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{{POV|date=March 2012}}
{{POV|date=March 2012}}
The '''Central Fund of Israel''' is an American all-volunteer charity{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}} association that has been operating for more than 30 years{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}. Its charter involves the building up the land of Israel{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}. CFI supports more than 250 organizations and institutions throughout Israel. The recipients over the years include soup kitchens, charities for destitute, special program for Ethiopian immigrants, food distribution for poor families in Jerusalem, money for educational institutions, ecological programs, interest free loan fund for the poor, and many more. CFI was awarded the coveted Jerusalem prize for volunteer organizations which was awarded to CFI by then Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert. It is run out of the Marcus Brothers Textiles store on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan.<ref name="NYT" /> Its director is Jay Marcus, a resident of the West Bank settlement of [[Efrat]].<ref name="HaaretzBGJG"/> Efrat is a town just south of Jerusalem in Gush Etzion. Gush Etzion was established in 1906 and developed into a thriving region of towns and Kibbutzes. During Israel’s War of Independence in 1948, Gush Etzion was conquered and illegally occupied by Jordan. After the Six-Day-War in 1967 Israel reclaimed and rebuilt Gush Etzion, and among those towns is Efrat. [[Itamar Marcus]] directed Israel programs in the 1990s. <ref name="HaaretzBR">{{Cite news
The '''Central Fund of Israel''' is an American all-volunteer charity{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}} association that has been operating for more than 30 years{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}. Its charter involves the building up the land of Israel{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}. CFI supports more than 250 organizations and institutions throughout Israel{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}. The recipients over the years include soup kitchens{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}, charities for destitute{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}, special program for Ethiopian immigrants{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}, food distribution for poor families in Jerusalem{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}, money for educational institutions{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}, ecological programs{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}, interest free loan fund for the poor{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}, and many more{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}. CFI was awarded the coveted Jerusalem{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}} prize for volunteer organizations which was awarded to CFI by then Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert. It is run out of the Marcus Brothers Textiles store on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan.<ref name="NYT" /> Its director is Jay Marcus, a resident of the West Bank settlement of [[Efrat]].<ref name="HaaretzBGJG"/> Efrat is a town just south of Jerusalem in Gush Etzion. Gush Etzion was established in 1906{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}} and developed into a thriving region of towns and Kibbutzes{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}. During Israel’s War of Independence in 1948, Gush Etzion was conquered and illegally occupied by Jordan{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}. After the Six-Day-War in 1967 Israel reclaimed and rebuilt Gush Etzion, and among those towns is Efrat. [[Itamar Marcus]] directed Israel programs in the 1990s. <ref name="HaaretzBR">{{Cite news
| title = Officials: Israel outsources monitoring of Palestinian media after IDF lapse
| title = Officials: Israel outsources monitoring of Palestinian media after IDF lapse
| author = Barak Ravid
| author = Barak Ravid
Line 24: Line 24:
}}</ref><ref name="NYT" />
}}</ref><ref name="NYT" />


The following are some of the humanitarian projects supported by CFI, including, food kitchens, aid for the poor, underprivileged kids, youth activities, youth at risk:
The following are some of the humanitarian projects supported by CFI, including, food kitchens{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}, aid for the poor{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}, underprivileged kids{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}, youth activities{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}, youth at risk:
Yad Eliezer – Jerusalem food distribution center.
Yad Eliezer – Jerusalem food distribution center.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Shekel - humanitarian aid for families with difficulties.
Shekel - humanitarian aid for families with difficulties.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Yad Gittel – aid for the poor.
Yad Gittel – aid for the poor. {{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Avi Ezri tel stone - aid for the poor.
Avi Ezri tel stone - aid for the poor.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Koby Mandel Foundation – aid for families of terror victims.
Koby Mandel Foundation – aid for families of terror victims.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Hazan Yeshaya - food kitchen.
Hazan Yeshaya - food kitchen.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Agudat Chesed Ezra Food Bank - for the poor.
Agudat Chesed Ezra Food Bank - for the poor.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Food for Life – food distribution for the poor.
Food for Life – food distribution for the poor.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Keren Segulat Naomi - aid to the poor.
Keren Segulat Naomi - aid to the poor.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Tomchei Shabbat – food for the poor.
Tomchei Shabbat – food for the poor.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Clara Hammer Keren Tzedaka food for the poor –Jerusalem.
Clara Hammer Keren Tzedaka food for the poor –Jerusalem.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Hacnassat Kalla – aid for poor brides.
Hacnassat Kalla – aid for poor brides.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Helping Hands – aid for the poor.
Helping Hands – aid for the poor.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Yad Tova – food distribution for the poor.
Yad Tova – food distribution for the poor.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Emunah Jerusalem – branch of world Emunah Woman.
Emunah Jerusalem – branch of world Emunah Woman.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Big Brothers/ Big Sisters – partnering with children from single parent families.
Big Brothers/ Big Sisters – partnering with children from single parent families.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Kav Lnoar – aid for youth at risk.
Kav Lnoar – aid for youth at risk.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Ginat Eden - for children at risk.
Ginat Eden - for children at risk.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Matan Beseter Bambi – aid to needy families in Jerusalem.
Matan Beseter Bambi – aid to needy families in Jerusalem.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}


