Yael's Holy Land Reflections

Credit: Yossi Zeliger

Extraordinary Challenges, Extraordinary Faith

As we approach the end of 2021, I look back on yet another year that none of us expected or could have prepared for.

The year posed incredible challenges. But it also revealed the strength, resilience, and kindness of humanity. When the pandemic first began, we decided to do everything in our power to fulfill what has always been our core mission: saving lives. We allocated more funds than ever before to help with the crisis. It may sound strange to commit to providing more aid during a year of such economic uncertainty, when contributions could possibly decrease because of the financial impact of the pandemic. However, we took a leap of faith and stood by our biblical values of feeding the hungry, caring for widows and orphans, and providing for the needy.

Thankfully, through the generosity of our supporters, we were able to meet our goals and help more people than ever before, both through our COVID-19 relief efforts and our day-to-day programs that help people in need in Israel and the former Soviet Union.

Tireless Work

When I reflect on IFCJ Canada’s accomplishments over the past year, I can’t help but wonder how it was all possible. How were we able to increase our lifesaving aid so dramatically during such a difficult time?

I believe that there are two answers. The first component of our success is extraordinary professionalism. Our incredible staff called on existing partnerships and systems in place in order to adapt quickly and distribute aid effectively. No other organization in Israel is better equipped to do so. Moreover, while most of IFCJ Canada’s employees worked from home this year, dealing with their own pandemic related challenges, they worked tirelessly to meet the growing needs and maximize our impact.

The second component, and the real secret to our success, is extraordinary faith. It took faith for us to commit to helping more people than ever before, but it took the faith of our supporters to make it possible. Canadian friends responded with faith to our call for help. I am truly humbled and inspired by this faithfulness.

Heartfelt Thanks

I am deeply grateful to all of those who made it possible for IFCJ Canada to do more good and bring more hope to more people this year — our staff, our supporters, our volunteers, and those who held us in prayer. But, most of all I am thankful to God, with Whom anything is possible.

Yet, while we celebrate our accomplishments, there is still so much more to do. My hope and my prayer, as we go into the new year, is that we can help even more people. And as I look back on all that we have achieved together over the past year, I have complete faith that we will.

Friends, I want to wish you and your loved ones a joyful and blessed holiday season. May the new year bring an end to suffering and usher in an era of unprecedented blessings.