Focus on Arab sector

One of the areas of pressing need within Israel which the ICEJ is seeking to address is that of disadvantaged members of the minority Arab community, and particularly Arab Christian families. Some 20% of our AID budget is used to assist the Arab, Druze and Bedouin communities, including enrichment programs for children and youth-at-risk, medical and financial assistance to the elderly, holiday gift packages to poor families, and so much more. Following are examples of specific projects which we are currently sponsoring in the Arab sector.

Elderly Christians in the Old City
For many years now, the Christian Embassy has sponsored projects in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City in cooperation with Raja Salameh, director of the Good Samaritan Center. Currently, we are launching an initiative to build bathrooms and undertake other renovations in homes owned by elderly Arab Christians in the Old City.

Many of these dear saints are poor, suffer from illness, and live in small apartments where they must share bathrooms with neighbours. Some actually have to venture outside their homes to use communal bathrooms located nearby. But they are reluctant to do so because they are weak and can barely walk or climb stairs. They also are fearful to go outside, especially at night, due to the serious problems of crime and drug use among local youths.

“Some of the elderly will not leave their room if they hear voices outside”, explained Raja. “Many drug addicts in the area would take any opportunity to steal from the defenceless.”

Raja has been working with elderly Arab Christians in the Old City for the past decade. Many belong to traditional churches who have welcomed the assistance from evangelical Christians to their neediest parishioners, as they struggle just to meet daily needs and have no way of affording home renovations. In fact, many have turned over their home ownership papers to unscrupulous men who promise to remodel their homes and then do not deliver.

“Many of the elderly are preyed upon. They do not have children or other family members to turn to for help, and sometimes it’s the neighbours that pose difficulties”, explained Raja.

One elderly Christian Arab is Nasmah, a widow who lives alone. Her daughter resides in a Palestinian village and her son has been put in prison for violence. She handed over title to two rooms in her family home to a local clergyman who promised to help and protect her.

Yet sadly, the rooms have now been rented out to foreign workers and Nasmah has to share the bathroom with ten strangers. She has to climb steep stairs to get to a tiny bathroom that nobody cares to clean.

The ICEJ has decided to step in and assist Nasmah by installing a private bathroom next to her bedroom and kitchen. She will not have to climb stairs or fear for her safety at night. Her worried face lit upon hearing the good news.

Arab Youth in the Galilee
In recent years, ICEJ AID has supported youth-at-risk in Arrabe, a mostly Muslim town in the Lower Galilee, in cooperation with the city council and local coordinator Madi Madi. This outreach has included a range of projects aimed at both physical and mental improvement and assisting children from disadvantaged families.

For instance, the local council has set up after-school clubs where youngsters can receive proper meals, get help with their homework, and enjoy sports. The ICEJ has provided these clubs with kitchen equipment, school books, and sports equipment. We have also donated basketballs, ping pong tables, and other new equipment to a local elementary school with some 250 students from low-income families.

Many young people in Arrabe join sports leagues that bring Arab and Jewish youths together for positive interaction. Without such outlets, the students often fall to the edge of society and end up in crime and violence, explained Madi. But these after-school programs give them better options and thus are “the place to be”, he said. “To take part in a league for ping pong, chess or basketball is like a dream for these kids.”

Madi noted that he can sense how some children are suffering from bad situations at home and struggle with behavioural problems, malnutrition or lack of basic clothing. One example is Muhammad, who comes from a Muslim family of eight. Since his father is unemployed, Muhammad refused to go school because the family was unable to buy school books or shoes. But once he received help from ICEJ AID, Muhammad returned to school. Armed with new confidence, his grades jumped from an average of 60% to the top of his class at 96%.

“Thanks to the ICEJ, over 60 families have been touched”, said Madi. “Your organisation has had a great impact on Arrabe. In the name of all these families, we thank you for your help.”

Christian families in Nazareth
Just down the road in Nazareth, ICEJ AID assisted twenty families over Christmas by providing food packages for festive holiday meals. This was done in coordination with Pastor Afif Saba of the Good Shepherd Baptist Church. Afif explained that these gifts went to widows, single-parent families and elderly citizens who did not expect the help and were highly appreciative.

“On behalf of our church and all these families, I want to thank the ICEJ’s donors for your love and concern”, said Pastor Afif. “Your gifts brought much joy and happiness this Christmas.”

Please help us to better the lives of more deserving Arabs in Israel. Give to ICEJ AID today at www.icej.org