The following are some recipients of CFI aid in medical, psychological, special ed, and health care related:
The following are some recipients of CFI aid in medical, psychological, special ed, and health care related:
Melabev - aid for Alzheimer's victims.
Melabev - aid for Alzheimer's victims.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Rape Crisis Center.
Rape Crisis Center.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Amutat Lev Binyamin – Special Ed Programs.
Amutat Lev Binyamin – Special Ed Programs.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Connections and Links for Trauma victims.
Connections and Links for Trauma victims.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Yishai – Special ed programs.
Yishai – Special ed programs.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Rosh Pina Mainstreaming - special ed programs.
Rosh Pina Mainstreaming - special ed programs.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Shalva –Special ed programs.
Shalva –Special ed programs.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Yad Sarah – medical aid.
Yad Sarah – medical aid.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Hatzala – ambulance service.
Hatzala – ambulance service.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Yuri Shtern Fndt – for cancer patients.
Yuri Shtern Fndt – for cancer patients.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Crib EFRAT – Aid for pregnant mothers.
Crib EFRAT – Aid for pregnant mothers.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Chevron Heritage Foundation – Maternity clinic.
Chevron Heritage Foundation – Maternity clinic.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Grandpa Jacks therapeutic riding academy.
Grandpa Jacks therapeutic riding academy.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Nitza- aid through post-partum depression.
Nitza- aid through post-partum depression.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Efrat emergency medical center.
Efrat emergency medical center.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Camp Shutaf – camp for special ed children.
Camp Shutaf – camp for special ed children.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}


The following are some recipients of CFI community and environmental related aid:
The following are some recipients of CFI community and environmental related aid:
Rare Trees Assn – research & development of new medicines.
Rare Trees Assn – research & development of new medicines.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Jerusalem Conservatory.
Jerusalem Conservatory.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Bnai Akiva – branch of the world Bnai Akiva.
Bnai Akiva – branch of the world Bnai Akiva.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Ofek Chadash – aides the families in Sderot.
Ofek Chadash – aides the families in Sderot.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
Mibereshit – country wide programs promoting family learning.
Mibereshit – country wide programs promoting family learning.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}


The organisation was among a number of US groups reported by the ''[[New York Times]]'' as using tax exempt status to help fund the [[Israeli settlement]] project in the [[Palestinian territories|occupied territories]]. The NYT report highlighted the anomaly of the American government working towards an end to the settlement enterprise and the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, while the treasury was helping to sustain settlements by giving tax breaks to those who support them. The ''[[New York Times]]'' described the fund as a "prominent clearing house" used by dozens of [[West Bank]] organisations as "a vehicle for channeling donations back to themselves" in order for donors to receive US tax breaks.<ref name="NYT">{{Cite news
The organisation was among a number of US groups reported by the ''[[New York Times]]'' as using tax exempt status to help fund the [[Israeli settlement]] project in the [[Palestinian territories|occupied territories]]. The NYT report highlighted the anomaly of the American government working towards an end to the settlement enterprise and the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, while the treasury was helping to sustain settlements by giving tax breaks to those who support them. The ''[[New York Times]]'' described the fund as a "prominent clearing house" used by dozens of [[West Bank]] organisations as "a vehicle for channeling donations back to themselves" in order for donors to receive US tax breaks.<ref name="NYT">{{Cite news
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}}</ref>
}}</ref>


CFI utterly rejects the accusations of funding extremist organizations as false.
CFI utterly rejects the accusations of funding extremist organizations as false.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}
CFI’s official statement: “Certain radical left wing groups as well as anti-Israeli organizations and bloggers want to impose their values on CFI. However, CFI will not discriminate between Israelis because of political bias and supplies aid to the needy individuals and worthy projects all over the Land of Israel. That others may claim political rights on areas of the Land of Israel that according to international law are under Israeli jurisdiction and where Israelis are legally living today will not impact of CFI’s decision to help the needy wherever they may be. CFI is very proud of it record and its having been awarded the Jerusalem Prize for volunteer organizations, is just one of the many indicators of CFI’s integrity and value to Israel.”
CFI’s official statement: “Certain radical left wing groups as well as anti-Israeli organizations and bloggers want to impose their values on CFI. However, CFI will not discriminate between Israelis because of political bias and supplies aid to the needy individuals and worthy projects all over the Land of Israel. That others may claim political rights on areas of the Land of Israel that according to international law are under Israeli jurisdiction and where Israelis are legally living today will not impact of CFI’s decision to help the needy wherever they may be. CFI is very proud of it record and its having been awarded the Jerusalem Prize for volunteer organizations, is just one of the many indicators of CFI’s integrity and value to Israel.”{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}




