Blessing Bethlehem

[1] It was launched in September 2016 by the Center for Jewish–Christian Understanding and Cooperation (CJCUC), at the LifeLight Festival in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

[2] In September 2012, Ohr Torah Stone's Center for Jewish–Christian Understanding and Cooperation (CJCUC), in partnership with Pastor Steven Khoury of Holy Land Missions, launched a Food Voucher Program to help the local Christian community living in Bethlehem.

CJCUC's Executive Director, David Nekrutman, began his dialogue with the local Christian Arab community in 2009 through the organization's Bible Study Program.

Nekrutman learned of the Christian Arab community's struggle between their ethnicity and religion and he wanted to alleviate the number one issue - poverty.

In 2016, the Food Voucher Program was renamed "Blessing Bethlehem" and officially launched at the LifeLight Music Festival in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

"Blessing Bethlehem" Founder & Director David Nekrutman with volunteers, 2019
COGIC Bishop of Israel, Glenn Plummer, and First Lady Pauline Plummer handing out Blessing Bethlehem Food Care Packages in Bethlehem , 24 July 2019
From left to right: Former Associate Director of the Center for Jewish–Christian Understanding and Cooperation , Rabbi Pesach Wolicki , David Nehring, Pastor Steven Khoury , CJCUC U.S. Coordinator, Janet Cain launching "Blessing Bethlehem" at the LifeLight Music Festival in Sioux Falls, South Dakota , 5 September 2016