foundation about needs of Jerusalem’s impoverished on social media.

Israel took an unprecedented measure to shut down schools and classes including for at-risk and special needs children. This action is causing hardship for some 6,000 families in Jerusalem. Adding to the challenges of taking care of special needs children all day with no outside support, about a third of these families, 2000 households, also suffer from severe economic hardship.

“We are proud to be part of the coalition providing urgent needs to support these at-risk and special needs families, a third of whom live below the poverty line. We are grateful to our network of Christian and Jewish partners who are stepping up to join us in meeting these immediate needs,” Feldstein said.

In advance of Passover, the need is even greater in order to provide packages with special kosher for Passover staples free of leavened products. Each food package costs $55 per week. With many Israeli families suffering additional financial hardships due to the Coronavirus crisis creating some 25% unemployment, the needs are projected at least through the end of April.

The Genesis 123 Foundation is a US based 501(C)3 non-profit that builds bridges between Jews and Christians and Christians with Israel in ways that are new, unique, and meaningful. Feldstein appealed for broad support from individuals, and churches and synagogues alike. “We have set a goal to provide at least 2-3 weeks’ worth of these emergency food packages. That’s $110,000 per week. We call upon everyone who cares about the needy in Israel to participate in some way.”

Donations can be made on line here. For more information or for any churches, synagogues and other ministries and organizations that want to partner, please contact Jonathan Feldstein at [email protected] or 1-201-203-0983, or +972-53-761-4220.