Revision as of 08:33, 19 March 2012

The Central Fund of Israel is an American all-volunteer charity[citation needed] association that has been operating for more than 30 years[citation needed]. Its charter involves the building up the land of Israel[citation needed]. CFI supports more than 250 organizations and institutions throughout Israel[citation needed]. The recipients over the years include soup kitchens[citation needed], charities for destitute[citation needed], special program for Ethiopian immigrants[citation needed], food distribution for poor families in Jerusalem[citation needed], money for educational institutions[citation needed], ecological programs[citation needed], interest free loan fund for the poor[citation needed], and many more[citation needed]. CFI was awarded the coveted Jerusalem[citation needed] prize for volunteer organizations which was awarded to CFI by then Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert. It is run out of the Marcus Brothers Textiles store on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan.[1] Its director is Jay Marcus, a resident of the West Bank settlement of Efrat.[2] Efrat is a town just south of Jerusalem in Gush Etzion. Gush Etzion was established in 1906[citation needed] and developed into a thriving region of towns and Kibbutzes[citation needed]. During Israel’s War of Independence in 1948, Gush Etzion was conquered and illegally occupied by Jordan[citation needed]. After the Six-Day-War in 1967 Israel reclaimed and rebuilt Gush Etzion, and among those towns is Efrat. Itamar Marcus directed Israel programs in the 1990s. [3]

According to its director, the CFI donated in 2009 approximately $13 million to programs that included social-humanitarian, medical, education, religious, security and community projects. It has donated to Israeli pro-settler groups and to Israeli media monitoring groups[citation needed]. The former vice president of the charity revealed that the charity funds more than 250 organizations and provides financial aid to non-profits including soup kitchens, Ethiopian immigrants, and educational programs. The fund’s president stated that it provides grants to poor Jewish families. [4] [5] [6][7][1]

The following are some of the humanitarian projects supported by CFI, including, food kitchens[citation needed], aid for the poor[citation needed], underprivileged kids[citation needed], youth activities[citation needed], youth at risk: Yad Eliezer – Jerusalem food distribution center.[citation needed] Shekel - humanitarian aid for families with difficulties.[citation needed] Yad Gittel – aid for the poor. [citation needed] Avi Ezri tel stone - aid for the poor.[citation needed] Koby Mandel Foundation – aid for families of terror victims.[citation needed] Hazan Yeshaya - food kitchen.[citation needed] Agudat Chesed Ezra Food Bank - for the poor.[citation needed] Food for Life – food distribution for the poor.[citation needed] Keren Segulat Naomi - aid to the poor.[citation needed] Tomchei Shabbat – food for the poor.[citation needed] Clara Hammer Keren Tzedaka food for the poor –Jerusalem.[citation needed] Hacnassat Kalla – aid for poor brides.[citation needed] Helping Hands – aid for the poor.[citation needed] Yad Tova – food distribution for the poor.[citation needed] Emunah Jerusalem – branch of world Emunah Woman.[citation needed] Big Brothers/ Big Sisters – partnering with children from single parent families.[citation needed] Kav Lnoar – aid for youth at risk.[citation needed] Ginat Eden - for children at risk.[citation needed] Matan Beseter Bambi – aid to needy families in Jerusalem.[citation needed]

The following are some recipients of CFI aid in medical, psychological, special ed, and health care related: Melabev - aid for Alzheimer's victims.[citation needed] Rape Crisis Center.[citation needed] Amutat Lev Binyamin – Special Ed Programs.[citation needed] Connections and Links for Trauma victims.[citation needed] Yishai – Special ed programs.[citation needed] Rosh Pina Mainstreaming - special ed programs.[citation needed] Shalva –Special ed programs.[citation needed] Yad Sarah – medical aid.[citation needed] Hatzala – ambulance service.[citation needed] Yuri Shtern Fndt – for cancer patients.[citation needed] Crib EFRAT – Aid for pregnant mothers.[citation needed] Chevron Heritage Foundation – Maternity clinic.[citation needed] Grandpa Jacks therapeutic riding academy.[citation needed] Nitza- aid through post-partum depression.[citation needed] Efrat emergency medical center.[citation needed] Camp Shutaf – camp for special ed children.[citation needed]

