בית אור החיים
קהילה משיחית
BEIT OR HA'CHAIM
MESSIANIC JEWISH CONGREGATION VIENNA
WHAT CHRISTIAN AND MESSIANIC ISRAEL ORGANIZATIONS ARE THERE?
Christian Organizations, Messianic Ministries, and Initiatives Connected with Israel
Around the world, numerous Christian and Messianic organizations are involved with Israel, the Jewish people, the Jewish roots of the Christian faith, and the relationship between Christians and Jews.
Their areas of focus differ considerably. Some organizations provide humanitarian assistance in Israel, while others offer Bible teaching and educational programs, support Jewish-Christian dialogue, or focus on faith in Yeshua – Jesus – as the Messiah.
Here we introduce several well-known international and German-speaking organizations. This overview is intentionally selective and does not claim to be complete.
JEWS FOR JESUS
Jews for Jesus is an international organization whose staff and ministry are strongly connected with Jewish identity and whose aim is to make faith in Yeshua – Jesus – as the Jewish Messiah known.
The organization describes its work as including evangelism, Jewish community, and practical support. It operates internationally and has branches in different cities around the world.
Jews for Jesus therefore has a different focus from many traditional Christian Israel aid organizations: a central question is how Jewish identity and faith in Yeshua can be understood together.
CHRISTEN FÜR ISRAEL e. V.
Christen für Israel e. V. is a German Christian organization that has been involved with Israel and the Jewish people for many years.
According to the organization, its concerns include reconciliation between Christians and Jews, the relationship between Germany and Israel, and support for Messianic Jewish work.
Organizations such as this show that Christian interest in Israel is not limited to political questions, but can also involve the Bible, history, reconciliation, and faith.
CHRISTIANS FOR ISRAEL – CHRISTEN AN DER SEITE ISRAELS
Christians for Israel International is an international interdenominational movement. According to the organization, its main areas of focus include biblical teaching about Israel, prayer, and practical support.
Christians for Israel International
In German-speaking countries, the network also operates under the name Christen an der Seite Israels.
There are currently structures or regional offices in:
Austria · Germany · Switzerland
The international network lists all three countries among its European locations.
Christians for Israel International
This makes the organization especially relevant to people searching for terms such as Christians for Israel Austria, Christians for Israel Germany, or Christians for Israel Switzerland.
ICEJ – INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBASSY JERUSALEM
The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem – ICEJ – was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Jerusalem.
The organization lists among its areas of focus support for and friendship with Israel, educational work within Christian communities, and the promotion of relationships among Jews, Christians, and Arabs. According to the ICEJ, it operates through an international network in numerous countries.
The ICEJ is also represented in German-speaking countries. Its German branch combines education about Israel with aid projects, prayer, and events.
BRIDGES FOR PEACE
Bridges for Peace is an international Christian organization that particularly seeks to strengthen relationships between Christians and Jews.
According to the organization, its main areas of work include humanitarian aid, education about Israel and the Jewish roots of the Christian faith, and encounters between Christians and Jews.
Bridges for Peace therefore brings together two areas that are important to many Christians:
practical assistance for people in Israel and biblical learning about the Jewish roots of faith.
CHRISTIAN FRIENDS OF ISRAEL
Christliche Freunde Israels e. V. is the German branch of Christian Friends of Israel – Jerusalem.
The organization describes its activities as including projects in Israel, solidarity with Jewish people, and teaching about the Hebrew and Jewish heritage of the Christian faith.
Christliche Freunde Israels e. V.
Its work is therefore especially relevant to Christians who want to explore Israel, Jewish-Christian relations, and the Hebrew roots of the Bible more deeply.
EBENEZER OPERATION EXODUS
Ebenezer Operation Exodus was established in the early 1990s and focuses particularly on assisting Jewish people with Aliyah – immigration to Israel.
The organization reports that since its founding it has provided practical assistance to Jewish people traveling and relocating to Israel.
There are also contact points in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Ebenezer Operation Exodus – Contact
This gives Ebenezer a clearly different focus from organizations whose primary work is Bible teaching or evangelism.
CHRISTIANS UNITED FOR ISRAEL – CUFI
Christians United for Israel – CUFI – is a Christian pro-Israel organization based in the United States.
Its work focuses particularly on education, public advocacy concerning Israel, and opposition to antisemitism. CUFI describes itself as an interdenominational movement with a broad network across the United States.
Unlike many traditional aid organizations, public and political advocacy also plays an important role in CUFI’s work.
NOT EVERY ISRAEL ORGANIZATION HAS THE SAME MISSION
The organizations listed here should not simply be treated as if they were all the same.
Different organizations may focus on:
the Bible and Israel
Jewish-Christian relations
humanitarian assistance
combating antisemitism
support for Aliyah
public or political advocacy
faith in Yeshua as the Messiah
Their theological positions may also differ considerably.
For this reason, it is helpful to examine each organization individually: what mission does it pursue, what does it believe, and what kind of work does it actually carry out?
CHRISTIAN ISRAEL ORGANIZATIONS IN AUSTRIA, GERMANY, AND SWITZERLAND
There is considerable interest throughout German-speaking countries in subjects such as:
Christians and Israel
Israel in the Bible
Jewish roots of Christianity
Messianic Judaism
Jews for Jesus
Christians for Israel
ICEJ
Christian Israel aid organizations
Many of these organizations offer lectures, publications, prayer meetings, trips, aid projects, or online resources.
For this reason, Beit Or Ha'Chaim also wants to provide a place where interested people can better understand these terms while at the same time exploring the Bible and its Jewish roots more deeply.
WHERE DOES BEIT OR HA'CHAIM STAND?
Beit Or Ha'Chaim is an independent Messianic Jewish community in Vienna.
The organizations mentioned on this page are presented for informational purposes. Their inclusion does not imply organizational affiliation, partnership, or endorsement unless this is explicitly stated.
Our own focus is on studying the Tanakh and the New Testament, faith in Yeshua as the Messiah, Israel, Torah, Shabbat, the biblical feasts, and the Jewish roots of faith.
People from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and around the world are invited to explore these topics and examine the biblical texts for themselves.
Learn about Israel. Understand the different organizations. Discover the Jewish roots of the Bible.