helpforgottenjews.org reviews and complaints

Is HelpForgottenJews.org A Legitimate Charity?

A Brief History of IFCJ and Help Forgotten Jews

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) was founded in 1983 by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein as a way to build bridges between the Christian and Jewish communities and provide humanitarian aid to vulnerable Jewish populations worldwide. In the early 2000s, Eckstein launched the Help Forgotten Jews initiative as a program under IFCJ focused on helping impoverished and at-risk Jewish communities globally.

Growth and Expansion in the 2000s

Through the 2000s, Help Forgotten Jews began implementing large-scale humanitarian projects across Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, and Israel. Major initiatives included assisting elderly Holocaust survivors, providing welfare to impoverished communities, and programs for at-risk Jewish youth. Partnerships were also established with Jewish federations and relief agencies internationally. By 2010, IFCJ/Help Forgotten Jews was providing aid to over 500,000 Jews annually across 40 countries.

Continued Success and Global Impact

In the 2010s, IFCJ/Help Forgotten Jews continued its growth trajectory. Large disaster relief responses were mounted for crises in Haiti, Japan, Syria, and Ukraine. Community programs expanded to over 70 countries worldwide. By 2020, annual humanitarian assistance exceeded $150 million, directly aiding over 1 million vulnerable Jews each year. IFCJ became one of the biggest Christian supporters of global Jewry, strengthening Christian-Jewish relations in the process.

Core Programs and Initiatives

Holocaust Survivor Relief

Providing critical support like homecare, medical aid, and social services to needy survivors of the Holocaust who face poverty and social isolation in their final years. Over 300,000 survivors assisted to date.

Poverty Relief in FSU and Eastern Europe

Large-scale projects like food/cash distributions, home repairs, job training and more for impoverished communities struggling with high costs of living. Reaches 400,000 people annually.

Welfare for Israel’s Vulnerable Populations

Addressing senior poverty, at-risk youth, disabilities, and community development via food packages, social services, education/vocational programs that support 1 in 10 Israeli Jews.

Emergency Response Network

Rapid deployment of critical aid like food, water, infrastructure and trauma support to Jewish communities affected by conflict, economic collapse, or natural disasters globally.

Impact Through The Numbers

IFCJ/Help Forgotten Jews boasts huge quantitative impact after nearly 40 years of operation:

• Provided $2 Billion total in humanitarian assistance
• Aids 1.5 Million impoverished Jews yearly
• Partners with 1,200+ Jewish charities in 70 countries
• Projects endorsed by UN & Israeli Government
• Assisted 750,000 Holocaust survivors
• Top-rated charity by all major watchdogs

Their scale, consistent growth, and measurable benefits suggest IFCJ is truly making a global difference for vulnerable Jewish populations worldwide.

Reputation and Ratings

When it comes to reputation, IFCJ/Help Forgotten Jews has consistently received top ratings from major charity evaluation organizations:

• Charity Navigator – 4-star rating (highest possible) for over 15 years in a row

• GuideStar – Platinum Participant status (highest transparency level)

• ECFA – Accredited member in good standing with Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability

Additionally, they have strong relationships and partnerships with major Jewish institutions like The Jewish Federations of North America, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and many others.

On review sites, they also tend to have mostly positive feedback, with some criticisms mostly around CEO compensation rather than fundraising practices. Overall, reputational indicators point to IFCJ/Help Forgotten Jews being a trustworthy and effective charity.

Addressing Criticisms and Complaints

No charity is immune to criticism, so it’s important to also address any complaints leveled at IFCJ/Help Forgotten Jews. Some of the more common criticisms include:

High CEO compensation

The current CEO Yael Eckstein earns a sizable salary of over $600k according to tax forms. Defenders argue this is reasonable for an organization of its scale.

Fundraising expenditures

About 25% of expenses go towards fundraising, which some argue is too high. However, industry benchmarks put the average around 27%.

Concerns around proselytizing

Some question if there are ulterior motives to convert Jews to Christianity. However, IFCJ policy expressly forbids any religious coercion with beneficiaries.

Bias against Messianic Jews

A small faction accuses IFCJ of not supporting Messianic Jews (Jews who believe in Jesus). IFCJ denies this and helps all Jewish communities in need regardless of beliefs.

Overall, while valid critiques exist, most watchdog groups consider criticisms minor relative to the significant good IFCJ/Help Forgotten Jews undeniably provides to Jewish communities worldwide.

Conclusion

In summary, based on their established history, measurable impact, adherence to high transparency and accountability standards, and addressing existing criticisms in a reasonable manner – IFCJ/Help Forgotten Jews seems to be a reputable and legitimate charity dedicated to its mission of helping impoverished Jewish communities globally. Of course, independent research remains prudent for any donor. But most available information suggests this is an effective organization making a difference for vulnerable Jewish populations worldwide.

Parting Thoughts

As with any charity, it’s important for individuals and groups to make their own evaluations. However, IFCJ/Help Forgotten Jews seems to have a strong track record as one of the leading non-profit organizations supporting global Jewry through humanitarian assistance and Christian-Jewish cooperation. While not perfect, they appear to provide significant aid to communities in need while maintaining high standards of accountability. For anyone interested in supporting vulnerabilities Jewish populations worldwide, IFCJ may be a trustworthy option to consider. Continued transparency on their part, and diligence on the part of observers, will help ensure they uphold their mission sincerely and effectively for years to come.