Christians for Israel fund synagogue restoration near Gaza border

The Dutch Christian group Christians for Israel has financed a $560,000 renovation of a synagogue and community center at the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Ibim complex, located near the northern Gaza Strip.

The facility serves as an immigrant absorption center, primarily supporting Ethiopian Israelis. The project also aims to prepare for an anticipated increase in aliyah, which organizers suggest is being driven by rising antisemitism in Western nations. The renovated building features a synagogue on the top floor, while the ground floor functions as a bomb shelter containing an educational space, recreational rooms, and an events hall.

Dutch businessman Timo Niemeijer funded the inauguration of the building. According to Roger van Oordt, a former leader of Christians for Israel, the investment addresses both the immediate needs of current residents and the long-term goal of supporting new immigrants settling in communities near the Gaza border.