Hazon Yeshaya Soup kitchens scandal in Jerusalem – update

Christians for Israel in Netherlands is one of many supporters which over the last few years has made regular donations to support the work of the Jerusalem-based foundation Hazon Yeshaya in providing meals to the homeless and needy in Israel. Hazon Yeshaya is suspected of theft, fraudulently obtaining benefits and money laundering. Founder and owner Abraham Israel has been arrested in Jerusalem, together with several employees, following an undercover operation by the Israeli police. Christians for Israel has decided to suspend all donations immediately, until such time as these allegations have been confirmed or cleared. In the meantime, alternative providers have been found for meals for the homeless and needy.

Roger van Oordt, director of Christians for Israel in Holland (Christenen voor Israël):
“As providence would have it, less than one year ago, we worked together with a couple of Dutch entrepeneurs specialized in kitchens to raise money for a new kitchen at the Jaffa Institute in Beth Shemesh run by Rabbi Dr. David Portowicz. Rabbi Portovitch has devoted his life to assisting desperate children from broken backgrounds. The new kitchens at the Jaffa Institute have been installed and will now be used to prepare warm meals for the homeless and survivors of the Holocaust in Jerusalem. The meals will be transported to Jerusalem, where they will be distributed by the orthodox Jewish non-profit organisation Hineni Jerusalem, also a long-term partner of Christians for Israel. We are so grateful that we have been able to make these new arrangements so quickly, and are confident that in this way we can continue to assist the thousands of homeless and needy in Jerusalem.”