The following are some recipients of CFI community and environmental related aid: Rare Trees Assn – research & development of new medicines.[citation needed] Jerusalem Conservatory.[citation needed] Bnai Akiva – branch of the world Bnai Akiva.[citation needed] Ofek Chadash – aides the families in Sderot.[citation needed] Mibereshit – country wide programs promoting family learning.[citation needed]

The organisation was among a number of US groups reported by the New York Times as using tax exempt status to help fund the Israeli settlement project in the occupied territories. The NYT report highlighted the anomaly of the American government working towards an end to the settlement enterprise and the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, while the treasury was helping to sustain settlements by giving tax breaks to those who support them. The New York Times described the fund as a "prominent clearing house" used by dozens of West Bank organisations as "a vehicle for channeling donations back to themselves" in order for donors to receive US tax breaks.[1]

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee has filed a number of complaints with the US Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service over organizations, such as the central fund of Israel, that fund settlement development in the West Bank. In a 2010 press release, the committee's National Executive Director Kareem Shora said, "The United States should work to enforce its stated policy on illegal settlements and not provide tax incentives for organizations that jeopardize our national interests and peace and security in the Middle East." [8]

The fund has been accused of funding extremist organisations [8][9][10][11] operating in the occupied territories. Investigative reporter Philip Weiss, on his Mondoweiss website, reported payments from the fund to the Od Yosef Chai yeshiva."[8][9][10][11] The fund also supports Women in Green and Honenu, an organization which provides legal defense for Israelis in trouble with the law. Honenu financially supports, among others, the families of the Bat Ayin underground, convicted for a 2002 attempt to bomb a girls' school in East Jerusalem; of Ami Popper, who shot four Palestinian workers; Yishai Schlissel, who stabbed participants during a 2005 gay pride festival; and Haggai Amir, the brother of Yitzhak Rabin's killer[12][2][13] Financial links between the fund and Im Tirtzu, for whom it is the main channel for donations, have been highlighted by a number of news reports and commentators.[9][14][3][13] Im Tirtzu's website requests for donations to be sent through the fund.[14]

CFI utterly rejects the accusations of funding extremist organizations as false.[citation needed] CFI’s official statement: “Certain radical left wing groups as well as anti-Israeli organizations and bloggers want to impose their values on CFI. However, CFI will not discriminate between Israelis because of political bias and supplies aid to the needy individuals and worthy projects all over the Land of Israel. That others may claim political rights on areas of the Land of Israel that according to international law are under Israeli jurisdiction and where Israelis are legally living today will not impact of CFI’s decision to help the needy wherever they may be. CFI is very proud of it record and its having been awarded the Jerusalem Prize for volunteer organizations, is just one of the many indicators of CFI’s integrity and value to Israel.”[citation needed]


References

  1. ^ a b c Jim Rutenberg, Mike McIntire and Ethan Bronner (July 5, 2010). "Tax-Exempt Funds Aid Settlements in West Bank". The New York Times. Retrieved 05.03.12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ a b Boaz Gaon, Jonathan Gurfinkel (25.03.11). "Charge of the left brigade". Haaretz. Retrieved 06.03.12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ a b Barak Ravid (31.01.12). "Officials: Israel outsources monitoring of Palestinian media after IDF lapse". Haaretz. Retrieved 05.03.12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ "Hanan Ashrawi ignores glorification of terror". 07/13/10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "Tax-Exempt Funds and West Bank Settlements". The New York Times. July 12, 2010.
  6. ^ "Major pro-Israel giver funds 'Jihad Watch'". The Jerusalem Post. 05/09/2010. Retrieved 06.03.12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ "The Softspoken Man Behind Times of Israel". The Forward. February 29, 2012. Retrieved 06.03.12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ a b c E.B. Solomont (01/08/2010). "Beit Orot holds NY fundraising dinner". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 05.03.12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ a b c "Foreign Ministry working with rightists against Palestinian incitement". Haaretz. 7.05.10. Retrieved 15.03.12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ a b Akiva Eldar (15.12.09). "U.S. tax dollars fund rabbi who excused killing gentile babies". Haaretz. Retrieved 05.03.12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ a b Max Blumenthal (August 30, 2010). "How to Kill Goyim and Influence People: Israeli Rabbis Defend Book's Shocking Religious Defense of Killing Non-Jews". AlterNet. Retrieved 06.03.12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ Jonathan Lis (05.02.10). "Amid row over contentious ad, Jerusalem Post fires Naomi Chazan of New Israel Fund". Haaretz. Retrieved 06.03.12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ a b Eli Clifton (09/02/2010). "U.S. Non-Profit Targeted Rights Group over Goldstone". Inter Press Service. Retrieved 05.03.12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ a b Jonathan Freedland (February 18, 2010). "Israel needs its internal critics". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 05.03.12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

External links

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