By Janis Siegel, JTNews Correspondent
Though both groups say they did, in fact, reach out to include the Jewish community in fundraising events during a visit by the former Israeli ambassador, JTNews believes local Jewish leadership in Seattle was bypassed.
Daniel Ayalon, Israel’s former ambassador to the United States, visited Cedar Park Assembly of God church in Bothell in early December, where he raised nearly $75,000 for the aliyah organization Nefesh B’Nefesh, which he now co-chairs.
Dr. Joseph Fuiten, Cedar Park Church’s pastor, publicized the event on local radio stations and privately invited members of the Seattle-area Jewish community, but Ayalon did not approach the local Jewish community himself.
JTNews wanted to know why Nefesh B’Nefesh, which by its own definition serves only Jews, bypassed local Jewish organizations in its outreach and fundraising efforts during Ayalon’s visit over that weekend, which included two separate fundraising events arranged by Fuiten — one private and one open to the general community,
“What Ambassador Ayalon does is a private matter,” said Yael Katzman, director of communications for NBN, in a phone interview with JTNews. “It’s a private organization and it’s our decision. We did meet with the Jewish community.”
Other officials from Nefesh b’Nefesh did not respond to requests for interviews.
Katzman also told JTNews in an e-mail that Ayalon had “visited Seattle last month on a private visit honoring a pledge he had made to long-time friends from the time of his ambassadorship to the United States.”
Ayalon spoke to an overflow crowd of 1,300 at the public event held on a Sunday evening at the church. He talked about current Israeli-U.S. policy as well as the mission of NBN. The organization works with Jews in the U.S. and the U.K. to assist with immigration preparation and organizes chartered flights to Jews who wish to make aliyah.
Ayalon was unavailable for comment, according to his assistant. But Ayalon did speak with some members of the local Jewish community.
“The Jewish community was not bypassed,” Fuiten said. “I advertised on several radio stations, including KTTH and KVI. The Saturday night, invitation-only fundraiser event was at a private home. I invited Jewish leaders and they came.”
The Cedar Park congregation, which fits the profile of today’s so-called “mega-churches,” has six churches in separate locations and four school campuses as well as one post-high school program that offers advanced degrees in Christian ministry. There are K-12 facilities in Bothell and Everett, and an elementary school in Bellevue that serve over 1,700 students.
“We put it together, “ said Fuiten about the event. “About three years ago I met Daniel Ayalon downtown at an event at a law firm. We invited him about four months ago and we paid his way.”
The Assembly of God church system is known for its strict evangelical Christian beliefs. Fuiten’s church practices a faith consistent with the traditional doctrine, which includes a long-standing record of strong support for Israel.
“Our church is very outspoken for Israel and always [has] been,” said Fuiten. “Israel belongs to the Jews. We believe they have to do a better job of reaching out.”
The Sunday night reception was held at the Cedar Park Christian High School. Fuiten invited several leaders from the Jewish community that he keeps on his personal contact list.
Some of the Jewish community’s leadership that attended were Rob Jacobs, local director of Stand With Us; Sharon Finegold, who has headed a consortium of organization heads that advocate for Israel; Neil Goldberg, executive director of the Northwest office of Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces; and Jeremy Deutsch, the Republican recruitment director in Olympia, among others.
Richard Fruchter, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, was not among the local Jewish leaders invited, however, and in fact had no knowledge of the event until he received media inquiries about Ayalon’s visit. Neither Cedar Park Church nor Nefesh b’Nefesh made efforts to contact the Federation.
Rabbi Anson Laytner, executive director of the Northwest chapter of the American Jewish community, said he found out about the event second-hand, and neither organization reached out to him, either.
“The church missed out on an opportunity to build bridges with people from the Jewish community,” Laytner said.
But Fuiten said the event was a success.
“We packed the place out and it’s the largest event for Israel we’ve ever had,” said Fuiten. “I’ve been here for 26 years and I’ve had the consul general of Israel here, I’ve raised money to bring Russian Jews out of Israel, personally delivered money to Hebron, given money to the Friends of the IDF, and donated medical equipment to first responder teams.
“We get nothing out of it. We gave the money to Nefesh B’Nefesh.”